Programme Officer – Junior Election Professionals Initiative

Reference: 130100442
Location: London, UK | Salary: £33,318 per annum gross
Duration: Fixed term to 30 June 2014
Closing Date: 31 Jan 2013

Job Summary

The Programme Officer, in consultation with the Head of Democracy Section, will be responsible for developing, administering and reporting on the Junior Election Professionals  initiative in accordance with the requirements of the Grant Agreement.

The post-holder will:

• Scope the project requirements, consulting with all relevant stakeholders;
• Liaise with partner organisations to design and develop a training programme, including training materials;
• Define, mobilise and supervise specialist technical and other inputs by external consultants, as required;
• Schedule activities across the project term, ensuring that key project targets are achieved;
• Work with the Programme Assistant to organise capacity-building events, including facilitation of participant travel and accommodation;
• Establish, moderate and manage an online community of JEPs and actively promote regular interaction between members;
• Manage and report on project implementation and monitor project performance;
• Support the Democracy Section in the preparation of briefings, advice, reports and presentations on the JEP initiative; and
• Carry out any other duties as may be required from time to time.

Qualifications and Work Experience

• A degree in a relevant subject.
• At least three years’ work experience in project development and/or programme management, including project planning, monitoring, evaluation, budgeting and implementation; policy formulation and strategy development ideally within the context of a results-based management system;
• Proven ability to work with minimal supervision to deliver quality results;
• Highly developed written and analytical skills
• Desirable: Working on projects funded by international aid agencies; familiarity with issues in electoral administration; experience co-ordinating events in remote locations.

About the Political Affairs Division

The Political Affairs Division (PAD) is the lead division in the Commonwealth Secretariat’s work to promote democratic values, practices and institutions. PAD facilitates consultation and consensus-building among Commonwealth governments, including its work with the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and Heads of Government Meetings. The Democracy Section of PAD is directly responsible for the organisation of election observation groups and responds to requests for technical assistance to reinforce democratic processes in member countries. 

The Commonwealth Electoral Network (CEN) was launched in 2010 to facilitate experience sharing, create peer support mechanisms and promote good practice across the Commonwealth in the field of election management. This is achieved through, for example, the development of good practice guides, management of an online networking environment, and provision of targeted programmes of assistance. This position will be responsible for development and delivery of a capacity-building initiative targeting junior election professionals (JEPs) working in Commonwealth electoral management bodies. 

The JEP initiative is an AusAID-funded project that aims to:

• Increase the capacity of JEPs serving in election management bodies within the Commonwealth, through the delivery of training events aimed at sharing information on current good practice in targeted areas of electoral administration and provision of tools to help develop skills.
• Create a peer network of JEPs across the Commonwealth, with informal interaction facilitated through the Commonwealth Connects platform.
• Develop a pool of trained JEPs for potential use in technical assistance programmes and as members of Commonwealth Observer Groups and Expert Teams, as appropriate.

Further Information

How to apply

Apply online

Full Job Description for Temporary Programme Officer–Junior Election Professionals Initiative