The Executive Committee of Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe (CDN) is announcing a call for a Secretary General. This is a paid, full-time position, starting from the beginning of May 2024 and it will be based in CDN’s office in Belgrade, Serbia. We are accepting applications by the 10th of March 23:59 CET.
Â
About the Role:
Secretary General is a legal representative of the organisation, serves as the head of office and supports the work of Executive Committee (EC), oversees implementation of strategy, activities, and daily operations.
Responsibilities include:
- Facilitating the work of the Executive Committee: ensuring smooth transfer of knowledge and effective onboarding; setting up delegation order, understanding needs, promoting discussions, and creating space for decision-making, handling disagreements among members.
- Managing office and overseeing the work, ensuring political and strategic alignment.
- Supervising HR processes.
- Coordinating statutory activities, Organising General Assembly, Live EC Meetings, and Study Visits.
- Working on CDN strategy development, shaping, monitoring, and reviewing key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Ensuring that the Executive Committee and staff are meeting their responsibilities, and that the organisation is progressing in accordance with the Strategic Plan.
- Collaborating with the relevant employee and treasurer for financial oversight.
- Administrative and structural fundraising
- Overseeing external communication.
- Maintaining good communication with partners and stakeholders, including Member Organisations.
- Representing the organisation to third parties.
- Tracking, monitoring, and updating the EC on major political and social developments throughout Eastern Europe.
Â
We are looking for someone with the following profile:
- Experience in Young Green organisations, and/or CDN structures;
- Good knowledge of CDN, Green politics and civil society in Eastern Europe;
- Comprehensive understanding and respect for CDN documents and values;
- Experience with youth and voluntary organisations, or NGOs.
- Experience in project writing, planning, implementation, monitoring and follow-up;
- Experience with leading and managing teams;
- Excellent written and spoken English, (knowledge of additional Eastern European language is an asset);
- Excellent organisational, time and crisis management skills, ability to multi-task and work under high pressure and with tight deadlines;
- Excellent communication skills (in online and offline settings) and experience in facilitation and moderation;
- Ability to take initiative and lead the processes;
- Willingness to engage in frequent travels, to have flexible working hours – long working days and work during the weekends when needed;
- Preferably younger than 30 years of age and not older than 33 at the moment of applying;
Assets:
- Experience of financial management and budgeting;
- Experience with managing social media and using Canva;
- Knowledge and experience with non-formal education methodology;
- Experience with networking and public speaking;
- Comprehensive understanding of Eastern European politics.
What we offer:
- A full time (35 hours / week) contract of 2 years, with flexible working hours. Please note that frequent work-trips abroad and is required;
- 1300€/month gross salary (approximately 1000€ after taxes, depending on personal situation) with possibility of further increase;
- 25 days of paid holiday and additional paid time off (closed office) between Jan 1-9;
- Relocation costs to Belgrade (residence permit, travel, visa) covered by CDN;
- Frequent and extensive travel and the opportunity to network in the European-wide Green movement;
- Deepening understanding of Eastern European political context and first-hand experience with organisational management. Enhancing professional, political and leadership skills;
- Lively, friendly, international, and youth-led team in growing organisation.
Â
Application and Selection:
Please submit the following documents to office@cdnee.org with reference: Secretary General Application – Name, Surname
- CV (Max. 2 pages)
- Motivation Letter highlighting how your experience and qualifications make you a good fit, how you can contribute and why are you interested in this position (Max. 500 Words)
- Vision Statement outlining how you imagine development of CDN in the upcoming period, what will be your priorities, what you want to achieve by the end of the mandate and how (Max. 1000 Words)
- Two references with contact details, preferably former employer, supervisor and/or civil society representative.Â
Deadline: March 10th, 23:59 CET.
Incomplete applications that don’t have a CV, Motivation Letter, references and without a clear subject line will not be considered.
Next Steps: We will contact the shortlisted candidates latest till the 17th of March and invite them for an online interview. The final selection will be done by the Executive Committee no later than the 27th of March.
NOTE: The Executive Committee is proposing amendment to the Internal Rules of Procedure that changes Secretary General’s selection process and determines 2 year term. If approved, Secretary General should be elected by the General Assembly while Executive Committee will still responsible for pre-selection and final recommendation.
As per Resolution linked to the amendments, the Executive Committee proposes that “the General Assembly recognises current Secretary General (proposed by the Executive Committee) to be elected by the General Assembly and determines this as the beginning of the two-year mandate.”.
Therefore, selected Secretary General will be asked to attend the General Assembly on April 27-28 in Vilnius and present their candidacy. Besides, application will be publicly available on cdn.discuss.green.
Do you have any questions regarding the position, tasks and responsibilities, how typical workday looks like? Feel free to get in touch with our outgoing Secretary General Giorgi Ptskialadze at giorgi.ptskialadze@cdnee.org