Back Communications and Grants Officer

Role: Communications and Grants Officer
Start date: May 2021
Organisation: European Lawyers in Lesvos (ELIL) (www.elil.eu)
Location: Athens, Greece
Duration: Permanent
Working hours: Full-time (9.30 – 17.00 Monday – Friday)

Background

There are currently almost 30,000 asylum seekers on the Greek Aegean islands and tens of thousands more on the Greek mainland. The asylum process they go through is a complex and ever-changing legal procedure that is difficult to navigate. Despite this, there is no state-provided legal aid available for asylum seekers before their asylum interviews and so the majority of them attend their interview without having spoken to a lawyer. The only way an asylum seeker can receive legal assistance in relation to their asylum interview is through one of the few NGOs operating in this field.

Without access to legal assistance, asylum seekers often do not know their rights or understand the process and the criteria applied when their asylum applications are assessed. They are therefore significantly disadvantaged when they attend their asylum interview and often suffer problems and delays in the processing of their asylum applications. This absence of legal information and legal assistance puts human rights at risk and undermines the rule of law.

European Lawyers in Lesvos (“ELIL”) is a charity registered in Germany and Greece. It was founded by the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) and the German Bar Association (DAV) in 2016. These organisations represent the bars and law societies of 45 European member, associate and observer countries, and through them more than 1 million European lawyers. ELIL is now also supported by the Conseil national des barreaux (CNB).

ELIL was inspired by belief in the fundamental importance of upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights and ensuring meaningful access to legal assistance. Our team of Greek asylum lawyers and volunteer European asylum lawyers provide free, independent legal assistance to asylum seekers and, so far, we have provided free legal assistance to almost 12,000 people in Greece.

Our main activity is the provision of one-on-one legal consultations to prepare asylum seekers for their asylum interview. We also help reunite families by assisting with family reunification applications under the Dublin Regulation and assist unaccompanied children (interview preparation, family reunification and age assessment).

To respond to the unprecedented need for legal assistance in Greece, we are looking to recruit a committed and experienced Communications and Grants Officer to join our team.

Role

The start date for this role is 1 May 2021. We offer a competitive salary, details of which are available on request.

The role reports to the Communications and Fundraising Manager (CFM). Working closely with the CFM and potential communications volunteers, the Communications and Grants Officer’s main objectives are to create content for ELIL’s external platforms, reports and proposals, and to help secure sustainable funding for the organisation. S/He will assist in defining and implementing communication, advocacy, partnership and grant management strategies geared at raising ELIL’s profile; promoting the organisation’s mission; obtaining the necessary support and financial means to allow ELIL to remain sustainable across three project locations in Greece (Lesvos, Samos, Athens).

Role responsibilities

The key responsibilities of this position are:

• Communicate the identity and mission of ELIL to the public.
• Provide dedicated support to the development of concept notes and funding proposals.
• Research funding opportunities and track donors’ evolving priorities and requirements.
• Use quantitative and qualitative data from programmes to enhance communications and fundraising materials.
• Create content for communications platforms.
• Assist in the management of social media accounts and other publications, ensuring that they are updated regularly.
• Help promote and manage fundraising campaigns.
• Assist with the development and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
• Assist with planning and execution of integrated multimedia campaigns on a limited budget.
• Assist with other communications-related duties as assigned.

As the responsibilities listed here cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Skills and experience required

Essential

• Demonstrated ability to achieve communications-related objectives with at least two years of related experience.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience in grant writing and/or reporting.
• Experience in managing social media and digital channels, websites and blogs, press and media relations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage tasks to deliver objectives in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to write effectively and engagingly for different audiences.
• Commitment to, and demonstrated ability in, working as part of a team.
• Ability to work unsupervised in a rapidly shifting context.
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
• Experience in working in a humanitarian and development context.
• Valid EU/Schengen work permit.

Desirable

• Master’s Degree in a relevant subject.
• Experience volunteering or working within an NGO/INGO or governmental organisation.
• Interest in and knowledge of displaced populations.
• Previous experience in data analysis and visualisation.
• Previous experience in working with design software (Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop).
• Proficiency in using photo, web and video editing software.
• Language skills in Greek and/or German are an asset.