Belgium: Climate Justice and Peace Coordinator

Apr 13, 2023 | Quaker Council for European Affairs
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The Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) is seeking to recruit Climate Justice and Peace Coordinator who will help QCEA develop and implement a climate justice and peace strategy in line with its new strategy goals and values.

ABOUT QCEA

QCEA promotes Quaker values of peace, justice and equality to Europe and its institutions.

The organisation has developed a new strategy focusing on justice and peace in a time of climate crisis. It will work on climate and migration from a peace perspective and enable dialogue across differences in order to work towards transformational change. QCEA believes that transformational change happens through listening attentively to those who think differently from QCEA and providing safe spaces where people with a range of opinions and experience can engage in deep dialogue. By moving beyond defensiveness and bringing attention to a shared humanity, it hopes to facilitate a transition from polarised to pluralistic societies, which can enable QCEA to make better choices about a shared future.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Director, the Climate Justice and Peace Programme Coordinator will be a member of the small team based at Quaker House in Brussels. While they will focus primarily on climate justice, they will work collaboratively with the rest of the team, always looking at the connections and synergies between different areas of work.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Developing and co-ordinating the work on climate justice and peace

  • Develop a climate justice and peace strategy in line with the strategy goals and QCEA’s values, ways of working and capacity
  • Develop an operational plan for the climate justice and peace work
  • Regularly review and reflect on the climate justice and peace workplan and adapt it based on learning
  • Lead on planning, budgeting and implementation of the climate justice and peace work in line with the QCEA strategic plan and the identified objectives of the climate justice and peace work
  • Contribute to applications for funding and reports to donors for the programme
  • With the other team members, identify and work on areas of common interest across the three programme themes

Connecting with others

  • Develop an overview of key individuals, organisations and networks whose work is relevant to the climate justice and peace theme and work to keep it up to date.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key people working in European institutions who are working on relevant issues
  • Build and maintain relationships with those working in the fields of climate justice and on peace as relevant to the programme strategy, including communities affected.
  • Build and maintain relationships with those working in other Quaker agencies on climate justice and/or peace (e.g. Quaker Peace and Social Witness in the UK, Quaker United Nations Offices in Geneva and New York, etc.)

Organising events and activities

  • Design and organise events and activities related to the climate justice and peace theme
  • Facilitate / host events in the spirit of QCEA's approach, making sure that everyone is heard and encouraging new ways of thinking about issues

Communications

  • Work with the QCEA Communications Officer to develop and design communications that further its strategic objectives and keep its supporters informed about its work.

Working as part of a collaborative team

  • Document and share information and learning with the rest of the team, actively seeking synergy and opportunities to work together
  • Participate in the dialogues for transformation taking place at Quaker House on issues related to climate justice and peace, while respecting the confidentiality of these processes
  • Take on duties related to the use of Quaker House as a venue for outside groups as agreed within the team
  • Participate in developing processes and working practices to safeguard institutional memory and preserve the collective knowledge of QCEA

PROFILE

QCEA has identified these criteria for this role. However, if an applicant doesn't fit all the criteria and feel strongly that this job is the right match for them, QCEA encourages them to apply.

QCEA is an Equal Opportunity employer and it encourages applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds.

1. Experience (Local, National or International)

  • Paid or voluntary experience working on climate justice, e.g. with social movements, grassroots organisations, or within nongovernmental organisations or public administrations
  • Experience working to change policy and/or public opinion around issues linked to climate justice and/or peace
  • Experience with the planning and implementation of a programme (or project) that involved budgeting, donor reporting and evaluation

2. Knowledge and Skills

  • Demonstrated ability to analyse the various ways that policy translates into practice and outcomes, i.e. how policy affects lived experience
  • Familiarity with European politics around climate justice from a local, national and/or international perspective
  • Good event organisation skills, with attention to designing atmosphere, food, setting, and participant engagement
  • Strong hosting and/or facilitation skills, e.g. the energy and sensitivity to stimulate discussion, openness, and connection among participants
  • Fluency (or close to fluency) in English with proficiency in a language other than English an asset

3. Personal Qualities

  • Demonstrated commitment to issues of peace, equality and justice either through formal training (e.g. a degree in any relevant subject) or through participation in voluntary initiatives
  • Integrity and commitment to having an impact and creating change through their work
  • Ability to embrace difference, work professionally and engage respectfully with people with different views and lived experience
  • Good relationship-building and collaboration skills, with a talent for connecting people and ideas
  • Ability to take a 'collective problem-solving' approach to challenges that might arise in the course of the work or within the team
  • Discretion and respect for confidentiality
  • Ability to work in a small team and within the financial constraints of a nongovernmental organisation
  • Willingness to work with due care for environmental sustainability, to take responsibility for their own administration, and to work cooperatively and flexibly to support the goals of the organisation

TERMS AND SALARY

QCEA is located at Quaker House, Square Ambiorix, Brussels. QCEA is able to offer a 12 month contract at this stage. For this post QCEA is able to offer a salary of up to 3800 euro per month gross. QCEA offers additional net benefits including meal vouchers and travel costs in some circumstances. All QCEA staff receive 25 days holiday per year, not including public holidays.

Fulfilling work and a healthy work-life balance for staff and volunteers is at the centre of delivering QCEA’s vision of peace, justice and equality. Working hours are 9:00 to 18.00 (16:00 on Fridays), but staff are encouraged to fit non-fixed working times around family and other commitments. This could include working for up to 3 days a week by arrangement with the Director. Part-time work (not less than 80%) could be considered.

How to apply

Please visit QCEA's website for information and instructions regarding applying for the role.

Closing date for application: 1 May 2023.

Due to strict immigration regulations in Belgium, employees at this level would usually need to be EU nationals or to already have permission to work in Belgium. Please note that for this reason QCEA cannot currently accept applications from non-EU citizens unless they already have permission to work in Belgium or are eligible to work in Belgium without a work permit.