Right to Refuse to Kill programme worker

en

Full time, probationary period: 6 months

Appointment timeline

31 May: deadline for applications
1 June: essay set for applicants under consideration
8 June: deadline for essays
15 June: shortlist for interview drawn up
22 June: date of interview
1 September: official start date (in practice, 3 September)

Application form

The online application form is now available. Please do not send a CV - only applications using the application form will be considered.

Job description and person specification

WRI, a network of pacifist organisations and individuals around the world, is looking for a staff-person for its Right to Refuse to Kill programme and other general office and networking tasks.

All WRI staff must subscribe to the WRI declaration:
"War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war and to strive for the removal of all causes of war."

JOB DESCRIPTION

The main area of work will consist in running and developing the Right to Refuse to Kill (RRtK) Programme, working with other staff, the Executive Committee and the WRI Network. Fundraising will be an integrated part of the programme work.

In addition, the RRtK Programme worker is expected to cooperate in and contribute to the work developed by other staff, volunteers or network members, such as the Nonviolence Programme.

Finally, as part of the office team, the programme worker will share responsibility for the practical and administrative running of the WRI office in London.

RRtK Programme Work

    Maintain contact with War Resisters' International's extensive network of contacts working on issues of conscientious objection, recruitment, and antimilitarism;
  • Maintain WRI's conscientious objectors/Prisoners for Peace database (see http://wri-irg.org/programmes/pfp;
  • Produce WRI's e-newsletter CO-Update on developments regarding the right to conscientious objection and military recruitment (see http://wri-irg.org/publications/co_update;
  • Support conscientious objectors and CO groups world-wide, including emergency response in individual cases (co-alerts, see http://wri-irg.org/programmes/co_alerts), and co-operation with groups on the development of CO strategies;
  • Liaise closely with other organisations and persons working on conscientious objection, such as Quaker United Nations Office, Geneva, Connection e.V., Germany, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), and others;
  • Co-operate with other groups in making use of international human rights mechanisms to further the right to conscientious objection, including the UN, Council of Europe, and other mechanisms where appropriate;
  • Develop WRI's work on “Countering the Militarisation of Youth” and other initiatives that may arise in the future;
  • Supervise the work of RRtK Programme volunteers.

Fundraising for the RRtK Programme

Since its inception, the WRI RRTK programme has had full funding from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. This is assured until April 2014. An application for renewal should be made in 2013.
In collaboration with other staff and Executive members, the programme worker will have to:

  • implement fundraising strategy, which includes writing proposals for grants and communicating with possible funders of the RRtK Programme.
  • find new sources of income including additional foundations.
  • plan and implement fundraising for WRI events that include RRtK Programme work, such as Seminars and International Conferences.

Participation in other areas of work

As part of a small staff team, the RRtK Programme worker will need to provide cover in the event of her/his colleague's absence, and should contribute in developing other areas of work, which may be under the main responsibility of other staff members, volunteers or WRI network members, as directed by the Executive Committee.

Joint responsibilities with other WRI staff members:

  • Supervising the work of general office volunteers;
  • Organising WRI events, participating in meetings, assisting with production and distribution of minutes;
  • Representing WRI at international meetings as agreed by the Executive;
  • Producing WRI's publication The Broken Rifle;
  • Updating WRI´s web page;
  • Helping with basic finance tasks (control of programme expenses, processing and adequate filing of financial information);
  • Organising mailings and other types of administrative tasks;
  • General organising and maintaining of the office.

WORKING SKILLS

Required
The applicants will be required to demonstrate the following qualifications through work or activist/volunteer experience, academic credentials and/or publications:

  • A commitment to pacifism and nonviolence as an ideology and a way of life and to a radical antimilitarist vision
  • A commitment to and knowledge of nonviolent methods of social and political change, and especially of the political concepts of conscientious objection and "total resistance"/insumisión
  • An experience of activism within the peace movement and good familiarity with anti-war and antimilitarist organisations around the world
  • Experience in developing and organising campaigns for social change
  • A strong awareness of gender, race, and class issues within the peace movement, in society at large, and an ability to take these issues into account in the process of campaign development
  • The ability to take cultural and political differences between people and organisations into account when communicating with them
  • Proficiency in English and a good knowledge of another language, preferably Spanish
  • Good oral and written communications skills
  • The willingness and ability to perform, among other things, day-to-day office tasks and to take part in fundraising work
  • The ability to work in a team and take initiative
  • The ability to supervise and coordinate the work of a team
  • Good basic computer skills and an ability to get accustomed to new software easily in an autonomous fashion, using internet forums as necessary. Familiarity with word processing is essential; the knowledge of database, spreadsheet, accounting, and desktop publishing software is desirable. Note that WRI has an office entirely based on Free Software (GNU-Linux).

Desirable
The following qualifications will also be valued:

  • Some knowledge of international human rights law, as well as an awareness of its limitations
  • Successful fundraising experience
  • The ability to produce high-quality articles and reports
  • The ability to manage a high workload and to balance work and private life
  • Experience in bookkeeping
  • Advanced knowledge of computer systems
  • Familiarity with the structures and history of the WRI
  • A willingness to travel

Additional information

The present salary is £24,136.26 per annum, with a cost of living increase at the beginning of the UK tax year (April). WRI staff are entitled to 28 days of holidays, and a 1 month paid sabbatical after 5 years. WRI does not operate a pension scheme.

The normal place of work will be the WRI office in London, but the job involves frequent travel. The WRI office is currently staffed by 2 persons (including the RRtK Programme Worker) and usually counts with the presence of one or more volunteers. WRI staff work closely with other peace organisations based at 5 Caledonian Rd.

Please send the application form in electronic form (available on WRI's website or on request from the WRI Office), or fill in the online form.

Citizens of EU countries do not require a work permit. WRI is willing to sponsor a work permit for a non-EU citizen, but there is no guarantee that a work permit application will be successful.

We can offer exciting and stimulating working conditions, with the possibility of networking with numerous international organisations.

More information on the programme can be obtained from the WRI office in London, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX (near Kings Cross). Email: info@wri-irg.org; Phone: +44-20-7278 4040; skype: warresisters.

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