Vice-President for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Eurasia



Position Title
Vice-President for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Eurasia

Location
Montpelier, Vermont

Job Purpose/Summary
To oversee, support, and develop ISC's projects in CEE and Eurasia

Supervisor
President

Application Due Date
15 May 2000

Organization Description
The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) is an independent, nonprofit
organization that provides training, technical assistance, and financial
support to communities. Its mission is to promote environmental protection
and economic and social well-being through integrated strategies at the
local level. ISC projects emphasize participating actively in civic life,
developing stronger democratic institutions, and engaging diverse interests
in decisionmaking. With its headquarters in Montpelier Vermont, and offices
in Russia, Macedonia, and Bulgaria, ISC has an international staff of
approximately 70 people. The continued growth in the number and scope of
ISC's projects has required the board of directors to restructure the
organizational chart and approve the addition of another senior management
position.
ISC's core values include a commitment to making a meaningful contribution
to improving the quality of life and the earth's ecosystem; a desire to
maximize the organization's effectiveness through creativity and high
quality work; and compassion, honesty, and respect toward one another and
ISC's partners. ISC's projects are funded by U.S. Government grants, private
foundations, corporations, and individual donors. ISC helps communities
develop future oriented solutions to pressing local problems through the
following core areas:


Community Action. Demonstrating strategic, participatory approaches to
solving problems at the local level

Education for Sustainability. Developing a new generation of leaders through
school-based programs linked to community issues

Strengthening Institutions of Civil Society. Enhancing the capacity and effe
ctiveness of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, and
businesses

Improving Policy and Practice. Inspiring new ways of thinking about and
resolving environmental and economic problems by increasing awareness and
application of best practices and lessons learned.

Current Projects in CEE/Eurasia
ISC currently manages nine projects in the region, three of the largest are
summarized below:

Democracy Network Program - Bulgaria. The first phase of the Democracy
Network (DemNet) Program focused on developing and strengthening the
community of public policy-oriented NGOs in Bulgaria. In addition to
training and technical assistance, the program provided grants through a
widely respected transparent and competitive process to NGOs in the sectors
of: democracy building, social safety net, economic development, and
environment. Between 1996-1997, the program awarded 124 grants totaling
$1,158,143 to NGOs throughout the country. In 1998, USAID awarded $6 million
to ISC for the second phase of the program, which is focused on
strengthening the Bulgarian organizations that support the larger NGO
sector. Twelve "support organizations" were recommended by a Bulgarian
program committee to partner with ISC over the next two years. This phase of
the program is designed to develop the necessary infrastructure of
grantmaking, training, information-sharing, networking, and advocacy
organizations to sustain the NGO sector for the long-term, particularly
after major foreign funding support ends.

Democracy Network Program - Macedonia. ISC also manages the DemNet Program
in Macedonia from its office in Skopje. The purpose of the first phase was
also to develop and strengthen the community of public policy-oriented NGOs
focused on community and environmental projects in ethnically diverse areas.
Between 1996-1997, the program awarded 70 grants totaling $326,065 to
organizations throughout the country. Based on the success of DemNet I,
USAID/Macedonia awarded a two-year cost extension of $990,000 to ISC and
expanded the scope of the program to include economic development, social
safety net, and democracy building organizations. In addition to supporting
the further development of the emerging NGO network, ISC is providing
training, technical assistance, and grants to a targeted group of 27
successful NGOs. USAID recently extended ISC's program through 2002 with an
additional $3 million. This allows ISC to double the number of NGOs involved
in the program and increase its emphasis on promoting citizen participation
in ethnic, women's, and economic development issues.

Replication of Lessons Learned (ROLL) Project - Russia. The ROLL project is
designed to improve environmental management in the Russian Federation
through widespread dissemination and adaptation of policies, techniques, and
methodologies that have proven successful in pollution reduction and natural
resources management. The project provides resources directly to Russian
partners enabling them to spread the program's effect more broadly within
Russia (at the national, regional, and local levels as well as to all
sectors of society - public, private, and nongovernmental). The goal of this
replication is to increase the capacity of diverse sectors of the population
to participate and manage effective strategies in solving environmental
issues and promoting a sustainable future for Russia. Since 1996, ISC has
awarded more than $5 million to 191 organizations, including government
agencies, NGOs, businesses, and academic institutions. The ROLL project is
overseen by a 27-member coordinating council chaired by the head of the
State Committee on Environmental Protection (SCEP), which is composed of
prominent environmental leaders from businesses, NGOs, academic
institutions, and national, regional, and local governments.

Position Description
ISC is looking for a highly experienced manager, a creative and strategic
thinker who shares our values, and a person with excellent communication and
fundraising skills. This person must work well under pressure and enjoy
working with dedicated professionals in a team approach to project
management.
The vice president will be responsible for ISC's projects and country
programs in CEE and Eurasia. The person will supervise three country
directors and ensure that all projects are well managed and effective in
meeting their goals and fulfilling ISC's mission. The three country programs
currently have combined annual project budgets of more than $6 million (with
expectations of continued rapid growth) and a staff of 45. The position is
expected to gradually assume oversight responsibility for the development
and management of all ISC projects in the region.

The vice president will help cultivate new funders, represent the
organization at high level meetings and conferences, and provide strategic
advice to the president and other members of the senior management team. The
vice president will be a member of the senior management team and, as such,
assist the president in making key decisions for the organization. The vice
president will be expected to promote ISC's core values and dedicate
herself/himself to achieving the mission of the organization.

The vice president for CEE and Eurasia will work closely with the vice
president for programs (formerly director of programs) who is responsible
for program development, technical support, and developing and managing new
project activity in other regions of the world (including current projects
in the United States and Asia).


Qualifications/Experience
Minimum 10 years senior program management experience, with at least five
years senior international management experience - including long-term
overseas postings (country director/mission director level or higher).
Proven ability to manage all aspects of office operations, including
personnel, grant and contract administration, procurement, and financial
management.
Excellent ability to represent ISC's projects to funders, government
officials, and partners.
Diplomacy, team orientation, and cultural sensitivity.
Experience in: NGO support, development, and fundraising; environmental
policy; civil society strengthening programs; community-based
multi-stakeholder decisionmaking; public outreach and communications.
Ability to develop and maintain collaborative team relationships in a
fast-paced work environment.
Relevant advanced degree.
Familiarity with U.S. Government international assistance program
requirements.
Excellent written and oral communications skills; working knowledge of
computer word-processing, spreadsheet programs, and e-mail.
Fluency in Russian and/or another Slavic language.

Travel Requirements
Minimum of three months per year.
Position will be based in Montpelier, Vermont (with possibility of regional
posting after one year).

Salary/Benefits
Salary commensurate with qualifications, experience, and ISC values.
Full health insurance, medical evacuation insurance, life insurance.
Staff development opportunities.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, salary
history/requirements by 15 May 2000 to "Vice President Search" 56 College
Street, Montpelier, Vermont, 05602 USA; or to e-mail: [log in to unmask] or fax:
802-229-2919. ISC is an equal opportunity employer





%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%