Civil Society Now Product Manager

Civil Society Now Product Manager

This job offer is not active.

Location: Home-based or Prague Office, contracted by PIN UK or PIN CZ depending on location

Duration: Initially 6 months, may be extended depending on funding availability

Full-time/part-time: Part-time 50%, flexible working hours are possible

PIN is recruiting a position to manage a pilot project aimed at supporting local civil society organisations in Nepal and Mongolia

 

Background

PIN’s roots are in civil society empowerment and human rights. PIN itself has grown from being a small civil society organisation in the Czech Republic to become a trusted partner of institutional donors including the European Commission, UK FCDO and USAID. This recent growth means it has a fresh living memory of its own organisational development, remembering and understanding the needs of smaller organisations and pathways for establishing the required standards. It now has a huge portfolio of civil-society orientated programming, partnering with and supporting CSOs in over 30 countries around the world.

The future of international development and humanitarian response must be through supporting local action led by local civil society organisations alongside strengthening government systems. International organisations have prioritized this “localization” agenda for some time now, but local organisations continue to face significant barriers in directly accessing financing. These barriers include the ability to meet the increasingly rigorous requirements of donors. International organisations have developed the governance, compliance and programme development systems that enable them to implement programs and meet donor requirements. Given the competitive nature of bidding for donor contracts, these international organisations have rarely shared their internal systems with others. Where international organisations have done so, it is typically where the international organisation has entered into a grant management relationship with the local CSO. Whilst these relationships can have beneficial effects, it perpetuates and does not question the existing power dynamic.

The Product

Civil Society Now flips the power dynamic, where the international entity provides its expertise through a demand-based system, self-determined by the civil society organisation. Opening up its internal systems to provide local civil society with the resources required to build their own in order to access and effectively manage external funding.

Whilst we recognize that a simplification of donor requirements is needed, Civil Society Now provides local organisations providing them with the skills, resources and systems that international organisations have taken years to develop, test and refine. In order to run a sustainable business model, a cost-recovery fee-based membership model is being explored.

The CSN Product Manager would launch the pilot project, working with the PIN CZ country teams in Nepal and Mongolia. The position would be line managed by the Director of PIN UK (an affiliated entity of PIN CZ), and working closely with PIN UK’s Finance & Compliance Officer as well as PIN CZ’s HQ Support Departments. Depending on the success of the launch of the pilot and availability of seed funding, the 6 month position could be extended and expanded.

Responsibilities

Phase 1

  • Create the structure and overview of all policies and internal documents to be published and made available to members, undertaking a detailed review and consulting with the “owners” of these documents, risks to publications, and any specific questions for legal review.
  • Revise structure and design of the existing pilot website, sourcing visual materials, organizing translations and ensure a user-friendly interface.
  • Work with finance and compliance colleagues to create the operational, financial and accounting model for providing consultancy support to CSOs, including an overview of who can offer what service
  • Based on the questions that arise from the detailed review, source legal support.

Phase 2

  • Support the legal review, including the creation of disclaimers and determine any implications for the organisation’s insurance
  • Work with in-country Project staff and Communications Officers to create high quality bios on the work of selected CSOs and conduct due diligence checks
  • Creation of promotional strategy and materials in coordination with the Nepal and Mongolian Country Office, including introductory rates for CSOs

Phase 3 – at 6 months and onwards

  • Act as the focal point and maintain communication with CSN clients including asking for feedback and ensuring their satisfaction
  • Coordinate within PIN to ensure we are able to deliver on any contracted services
  • Maintain regular communication with PIN UK’s Finance & Compliance Officer to ensure that regulatory, financial, accountancy and tax requirements are met in Mongolia, Nepal, UK and Czech Republic
  • Deliver services to clients when appropriate
  • Ensure clients are able to input on the design of any CSN initiatives e.g. online workshops/sharing sessions on an operational or programmatic theme and coordinate with PIN staff for the implementation of these sessions
  • Collect feedback from CSOs on our services and refine product

Requirements

  • Experience of international project implementation
  • Contextual knowledge of Nepal or Mongolia is an advantage
  • Experience working with national organisations in Asia is an advantage
  • Experience in at least one of: donor compliance and contracting, proposal development and fundraising, social media and communications, programme and budget management
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong written communication skills with an ability to write succinct yet compelling pieces
  • Fluency in written and spoken English

PIN Offers:

  • Interesting and creative work working with people from around the world
  • PIN supports professional and personal development
  • Salary according to the PIN salary scale and local cost of living depending on your location
  • 25 days of annual leave and sick days
  • PIN covers costs related to traveling abroad such as flights, accommodation, medical checkups, vaccinations, travel insurance etc.
  • Work-from-home is possible upon agreement
  • Laptop
  • Open and informal organizational culture
  • Friendly colleagues with similar values

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Great. Send us your CV and short cover letter via this application form.

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of conduct and key policies (available at: www.peopleinneed.cz/policies).