IDEA is looking for an Interim Executive Director

[Jurate Motiejunaite]

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Application Deadline: April 7, 2008

Established in 1999, the International Debate Education Association (IDEA)
is an independent membership association of organizations and individuals
that supports debate (a formal contest of argumentation between two teams in
which one team supports, while the other team opposes a given proposition),
human rights and civic education worldwide. 

Focusing on young people and their communities, IDEA's mission is to promote
mutual understanding and democracy globally by supporting discussion and
active citizenship locally. IDEA believes that free and open discussion is
essential to the establishment and preservation of open, democratic
societies. Through debate - a powerful means of encouraging critical
thinking, personal expression and tolerance for the opinions of others -
IDEA provides students and teachers the opportunity to examine issues
affecting their lives and their communities. To this end, IDEA creates broad
and inclusive debate clubs that encourage participation by all segments of
the population, including ethnic minorities, and establishes independent,
national debate associations to promote, organize, and sustain debate
activities in countries throughout the world. IDEA is registered in the
Netherlands as a not-for profit membership organization.

IDEA is seeking a dynamic, motivated individual, committed to IDEA's
mission, who will work as an Executive Director for the period of one year,
with a possibility for extension to two years, starting no later than 1
July, 2008.

The Executive Director will have to work from IDEA's office in Amsterdam,
The Netherlands. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director is expected to: 



. Help to develop and implement strategic plans and other decisions adopted
by the IDEA board of directors and members;

. Initiate, develop and supervise or manage projects in which the Board
decides that IDEA should lead, participate, or otherwise contribute, whether
such projects are funded by IDEA or other parties;

. Be the primary contact person with donors, like the European Commission,
for donor sponsored projects; 

. Monitor and manage all financial expenditures relating to IDEA, oversee
cash management and financial record keeping; 

. Represent IDEA before potential and existing funders and/or partners of
IDEA; including governmental and non-governmental institutions;

. Manage the scope of activities for creating and implementing fundraising
strategies and raising funds from government, institutional, corporate and
private donors. This includes but is not limited to: selecting a team and
supervise the work of employees, correspond with potential donor, organize
and attend meetings, be proactive in managing or implementing necessary
activities to meet fundraising targets. 

. Develop and use appropriate methods for communicating with and informing
the members of IDEA about matters of interest to them; 

. Hire and supervise staff and consultants needed to carry out IDEA's
mission; See that all notices and reports are duly given or filed in
accordance with these Internal Regulations or as required by law;

. Record and keep the minutes of all meetings of the General Assembly,
Board, and Committees in separate books to be kept for that purpose;

. Be custodian, along with the Auditor and the Attorney, of all records,
financial, legal and other, of IDEA; 

. Handle the day-to-day financial issues with the assistance of IDEA's
staff, accountant, and auditor.



QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, the Executive Director must be able to
perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below
are representative of the experience required:

. A university degree in a relevant field;

. Experience in NGO management; 

. Experience and good knowledge of academic debate or participation in a
debate program;

. Experience in financial management of NGO organizations;

. Experience supervising employees and in project management; 

. Experience in managing grants and projects, including reporting;

. Practical experience or general knowledge in the process of proposal
writing and fundraising;

. Desirable experience in representing an NGO to government and business
leaders;

. Experience working with a volunteer board of directors is an advantage;

. Experience corresponding via letters; memorandums and reports with senior-
level government and business officials;

. While knowledge of debate is not a requirement Experience in working in
multicultural environment and/or with virtual organizations for this job,
and experience in international education would is desirable. 

LANGUAGE ABILITY

The Executive Director must be able to read, write, and speak English.
Another major European language is desirable, fluent Dutch is an advantage. 

TRAVEL

The Executive Director must be willing and able to travel, sometimes on
short notice, to attend meetings, administer events, etc. Travel may be
frequent.

SALARY

Salary is negotiable. Salary requirements will be discussed with short
listed candidates, after the review of all applications.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All interested candidates must send applications by e-mail to Ms. Jurate
Motiejunaite at jmotiejunaite at idebate.org . Applications should include:

. A curriculum vitae,

. A letter of intent,

. Contact information for a minimum of 2 references.

The application deadline is April 7, 2008.

All candidates will be informed about the status of their application. Short
listed candidates will be invited to a phone, skype or face -to- face
interview with representatives of the Governing Board of the organization.
Most convenient type of interview will be organized with each of the short
listed candidates.
 
Jurate Motiejunaite
IDEA-NL Executive Director
Tel.: +37061119740
Fax.: +370 37406866
Uzliedziu 3
Kaunas
 LT-47262
 Lithuania
Skype: jurate_motiejunaite
 
 
 
 
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