The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice is looking for an exceptional person to become its Campaign Director. The role is London based.
Why the Sri Lanka Campaign is needed
The Sri Lanka Campaign exists to raise international awareness of one of the worst – but also least covered – human rights and humanitarian atrocities that have happened in recent years.
Focusing on human rights and related abuses in Sri Lanka (SL), the Campaign works with its Advisers and mobilises its supporters to put pressure on the UN and others who have influence over the Government of SL to promote justice, reconciliation and peace. The Campaign also shows solidarity with and provides moral support to Sri Lankan pro-democracy, human rights activists and independent journalists within the country and in exile. The Campaign supports non-violent approaches to change.
What the Campaign has done
In its first eighteen months of existence, the Campaign has won support from a range of individuals and organisations including INGOs who have been active on SL for many decades because it has:
• Helped to focus attention on what the UN could and should be doing
• Helped encourage larger organisations to put greater priority and be more outspoken about events in SL
• Helped to persuade the EU to suspend its preferential trading agreement with SL
• Maintained an up to date blog commentary about events, challenging those who could and should be doing more to do so
• Helped focus international attention on the current humanitarian and human rights/ democracy crisis and avoid looking on who to blame from the past
Context
The Sri Lanka Campaign was launched in the aftermath of the 2009 military victory by the Government of Sri Lanka by a group of volunteers, mainly London based, who were concerned about the situation of the 300,000 Tamils interned in camps. As the political situation has developed in Sri Lanka, the Campaign has adopted a wider focus of concern for human rights generally, particularly those of journalists since Sri Lanka is now ranked the 3rd most repressive country by Reporters Sans Frontier
The Position
As with all campaigns, the initial work was done by volunteers but now after 18 months
– and given that the situation is not getting better and in some ways getting worse – the Campaign has decided to institutionalise. It has registered as a non profit company
and the directors have raised £31,000 to date, from the Network for Social Change and
private individuals to employ a Campaign Director to increase the scale and intensity of the Campaign’s work, and thereby grow its supporter base. This is an opportunity for a highly motivated individual to put their own stamp on a new Campaign, with full support from an active group of volunteers, an impressive group of Advisers and a committed Board of Directors. Office space and budget will be available for the equivalent of one full time intern.
Main Responsibilities
To work with the Board, the volunteers and key external advisers to draw up a detailed work plan for 12 months and an overview plan for 5 years so as to focus and align the Campaign’s limited resources for maximum effect. Helping to build volunteer morale and motivation will be a key priority as will fundraising activities, with the full support from Board and volunteers, to secure the Campaign’s future.
Key Tasks
• To work with the Board and volunteers to draw up a detailed one year campaign and an overview five year plan
• To keep abreast of the political and human rights situation in Sri Lanka
• To develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy (eg online, events)
• To oversee the development and maintenance of the Campaign website
• To strengthen links with other similar campaigning organisations and with organisations with an interest in Sri Lanka
• To represent the Campaign, with Board members and volunteers as appropriate, in meetings with Governments, inter-governmental bodies , media and other influential parties
• To organise, with support from Board and volunteers, one or more fundraising events
• To organise quarterly Board and volunteer meetings
• Any other tasks that may be determined to take priority
Person specification
Essential
• Experience of developing and implementing a campaign
• Self-starter, strong project management skills
• Experience of working with the media
• Strong commitment to engage with the fundraising challenge
• Strong communication skills, including writing
• An approach to organising which is inclusive and collaborative, ability to build relationships with a variety of different people
Desirable
• Experience of setting up or running a “not for profit” organisation
• Proven track record on human rights/democracy issues (a detailed knowledge of Sri Lankan history is not needed but a willingness to get up to speed quickly is essential) – the postholder will have to learn to speak on SLC matters in an authoritative manner with established SL experts
• Previous experience of working with expert advisers and or celebrities
• Experience of working with interns
Remuneration
This post will be based in London. Salary £20,000 (part time, hours to be negotiated.) Initial contract for one year with the intention to make this a permanent position if funding can be found.
Reporting and working relationships
Formally reporting to the Board of Directors, with day to day support provided by members of the volunteer group.
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter, using Campaign Director as the subject line, stating why you believe you are a good candidate for this position to [email protected]
The deadline for applications is 9.00 am on Monday 11th April. Interviews will be held pm on April 14th.