Missing Children Europe is looking to recruit a versatile and dynamic employee with a strong research background and a true passion for children’s rights, to coordinate the final stage of the ongoing DATA MISSING project.

 

About Missing Children Europe

Missing Children Europe represents 33 NGOs in 27 European countries active in combatting the disappearance and sexual exploitation of children. We provide the link between research, policies and organisations on the ground, to protect children from any kind of violence, abuse or neglect that is caused by, or results from them going missing.

 

Background to the position

Every year at least two hundred and fifty thousand children go missing in Europe. Due to the lack of comparable official statistics on missing children – the only Europe-wide report is outdated with figures from 10 years ago – it is difficult to grasp the full scope of the issue or what are the current reasons why children go missing. For this reason, Missing Children Europe launched a project called DATA Missing to address the current gaps in data collection and reporting for children who go missing.

The DATA Missing project aims to improve data collection of missing children across Europe and to address pathways that can lead to more comprehensive and sustainable reporting and statistical mechanisms. The project will provide the basis to ameliorate policies, legislations and practices to support children at risk of going missing across all fields, such law enforcement and child protection. In this way, the project will also strengthen responses that prevent and support child victims of violence by reinforcing child protection systems at national and local level.

 

Tasks

DATA Missing is nearing its end with six months left which will play a crucial part in bringing together all of the work and efforts made so far to demonstrate the impact of the project.

The Senior Project Officer will report to the Secretary General and work in close cooperation with other staff members (senior policy and advocacy officer, senior programmes officer, project officers) in coordinating project activities.

In particular, the Senior Project Officer will:

  • Coordinate the remaining tasks, activities, and deliverables to be completed for the project, together with the partners and the Advisory board of experts.
  • Be responsible for coordinating the project consortium (composed of partners across the EU and an Advisory Board). This includes maintaining positive communication across the taskforce and organizing regular project meetings to ensure continuous information sharing and collaboration.
  • Be responsible for all administrative and logistical tasks of the project such as preparing agendas for meetings, sending out invitations, maintaining documentation in order, and overseeing the project shared drive.
  • Completing the reporting of the project in cooperation with the consortium. This includes uploading project deliverables to the portal of the European Commission, developing project reports demonstrating the impact, and collecting and measuring project KPIs.
  • Be responsible for organizing the final project conference in Brussels, together with the consortium, to present and discuss the research findings of the project with the aim to develop strong and robust recommendations on collecting data for missing children.

 

Profile, skills and background

  • University degree in a relevant field (research, psychology, sociology, education, political science, human rights, law, EU, international affairs, or other related field), preferably a PhD
  • A minimum of 3 years of professional experience, in project management
  • Experience in working with the European Commission and EU institutions and funders is strongly desired
  • Experience organizing medium to large scale events.
  • Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods
  • Excellent understanding of children’s rights and child protection issues
  • Excellent command of English is essential, French an asset
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Sensitive, diplomatic, and with a good sense of humour
  • Ability to work with people from different professional and cultural backgrounds
  • Ability to work well with others in a small team
  • Ability to work quickly and efficiently as well as stress resistant

 

Our offer

Organisation:

  • An exciting job in a small but dynamic organization dealing with problems related to the disappearance and sexual exploitation of children at a European level.

Duration:

  • Part-time (3 days a week)
  • Six months contract
  • Ideal start date January 2025

Remuneration:

  • Remuneration will depend on the candidate’s experience and qualification, following the remuneration scheme of Missing Children Europe. Packages include holiday scheme, 13th month if relevant to contract, lunch vouchers, hospitalization insurance and full reimbursement of public transport costs.

 

If you believe you qualify for this position please send your CV and a letter outlining your motivation (1 page max.) to applications@missingchildreneurope.eu by the 6th of January 2025 at midnight CET with “Senior Project Officer” as a subject title.

In person interviews are planned to take place 10th January 2025 (Brussels). Please note that only selected candidates will be contacted.

Staff recruited by Missing Children Europe will be asked to comply with our child protection policy, including necessary vetting and background checks of personnel. Missing Children Europe is an equal opportunity employer and does not to discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

 

With the support of the European Commission, REC Programme.

Sole responsibility lies with Missing Children Europe.