For our office in Brussels (Trone bus station), we are looking for a versatile and highly organized (Senior) Project Officer, for a full-time position, with a true passion for children’s rights, to coordinate activities and advocate for policy change in the field of missing children, in particular related to child sexual abuse, both offline and online.

Missing Children Europe is the European Federation for missing and sexually exploited children, representing 32 organizations in 27 countries. 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.

 

(Senior) Project Officer Responsibilities:

The (Senior) Project Officer will support the Secretary General and work in close cooperation with other project officers in coordinating activities in the field of missing children, implementing the EU funded CESAGRAM project (January 2023-December 2024) on grooming, coordinating our activities related to child sexual abuse, with a focus on research, advocacy, and supporting fundraising for new projects.

  • Initiate and coordinate the 2-year EU Funded CESAGRAM project (Towards a Comprehensive European Strategy Against Grooming and Missing). Child sexual abuse online is a growing phenomenon and grooming is an increasing factor in child disappearances. CESAGRAM aims to enhance the understanding of the process of grooming and more particularly how it is facilitated by technology, how it can lead to child sexual abuse and missing in order to:
  • ensure that grooming for child sexual abuse is prevented insofar possible
  • ensure that victims of grooming are better identified and receive appropriate support

To this end the project will, based on interview with victims and analysis of case files:

  • develop an awareness raising tool for young people
  • develop training for professionals on identification and victim support
  • improve anti-grooming technologies through an annotated corpus of grooming conversations
  • improve national and legal policy frameworks through advocacy
  • and improve cross sectoral cooperation through networking activities
  • Develop new project proposals and run any other ongoing work on the topic of child sexual abuse.
  • Monitor European developments in the field of child sexual abuse, including the legislative proposal on combating child sexual abuse and the implementation of the EU strategy on child sexual abuse, with a particular focus on the relationship between child sexual abuse, grooming and missing.
  • Represent Missing Children Europe with regard to the topic of child sexual abuse, vis-à-vis the European institutions, the Council of Europe and others, including as observer to the Lanzarote Committee and on the Advisory Committee of the European Financial Coalition against Child Sexual Abuse.
  • Mainstream trauma-sensitive practices into the work of the organization.

 

 

Profile, skills and background:

  • University degree in a relevant field (education, psychology, sociology, political science, human rights, law, EU or international affairs, or another related field.)
  • Experience in quantitative and qualitative research is essential to the job, ideally with experience of trauma-sensitive interviewing
  • A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in project management
  • Excellent understanding of children’s rights and child protection issues
  • Excellent command of English, French an asset
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Experience in working with the European Commission and other EU institutions
  • A good understanding of EC funding programmes
  • Understanding of the NGO sector / EU umbrella organisations
  • Comfortable working in cooperation with children and young experience experts
  • 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 organisation dealing with problems related to the disappearance and sexual exploitation of children at a European level.

Duration:

  • Full-time, permanent contract.
  • Starting date: as soon as possible

Remuneration:

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

 

How to apply:

If you believe you qualify for this position, please send us your CV & Cover Letter outlining your motivation (1 page max.) to applications@missingchildreneurope.eu by 10th May 2023, midnight CET.

In person interviews are scheduled for 15th May 2023 (Brussels). The interview phase consists of a one-hour test, followed by an interview with the Secretary General and a Project Officer. Please note that only selected candidates will be contacted.

 

Disclaimer:

All information given upon application will be treated in a confidential manner and according to Missing Children Europe’s privacy policies.

Please note: We occasionally amend or withdraw Missing Children Europe (MCE) jobs and reserve the right to do so at any time, including prior to the advertised closing date. MCE will never ask you for a fee to process or consider your application for a career with MCE. Anyone who demands such a fee is not an authorized MCE representative and you are strongly advised to refuse any such demand.

Staff recruited by Missing Children Europe will be asked to comply with our child protection policy, including necessary vetting and background checks of personnel.

For Missing Children Europe, human qualities are decisive regardless of your race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.