Better Days is looking for a Policies and Procedures Senior Officer.
Better Days Greece was founded in Greece in 2016 in response to the influx of refugees arriving in Lesvos, Greece. It is the Greek implementing partner of Together for Better Days, a Swiss NGO. Together we have supported many projects in Greece, Lebanon, Serbia, and Syria. We want to see a world where refugees and asylum seekers are guaranteed access to their rights and are treated with dignity and humanity. A world where no child under any circumstances is forced to endure the physical and psychological trauma currently faced by millions of children across the world. Some of our most successful projects to date include: The Olive Grove/Better Days for Moria, Elpida Refugee Centre, TAPUAT Child & Family Hub, EcoHub, Socrates Sports & Development, MIRE (Mapping, Identification & Registration Exercise for UASC), Central Triage Pharmacy, Themida Greece and of course our flagship Gekko Kids. Better Days’ primary missions are based in Athens and on Lesvos.
Better Days Greece has worked within the refugee community and as part of the grassroots and formal sector to support those seeking a safer future, with a specific focus on holistic support for unaccompanied and separated children and youth. Since inception, we have successfully implemented several interventions in Moria camp on Lesvos and designed and managed globally awarded and recognised humanitarian programs in Athens, Lesvos, and Thessaloniki. Our flagship project Gekko Kids (2017-2022), was an alternative educational centre for UASC (unaccompanied and separated children) implemented in Lesvos. Gekko is focused on providing high-quality, individualised education and support and was recently shortlisted by the 5th Global Entreps Awards Committee as one of the 100 Best Practices in the world on Sustainability (UN SDGs), Innovation and/ or Good Governance in education programming.
At Gekko, we strive to create a curriculum that expands outside the traditional academic structures and allows our students to explore different facets of education that inspire creativity and personal development. Our non-traditional and innovative teaching methods, the experience of our staff, and the individualised approach characterising our work have allowed our students to improve their educational and employment prospects, obtain accreditation and assume agency in their lives. The provision of a dignified, safe, and child-friendly space is foundational for the effective implementation of our programs.
Job Description:
This senior position requires problem-solving, analytical, and organisational skills. This job encompasses developing and maintaining policies and procedures that affect all aspects of Better Days’ operations in Greece. The role is responsible for creating, reviewing, assessing, and, where warranted, developing existing processes and the corresponsive procedures in accordance with the Quality Management System of Better Days Greece. They will be expected to link the D&D of the ISO processes to BD’s policies, philosophy and scope. They must be confident to perform internal audits and implement corrective actions across all organisational areas.
The right candidate must be experienced and confident with project management and program language. To begin they will be expected to conduct an internal audit and a market research to identify areas of growth. The right candidate should be prepared to work closely with the Management, liaise with all team members and drive capacity building in quality and compliance.
Main functions include:
Conduct research on essential policies and best practices for NGOs. Based on findings, identify policy areas, review and improve existing policies or develop new ones to best fit the organisation’s work, activities and strategic plan.
Review & Mapping of Better Days’ 4 processes: Accounts, Service Provision, Management & Recruitment. Support process development and QMS design.
Review Better Days’ existing procedures and templates and make controlled changes to improve operational systems in all areas. Create templates to homogenise and streamline administrative work
Recommend areas for future development to gain certification by international bodies and meet international standards
Qualifications and Experience: (candidates who do not meet the below criteria will not be considered)
Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
3+ years of experience in policy design, process and organisational development, working with NGOs, humanitarian actors and non-profit organisations.
Experienced with designing and implementing Quality Management Systems according to ISO9001:2015 International Standards.
Excellent level of English.
Advanced IT skills.
Candidates with qualifications in quality assurance, impact assessment, MEAL and internal audit will be prioritised.
Key characteristics: self-driven, confident, resourceful, organised, excellent communications skills
Knowledge of Greek requirements and proficiency in Greek language are considered advantageous for the role
Post Conditions:
Hybrid work contract
Status: Full-time position
Starting date: immediate
Contract: Employment in Greece. Freelancers will be considered
Duration: 3-month probationary period / with the possibility of extension.
Further information:
Better Days is a small and dynamic organisation looking to hire people who are passionate about humanitarian work, understand its risks and complexities, and are interested in investing in their role long-term. We are a quality-driven organisation determined to provide grassroots, holistic, and effective solutions to support the integration and de-victimization of displaced communities in Europe, focusing on refugee education and empowerment of youth. Our colleagues come from all over the world, and our official business language is English. The ideal candidate will be inducted for two weeks and trained during probation. At the end of a third month’s contract, the candidate is expected to participate in Better Days’ Employee Survey and Self-Assessment, which is part of their employee evaluation.
How to apply:
To apply, all applicants should please send their CV and a cover motivation letter in English to: [email protected] . Candidates who attach their CVs in any other language will not be considered.
Due to excessive workload, only successful candidates who meet the minimum criteria will be contacted. Note that BD has a thorough 3-step interview process, and our average processing time is 30-days depending on our workload. The position will be closed as soon as it is filled.
Closing date: 17/03/2023 or until the position is filled
