Job: Project Officer
Location: Athens, Greece
Starting Date: As soon as possible, to be discussed
Duration: Full time employment – 3 month trial period with likely full time employment for the duration of the project, and high chance of the project continuing.
Background of the Project
Through skateboarding, Free Movement Skateboarding (FMS) supports the wellbeing, empowerment and social cohesion of youth in Athens, Greece. Together, on and off the board, we push for a welcoming and diverse Athenian skate scene and society. Since 2017, we have taught over 860 sessions, with almost 2700 participants from our mobile skatepark. On average 35% are girls and are from more than 59 different nationalities, all living in Athens. FMS is designed to give access to the highest quality, sports based, trauma- informed youth work from trained professionals in the safest environment to disadvantaged youth. We meet the highest level of organisational competence and capacity as we are registered in both Greece as AMKE and the UK as a CIO under the Charity Commission, meeting the strict compliance regulations of both.
We specifically welcome applications from women, people of colour, refugees, migrants and asylum seekers to make our team as diverse as the people we teach.
You do not have to be a skateboarder to work at Free Movement Skateboarding, we are far more concerned about your capacity to interact with vulnerable young people in an appropriate and sensitive way. However, if you are a skateboarder, your contribution to teaching sessions will be greatly valued!
Do not be put off from applying if you do not meet the full job criteria.
The Position
FMS is seeking an active, enthusiastic and initiative taking person to help set up and run our community centre in Kato Patisia due to open in spring 2023.
In the first months, applicants will assist in setting up a youth centre/ community space in the Kato Patisia neighbourhood, whilst providing recreational and creative activities at sessions outdoors, as the space is being set up. Once the space is open they will be responsible for coordinating and delivering a weekly program for children, young people and our community at the space.
Applicants must be aware of the issues that disadvantaged young people face in Athens and how to work with a set of policies and procedures to support them through these problems.
FMS is a small team that works in a flexible way, with all core team members working in different areas of the organisation. As such, the desirable skills cover a broad range of working areas – we encourage you to mention any of these in your CV or application form.
Essential skills:
- Work or volunteer experience with vulnerable groups, such as refugees, migrants or asylum seekers, Roma, young people, those with physical / learning disabilities / difficulties and LGBTQIA+. Strong cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Experience in delivering group activities to young people and/or children. Able to plan and deliver a non-formal education and/ or creative workshops for young people in our space. Able to communicate and coordinate effectively with partner organisations so they can run programs in our centre.
- Fluent, working standard, written and spoken English and Greek is essential. French, Farsi, Arabic, Kurdish, Albanian, Ukrainian and Roma, or any other languages are highly desirable skills.
- Computer Literacy. Must be able to use Google Drive (sheets and docs) and email.
- Highly self-organised, used to working independently. Can identify issues and solve them, consulting with the broader team when appropriate.
- Strong team player. Comfortable with consensus based decision making in a small team.
The following desirable skills are largely already covered by others on the team, but any candidates with strong experience in these areas should state so, as we can look at redistributing work between us for the strongest team approach. We work flexibly and adapt roles to the strengths of individuals where possible.
Desirable skills:
- Child / vulnerable person safeguarding and protection, case management experience and training in these areas.
Studies and qualifications in pedagogy, social sciences, psychology, social work studies. - Experience working at or setting up a community space or youth centre.
- Experience in fundraising: support in grant researching and writing, donor information tracking on Google Sheets, donor relations through digital communication.
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and reporting: register and qualitative data from sessions – inputting, tracking and analysing to contribute to monthly reports to donors and trustees.
- Governance and legal: experience in policy and procedure writing, working with trustees, knowledge of UK Charity (CIO) or Greek MKO (AMKE) structures and their legal requirements. Submitting reports to the UK Charity Commission.
- Digital communications – social media management (Facebook and Instagram), responding to emails, website maintenance (blog writing / general updating), newsletter writing for donor organisations and individuals on the progress of FMS
- Sessional leader: confident to teach skateboarding, running youth artistic or homework help workshops.
- Has a driver’s licence for over 2 years and is confident to drive our Renault Trafic 2005 van.
- Maintenance of the van, organising repairs at mechanics if necessary. Skateboard, ramp and protection maintenance, keeping our participants safe through maintaining high quality equipment.
- Financial bookkeeping for a business or NGO in Greece.
FMS is committed to safeguarding children, young people, vulnerable adults and the elderly. All applicants are subject to a satisfactory DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) or Αντίγραφο Ποινικού Μητρώου check where appropriate.
To apply please fill out our online application form and send an email including your CV quoting your name and ‘job application’ in the subject line of the e-mail at: [email protected]
In the email please include an explanation for significant gaps in employment and education if applicable, or anything else you think we should know.
Application Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BOI1I1LkJpbXaYRTNsyB1QhsRcrLlHxO-6aPPOGM248/edit
Closing date: 6th February
All applications will be treated in strictest confidentiality. Personal data will be handled according to GDPR regulations.
