Job: Consultant, OSI-ESP Education Across the Caucasus Initiative

Job: Consultant, OSI-ESP Education Across the Caucasus Initiative

The Education Support Programme (ESP) of the Open Society Institute (OSI) is seeking a consultant to support writing of a publication based on the Education Across the Caucasus Initiative.

This initiative is a partnership between OSI and the Austrian Ministry of Education, Culture and the Arts and the Interkulturelles Zentrum; national Soros Foundations in the South Caucasus; and civil society partners in the North and South Caucasus regions.

OSI envisions a print and online publication of 30-50 pages in English that includes both text and photographs with possible translation and publication in Russian or other appropriate local languages.

Job Responsibilities

The consultant will report to the Senior Program Manager responsible for the Caucasus Initiative.  This consultancy is calculated at a maximum of 45 days, including travel to Vienna, Austria and the Caucasus, between June, 2009 and February, 2010.  OSI offers competitive compensation and reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred as a result of the consultancy.

Qualifications, Expertise and Skills

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

* Demonstrated experience reporting or writing for a wide audience on social or education issues, particularly issues around vulnerable children;
* Experience interviewing children and parents highly desirable;
* Native English writing and speaking skills strongly preferred;
* Knowledge of Russian or other local languages would be helpful;
* Deep understanding of social and cultural issues in the Caucasus;
* Background in journalism or related area preferred;
* Ability to work under tight deadlines and to coordinate work with the photographer engaged by OSI;
* Ability to work in multicultural environments;
* Willingness to travel to the Caucasus for field work and participate in required meetings in the EU.

How to apply

Please send the following documents to Olena Sydorenko at sydorenko@osi.hu  by May 20, 2009:

* Resume and cover letter that describes your interest in this position.
* A writing sample that includes previously published work, preferably covering education or social issues pertaining to children and youth.

Selection process

ESP will consider applications and will respond to finalists for interviews by June 1, 2009.