Regional Coordinator EU

ECPAT International is a global network of civil society organizations working together to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights, free and secure from all forms of sexual exploitation.

The ECPAT network currently has 122 member organizations in 104 countries. All members are independent organisations that work against the sexual exploitation of children. The Secretariat of the network is based in Bangkok, Thailand. The Secretariat implements global level programmes, and undertakes programming, campaigning, advocacy and research to facilitate a range of network initiatives.

Position background

Since mid-2020, ECPAT International started the “Project Beacon” initiative in response to concerns about new EU regulations and technology industry plans regarding encryption, which both have a strong risk of reducing child online safety. Over the course of 2021, the focus of Project Beacon has evolved to address the broader scope of technology companies’ responsibility and accountability for the safety and protection of children on their platforms. For the coming three years, ECPAT has secured funding to continue work in this area through a coordinated civil society effort of ensuring that the safeguarding argument is front and centre at debates and decisions by EU policymakers and legislators across all areas of the EU’s digital transformation. For this reason, ECPAT is now looking for an EU Coordinator position to lead this initiative in the coming three years.

Objectives

• Establish a strong reputation for ECPAT International as a go-to civil society partner for policymakers, the media and the private sector in Brussels;
• Build close relationships with all ECPAT members in the EU as well as other strategic civil society organisation partners to build capacity and a collaborative environment to advocate in relation to children’s rights, child online protection and technology;
• Play a central role in information and knowledge exchange between EU focused activities and the global ECPAT network on technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children.

Specific tasks

• Develop, deliver and monitor a detailed work plan for a three-year period
• Promote and coordinate collaboration of ECPAT’s EU membership, with focus on technology-facilitated sexual exploitation
• Establish and/or expand existing relationships with key stakeholders inside and external to the EU institutions. **
• Represent ECPAT International at EU-based events of relevance to the theme of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children
• Manage a small team of project staff and consultants
• Establish a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange with ECPAT’s external Senior Advisor and relevant Secretariat Staff
• Donor relations and development of funding proposals

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in law, human and child rights, international relations, or another related field;
• Minimum of eight years’ experience in advocacy and programme management, including experience in EU advocacy;
• Knowledge of child rights and sexual exploitation of children offline and in the digital environment;
• Knowledge and understanding of legislative developments at EU level related to the Digital Services Act is a plus;
• Understanding of technology solutions for child online protection is a plus;
• Experience in private sector engagement is a plus;
• Excellent English language skills (written and verbal), knowledge of other EU (and network) languages including French, Spanish, German and Italian, is a plus.

Competencies

• Demonstrated commitment to ECPAT’s mission and values;
• Advocacy and networking: excellent interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and persuasiveness;
• Stress tolerance and ability to work in a competitive ecosystem
• Sound strategic thinking and agile planning skills, including the ability to think creatively, and to innovate and to set priorities in a fast-paced changing and complex environment;
• Demonstrated excellence in managing multi partner and multi-disciplinary collaboration;
• Ability to work autonomously while staying connected to a bigger team remotely based in different time zones.

Additional Information

• As a child-focused organisation, ECPAT has a strong commitment to child safeguarding and rigorous procedures. The successful candidate will be required to provide three referees and a criminal record from country of residence and country of origin (as applicable).
• Duty station: Brussels; Missions to the ECPAT Secretariat office in Bangkok up to twice a year.