Regional Ombuds EUCM

About Ombuds Office

The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent office supporting children and young people in situations that have not been successfully resolved by SOS Children’s Villages safeguarding processes.

An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who can listen, support, and guide children and young people. There are national, regional, and global Ombuds.

Developed with input from children and young people, the Ombuds Office functions on the fundamental principles of independence, impartiality, confidentiality, and informality. Honouring these principles are critical to the success of the Ombuds Office.

The Ombuds Office work independently of SOS Children’s Villages, as a check and balance to safeguarding with the goal of finding a solution to the concern raised.

About SOS Children’s Villages International

SOS Children’s Villages International is the umbrella organisation for the global federation of SOS Children’s Villages. As a non-governmental social development organisation we support children without parental care and families in difficult living conditions through services in care, education, health and emergency relief, and we advocate for the rights of children and young people, in alliance with a great diversity of partners. We work in more than 130 countries and territories, reaching over one million children, young people, families and caregivers each year. To support us with this important responsibility we are looking for a committed:

EUCM Regional Ombuds (f/m/d)

Location:  Amman, Vienna, Innsbruck, Skopje

Number of vacant positions: 1 full-time position

Limited contract: by December 2027

Purpose of the position:

The Regional Ombuds – Region CEE/CIS/ME, as a designated neutral professional will provide training and professional supervision to National Ombuds, so that they have the skills and knowledge to set up an Ombuds office, build awareness, promote prevention, nurture child participation, and enable children and young people to be safe in all SOS CV programs and services. The Regional Ombuds will also work closely with Member Associations to establish an Ombuds service.

The Regional Ombuds will operate independently from SOS Children’s Villages and will report to the Global Ombuds.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Train, mentor, manage, support and develop the skills of the National Ombuds within the region in relationship to the Ombuds role, responsibilities and processes in order to facilitate the promotion, prevention, participation and protection provided by the National Ombuds;
• Provide guidance, support, and training to National Ombuds to apply SOS Children’s Villages policies, regulations and processes. Help them navigate between SOS Children’s Villages and external processes and systems, as defined by national legislation and policy, in coordination with SOS Children’s Villages national and/or regional child safeguarding teams;
• Work with Regional Member Associations to establish an independent Ombuds Office that will be available to all SOS CV children and young people within their programmes and services;
• Work with external/state Ombuds when needed;
• Identify and communicate regional themes and gaps within SOS CV programmes, services and personnel practices related to safe environments for all SOS CV children and young people. 

Requirements:

• Master degree level in a relevant area such as mediation, social work, child psychology, sociology, child rights or protection, child and youth studies, law, or psychosocial wellbeing;
• Minimum five years demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: ombudsperson or mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or child rights;
• Three years minimum experience in management and leadership;
• Conflict management experience desirable;
• Excellent problem-solving and mediation skills;
• Experience in working with children and youths;
• Professional competence in English and Arabic;
• Knowledge of Russian would be an asset;
• Highly skilled in managing people and building effective teams across cultural contexts;
• Knowledge of children’s rights, human rights, best interests of the child, safeguarding, and related issues;
• Ability to work using child-centred principles;
• Facilitation/training skills using participatory methods;
• Project implementation skills desirable;
• Ability to work in a virtual office and global team;
• Availability for frequent travel;
• You have the right to work and live (Residence permit/citizenship) in the location you applied for.

We offer:

• Working for a meaningful cause
• The Opportunity to work for an NGO that is member of a recognized international network.
• Opportunities for learning and development
• Support from the Global Ombuds
• Satisfying and stimulating work
• Remote and in-person work arrangements 
• A salary that will be commensurate with experience and qualifications

What We Stand For: **

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, and prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organisation, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting, and ease response. The organisation prohibits harassment, exploitation and abuses by or of any employee, supervisor, manager, child, young people, community, contractor, applicant, or other individual with whom SOS Children’s Villages employees come into contact by virtue of their work. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our prevention and protection against Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse policy. In addition, SOS Children’s Villages apply a zero-tolerance concerning any fraud situation.

We also provide equal employment opportunities to all employees & qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class. SOS Children´s Villages complies with all applicable laws governing non-discrimination in employment.

Further information

This position involves working with an INGO committed to children and human rights and is subject to strict safer recruitment checks. The successful candidate will be required to complete safer recruitment checks including police and reference checks to help verify their suitability to work for SOS CV. In addition to candidate’s ability to perform the duties of the post, in the selection process will be also explored the motivation and approach of the candidate to safeguarding.

*To protect the independence of the Ombuds Office, this position is not open to SOS Children’s Villages employees or those who have been employed by SOS Children’s Villages within the last 2 years, or for those who have relatives working for SOS Children’s Villages.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this position, please apply via system or send your CV and motivation letter in English to [email protected] with the subject line “EUCM Regional Ombuds” by the latest 1^st June 2024.

* Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.

In case you have question, please reach out to us by email: [email protected]

You can find more details about us here:

Ombuds Office – SOS Children’s Villages (ombuds-sos-childrensvillages.org)

SOS-Children’s Villages International, www.sos-childrensvillages.org.