Russian- and Ukrainian-Speaking Grants Consultant, Disability Rights Fund, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Disability Rights Fund seeks Russian- and Ukrainian-Speaking Grants Consultant

Application Deadline: February 1, 2010

About the consultancy
This consultancy position offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with a groundbreaking grantmaking initiative supporting the rights of persons with disabilities. The Grants Consultant will help the Fund build relationships with its target grantee community in Ukraine. The main objectives of the position are to support DRF staff with grantee communications and oversight and to review and evaluate Russian- and Ukrainian-language grant applications. The Fund is looking for a candidate who is able to work in a fast-paced environment, is flexible, takes initiative, and is independent, but team-oriented.

About the Disability Rights Fund
Launched in January of 2008 as a project of the Tides Center, the Disability Rights Fund is a grantmaking collaborative aimed at building community capacity to achieve the rights of all persons with disabilities. The Fund makes modest grants (USD $5000-70,000) to Disabled Persons’ Organizations in the Global South and in Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union for advancing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at country-level.

About the DRF Grants Process
In 2010, the Fund will launch its second year of grantmaking to organizations in Ukraine (as well as in 24 other countries around the world; in Africa, Ghana, Namibia and Uganda; in Latin America, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru; in Asia, Bangladesh and India; and 14 Pacific Island Countries). A request for proposals will be posted February 15; the deadline for applications is in April. Grant applications will be evaluated in a staged process, with the consultant and DRF staff completing a first and second review in April-May and preparing dockets for a third review by the DRF Steering Committee in their meeting June 12-13.

Current Ukrainian grantees (who began projects September 1 2009) will be submitting grant mid-term reports in March 2010. The consultant will aid DRF staff in review of these reports and communications with grantees about their project implementation.

Consultant Responsibilities

• Interface with DRF staff and current Ukrainian grantees to ensure that projects are progressing smoothly.
• Support DRF staff in Ukrainian grantee mid-term report review and communications with grantees about reports.
• Conduct grants review, evaluation and tracking process for Ukrainian applicants, in conjunction with DRF staff.
• Serve as liaison between DRF and Russian and Ukrainian-speaking prospective grantees to help translate emails, answer questions, complete application paperwork, and build relationships.

Skills and qualifications
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• Grantmaking or grantseeking experience preferred
• Professional written and verbal translation skills Russian and Ukrainian to English and English to Russian and Ukrainian
• Strong administrative and organizational skills; the ability to manage time efficiently
• Computer proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to work well with diverse populations from around the world
• Familiarity with the Ukrainian community of DPOs and the CRPD preferred
• Bachelors degree, or equivalent with minimum 5 years of relevant experience; advanced degree desired

Compensation
Commensurate with experience.

Time Commitment
February-December, 5-40 hours per week

How to apply
Disability Rights Fund, a Project of the Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, and people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please email or mail a cover letter, resume, three references (with contact information and relationship), writing sample (five page maximum) to:

Disability Rights Fund
Diana Samarasan, Director
Third Sector New England’s NonProfit Center
89 South Street, Suite 203
Boston, MA 02111-2670
dsamarasan@disabilityrightsfund.org (please no phone calls)
Fax: (617) 261-1977

Deadline: Applications must be received by February 1, 2010.

http://wecando.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/drf-russian-grant-consultant/