Vacancy - April 2002 Women's Budget Group Project Officer 3 year contract - 35 hours per week £23,000 per annum + 5% pension contribution Background information: The Women's Budget Group (WBG) seeks to influence the government's policy agenda in order for policy making to deliver more effectively to women, especially the poorest.  The WBG is an independent organisation, bringing together academics and people from non-governmental organisations and trades unions to promote gender equality through appropriate economic policy.  As well as advocating specific policies, the WBG aims to encourage government to use gender analysis to improve its economic policy making.   The work of the WBG is focussed at the national level, but it has links with a group that has a similar aim for Scotland, and with both NGOs and intergovernmental organisations that promote gender budgeting internationally. The Project Officer would be based in the offices of the Fawcett Society and would be responsible for co-ordinating the work of the group over the next three years.  The post is largely self-supporting and requires an individual who can manage their own work schedule and deliver on agreed priorities.  The Project Officer would be responsible to the WBG management committee, with day to day management support and supervision provided by the chair of the WBG.  In future, the post may involve the management of interns and volunteers.  The post is subject to a six month probationary period. Key responsibilities: Co-ordinate WBG meetings with Treasury Officials, Ministers, MPs and others Disseminate information across the WBG membership, principally by e-mail Maintain and update the WBG website Co-ordinate, draft, edit and disseminate WBG documents Produce six monthly progress reports and financial statements for the funders, Barrow Cadbury, and draft annual reports Keep the group's accounts and prepare a six monthly budget statement Support the group as a forum of expertise on gender analysis of economic policy by disseminating ideas among our members and organising members' meetings and other seminars Support the chair in her work facilitating the group Agree work plan with the Management Committee and regularly report progress Develop and nurture strategic alliances with other organisations (including Government) nationally and internationally Develop a strategy for effective dissemination of the group's work Organise a programme of activities (including seminars and other meetings) Arrange and service internal and external meetings of the group Deal with national and international enquiries about the group's work Person specification Essential Good verbal and written communication skills Knowledge of e-mail and website technologies Administrative and organisational skills Experience in organising successful events such as meetings and seminars Understanding of current economic and social policy issues affecting women Ability to work effectively with people from a range of backgrounds including: academics, trade unionists, campaigners, civil servants and politicians of all parties Ability to work to tight deadlines and to manage own workload Ability to work effectively as part of a team Support for the aims of the Women's Budget Group and commitment to Equal Opportunities Desirable Knowledge and understanding of central government structures and parliamentary and political procedures Ability to assimilate and present complex information to a range of audiences Academic background in economics, social policy and gender analysis Familiarity with spreadsheet or accounting software Applications should arrive on or before the 15th April 2002 and should be sent to Dr Katherine Rake, Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE or by e-mail to k.rake@lse.ac.uk. Please enclose a full cv highlighting how your experience matches with the person specification given and including the names and contact details of two referees, at least one of whom should be a current/recent employer. Interviews will be held in London on 22nd April 2002. More information about the Women's Budget Group can be found at http://www.wbg.org.uk If you have any questions or would like an informal chat about the post, please contact Katherine Rake by phone (020 7955 6184) or on the e-mail address given above.