Coordinator – Right to a Liveable Environment

OtherWise is a small but far-reaching NGO associated with Wageningen UR, its main aim is to empower people to achieve a sustainable livelihood. Our activities are characterised by social justice, international cooperation, sustainability, and democratising knowledge & research. We nurture empowerment by creating learning experiences both within and outside Wageningen UR, by giving a platform to alternative voices, and by holding a space for critical thinking. At OtherWise we promote awareness of choices by highlighting views or methods which challenge the dominant ways of thinking or doing, and help students get inspired by, and engage in, promising people-driven initiatives. We want to create a dialogue on development based on knowledge-sharing between Wageningen UR and society. To this end OtherWise works with a broad network of partners inside and outside of the university, nationally and internationally.

Our aim is translated in several programs on (i) Right to a liveable environment, (ii) Agro-ecology & food sovereignty, (iii) Democratising knowledge and (iv) Spotlight initiatives. To promote knowledge-sharing we run a programme connecting thesis students with non-commercial bodies in need of research help, and we organise regular activities such as the iWeek on participatory methods (July), TheatreWise, and the Global Guests high school-program, as well as hosting the glocal Participand-network.

Otherwise works with 3 coordinators, the board of the Foundation, and enthusiastic student-volunteers and project-assistants; each group has a role in fulfilling the organisation's responsibilities, governance, and learning processes, enabling the foundation to develop constantly higher levels of performance and to keep contributing to a thriving Wageningen UR community.

Job description

The coordinator for Right to a Liveable Environment is responsible for:

• Coordinating and facilitating the theme Right to a Liveable Environment
• Providing support and guidance to volunteers, interns and thesis researchers
• Arranging public activities
• Practical support for other programs or themes where appropriate (e.g. the Research Mediation Program and Spotlight theme)
• Expanding the OtherWise-network among students in Wageningen and relevant organisations nationally and internationally
• Project acquisition and funding
• Project administration and evaluation
• Co-leadership of the yearly OtherWise work-program together with the other coordinators

Qualifications and skills

• A relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree, i.e. international development studies or environmental studies
• Specific knowledge and awareness of the field of human rights, environmental justice, social justice, indigenous communities
• Comfortable in an advocacy role
• Ability to pro-actively approach grassroots initiatives
• Proven interest in international cooperation, sustainable development, grassroots science, institutional change and glocalisation
• Proven good interpersonal, organisational and communication skills
• Proven team-player
• Ability to coordinate and motivate an intercultural team of student-volunteers
• Creative and able to generate and stimulate initiatives
• Affinity with participatory approaches and methods
• Excellent verbal and written English, some knowledge of Dutch is useful
• Flexible and prepared to work irregular hours

General conditions

• Appointment will be made per 1st September, 2014
• A contract for one year, with possibility of an extension
• 16 hrs a week
• A probation period of one month
• Salary based on CAO-Welfare

Applications

Interested candidates should send a curriculum vitae and a covering letter (both in English) to Ms. Fiona Morris, Chair of the OtherWise board, at the following e-mail address: vacancy.otherwise@gmail.com. The deadline for application is 29th June, 2014.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview in the week of 7th July, 2014.

For more information visit the site: www.st-otherwise.org or call one of the coordinators at the office number: 0317-483148.