Location: Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Arctic Council (AC) is an international forum that promotes co-operation on environmental protection and sustainable development issues in the Arctic. The Council is a unique body because it provides for the full participation of the Arctic Indigenous Peoples.
Known as Permanent Participants, representatives of six Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations work side by side with the eight Arctic Member Countries. The Council’s mandate includes incorporating the traditional and cultural needs, values, rights and practices of Arctic Indigenous Peoples in its programmes and policies.
The Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat was established to facilitate and assist the participation of the Arctic Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic Council .
The Permanent Participants are: Aleut International Association (AIA), the Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC), Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), Gwich’in Council International (GCI), Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North ( RAIPON ) and the Saami Council .
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Responsibilities
The Executive Secretary of the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat is responsible for the administration, supervision and management of the Secretariat. This is a two-year contract position, dependent on the availability of funding.
The mandate of the Secretariat is to facilitate meetings and dialogue among the Indigenous Peoples, assist Indigenous Peoples in making contributions to the AC processes, ensure timely distribution of AC documentation and to facilitate on-going work on traditional knowledge.
The Executive Secretary is responsible for the day-to-day management of a small Secretariat. The position requires extensive travelling, mainly in the Arctic. The Executive Secretary will be responsible to a Governing Board composed of representatives from the Arctic States and the Permanent Participants. Activities of the Secretariat are governed by the rules and regulations established by the Governments of Denmark and Greenland.
Qualifications
• A university degree, preferably at the master’s level in social or natural sciences, international or environmental law and politics, or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• A thorough understanding of Arctic Indigenous issues and politics
• Extensive experience in international co-operation and preferably in international negotiations/diplomacy
• A proven record of responsibilities in management/public administration
• Knowledge of financial administration and budgeting
• Fund raising experience and ability to write funding proposals
• Excellent qualifications in English (spoken and written), the working language of the Secretariat
• Knowledge of an Arctic Indigenous language and/or Russian would be an asset
Terms and Conditions
The successful candidate will be offered a two-year contract starting January 1, 2010. There will be a three-month probation period. Salary and benefits to be negotiated.
Contract renewal will be based on performance and the allocation of funding support from the Danish Government.
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE POSITION:
Monday, August 31, 2009
To apply, send a letter of application and a CV to:
Adam Worm
Greenland Representation
Strandgade 91, 3.
DK-1014 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Tel: +45 3283 3837
Fax: +45 3283 3801
Email: aw@ghsdk.dk
Web-site: www.arcticpeoples.org