The Migration Policy Institute Europe (MPI Europe) is a nonprofit, independent research institute that aims to provide a better understanding of migration in Europe and thus promote effective policymaking. MPI Europe provides authoritative research and practical policy design to governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders who seek more effective management of immigration, immigrant integration, and asylum systems as well as successful outcomes for newcomers, families of immigrant background, and receiving communities in Europe.

Description

MPI Europe seeks a highly motivated Program/Research Assistant to join its dynamic Brussels team. Primary tasks include managing the Institute's events and meetings from start to finish, assisting in policy-relevant writing and editing, and producing high-quality research to support the MPI Europe team. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional organizational, writing, editing, and analytical skills and a thorough understanding of EU and European policy frameworks for immigration and asylum. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree with 2 years work experience (relevant internships will be taken into account). We will consider candidates holding a bachelor's degree, who can demonstrate significant work experience.
• Excellent English writing and editing skills (finalists will be asked to complete an in-person writing and/or editing exercise).
• Strong organization skills with attention to detail.
• High motivation and initiative; ability to handle multiple assignments, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work both independently as well as a part of a team.
• Proven research and analytical skills.
• Substantial knowledge of EU and European governments and institutions, legislation, and socioeconomic context.
• Academic and/or professional background in migration policy.

Preferred

• Additional foreign language capability, French strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of EU and European asylum policy framework and processes.
• Ability to effectively collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data through both primary and secondary sources.
• Strong knowledge and application of data and statistical analysis (with high proficiency in Excel), and related software packages.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Coordination

• Primary responsibility, under supervision, for coordinating public events and private roundtables for MPI Europe, and MPI's International Program, including helping to conceptualize projects, developing event agendas, managing correspondence with participants, and coordinating with external contributors and partners.
• Routinely draft official correspondence and develop project materials, as appropriate.
• Prepare and/or edit commissioned papers, including background papers, memoranda, reports, articles, etc., with guidance of senior staff.
• Actively monitor current migration debates and developments.
• Maintain and update MPI Europe contacts and mailing lists, calendar activities, and programmatic documents.

Research

• Contribute to drafting and editing both explanatory and analytical reports, policy briefs, and other research materials, both independently and with supervision.
• Carry out literature reviews, gathering both quantitative and qualitative data, to contribute to analytical research products, ensuring timeliness and accuracy in reporting.
• Contribute to and/or co-author MPI Europe articles and publications; may include single- and/or lead-author policy briefs or similar publications with appropriate experience and guidance.

Other

• Assist senior staff in fundraising duties, including writing sections of grant proposals and reports, conducting research on prospective funding opportunities.
• Offering support to the MPI Europe team with project management and other tasks where necessary.
• Represent MPI Europe in interactions with members of the European policy community.

Terms

The position will be for a one-year period, to begin in October 2014, and will be remunerated competitively, according to experience. Applicants must have permission to work in Belgium.

Please send a cover letter, CV, and short writing sample to hr@migrationpolicy.org . Please indicate in your application when you would be available to start.

Closing Date: 31 July 2014