Project Officer – Migrant And Refugee Organising

CITIZENS UK 

Citizens UK uses broad-based organising to build people’s power, lead change for the common good, and strengthen civil society institutions.  

We have diverse alliances across the UK, made up of over 550 civic organisations who develop their own local agendas whilst also uniting around campaigns across the country.  Organisations work together to make change by winning concrete commitments from public and private sector power holders.  

Over the last thirty years, this has driven some of the biggest campaign impacts in the UK, such as winning £1.8bn in additional wages for low-paid workers. Some of our local campaigns have grown into large-scale social change projects including the Living Wage Foundation, Parents and Communities Together (PACT), Sponsor Refugees, and Refugees for Justice.  

Citizens UK undertakes a range of work related to migration and it is brought together under a theme called ‘Migrants & Refugees: Together We Can.’  Within the theme there are different teams, and this role will sit within our Migrants and Refugees Organising (MaRO) team, which is mainly made up of community organisers from diaspora, refugee, and formerly undocumented backgrounds. They collaborate with local civic organisations and migrant leaders, using community organising to achieve national change.    

PURPOSE 

Do you care about championing national change that secures justice for people with insecure immigration status, asylum seekers, and Refugees? Do you thrive on the intricacies of planning and organising things? 

Citizens UK’s Migrant and Refugee Organising (MaRO) team is looking for the right person to support the development and delivery of project management systems that will support the team’s political engagement strategy, aimed at improving the outcomes of people stuck in a broken immigration system. We have an ambitious agenda for change, supported by a dynamic national team of community organisers who reflect the diversity of the people and organisations we work with on the ground. 

As someone that is very organised and likes to finish tasks completely, you will be responsible for supporting with senior staff in various areas, including campaign strategy development and delivery, managing online and in-person events, communicating with internal and external stakeholders, assisting with staff meetings, and supporting our grant management system. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 

Working as the Project Officer for Citizens UK’s Migrant and Refugees Organising team, your main responsibilities will include: 

Campaign strategy support 

• Collaborate with senior staff to contribute to the development and delivery of campaign strategy through developing and tracking key campaign milestones and events. 
• Collaborate closely with team members to achieve overarching objectives 

Event management (online and in-person) 

• Manage both online and in-person events, ensuring smooth execution from planning to post-event evaluation. 
• Coordinate event logistics, including venue booking or organising Zoom link, participant registration, any travel arrangements and technical support. 
• Liaise with speakers, participants, and partners to ensure successful event outcomes. 

Stakeholder communications 

• Facilitate effective communication with internal and external stakeholders. 
• Draft and disseminate communications materials, including newsletters and press releases. 
• Work with our corporate communications team as and when needed. 
• Respond to inquiries and requests for information in a timely and professional manner. 

Staff meeting support 

• Work with Head of Migrant and Refugee Organising to assist in organising and preparing meetings with staff and external stakeholders, including scheduling, agenda creation, and documentation of meeting minutes. 
• Collaborate with team members to ensure that meetings run efficiently and action items are followed up on. 
• Participate in team meetings, share insights, and contribute ideas to advance the team's mission. 

Grant management support 

• Provide support in managing the grant management system, including data entry, tracking grant deadlines, and reporting. 
• Assist in grant proposal development and submissions as required. 

Administrative support 

• Provide general administrative support to the Migrant and Refugee Organising team, including filing, record-keeping, and maintaining organised documentation. 
• Undertake any other administrative tasks and responsibilities as needed to ensure the smooth operation of the team. 

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION 

REQUIREMENTS (ESSENTIAL (E), DESIRABLE (D))

EXPERIENCE 

• A minimum of 1 year of experience in an administrative or project support role within a busy team. (E)
• Experience in creating and improving administrative processes and efficiently organising data. (E)
• Experience in drafting high-quality communications, such as content for social media and newsletters. (E)

KEY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

• Managing calendars and project timelines. (E)
• Excellent time management skills, capable of managing multiple competing demands efficiently. (E)
• Ability to absorb and interpret information and present it in a clear and concise manner. (E)
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to interact effectively with a diverse range of individuals both internally and externally. (E)
• Proactive initiative to introduce and develop new administrative systems as needed. (E)
• Strong attention to detail. (E)
• Proficient in advanced IT and MS Office skills, particularly Word, Excel, and Outlook and/or Google equivalent. (E)
• Experience of using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database. (D)
• Understanding of the UK refugee and migrant policy and campaign landscape. (D)

PERSONAL QUALITIES AND VALUES 

• A proactive approach to work with a 'can-do' attitude and adaptability to meet various demands. (E)
• Confidence to work independently with minimal day-to-day supervision (once fully onboarded) (E)
• A strong commitment to the mission and work of Citizens UK. (E)
• An appreciation and respect for diverse communities, including faith groups and different cultures. (E) 

The successful applicant will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check.  

Interview date: Friday 1st March (subject to change)