Policy Officer position

Job Purpose

Location: IFLA Headquarters, The Hague (The Netherlands)
Position Type: 36 hours per week / 3 year contract
Specialism: Policy and copyright
Salary: c. € 37.704 max (based on experience and qualifications)
Closing date: 13 November 2009

IFLA is actively involved in extensive advocacy work that seeks to ensure libraries around the world are able to offer the fullest access to information to their users. This work takes place at national levels, through liaison with national library associations, and at regional and international levels, often through collaboration with like-minded NGOs in arena such as the European Commission or the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

In this job you will work with the Senior Policy Advisor at IFLA’s Headquarters on the Federation’s international advocacy work of education, relationship building and interventions in relation to strategic themes. In particular, you will be responsible for participating in formulating IFLA policy in relation to the publishing industry and copyright and other legal matters, placing emphasis on fair and balanced copyright frameworks that enable libraries to provide equitable access to information to their users. You will report to the Senior Policy Advisor.

You will have knowledge of international copyright frameworks, information law and intellectual property, in relation to libraries. You will also have knowledge of the publishing industry and other information/cultural/commercial agencies in the political process. You will be aware of the current state and future direction of library and information services worldwide, able to write statements supporting policy (often on the fly) and able to represent and lobby on behalf of IFLA in a variety of forums. You will have good written and oral communication skills and the ability to target style to different audiences; excellent knowledge of English, orally and in writing, and a good knowledge of at least one of the other of IFLA’s  working languages is needed.

If you are interested in adding your expertise to IFLA, please have a look at the job description in more detail.

How to Apply
Applications should respond specifically to the selection criteria in the job description. Applications should be in English and consist of a covering letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, and the names of two referees.
The closing date for applications is 13 November 2009. Applicants requested for an interview in The Hague will be contacted by IFLA late December 2009. IFLA reserves the right not to make an appointment in this application round. The successful candidate will be expected to assume duty in The Hague in the first half of 2010.

For further details, please contact:
Stuart Hamilton
Email: stuart.hamilton@ifla.org
Please submit your application to:
Magda Bouwens
IFLA Headquarters
P.O. Box 95312
2509 CH The Hague, Netherlands
E-mail: magda.bouwens@ifla.org


Job Description

Job Title: Policy Officer
Post number: 91001
Role group: Officer / Expert
Cooperates with: Senior Policy Advisor; interns
Reports to: Senior Policy Advisor
Location: IFLA Headquarters, The Hague, Netherlands
Date: 30 September 2009

Job Purpose
Works on IFLA’s international advocacy work of education, relationship building and interventions in relation to strategic advocacy themes. In particular, the Policy Officer will be responsible for participating in formulating IFLA policy in relation to the publishing industry and copyright and other legal matters, placing emphasis on fair and balanced copyright frameworks that enable libraries to provide equitable access to information to their users.

Key Areas of Responsibility / Main Tasks

  • Liaising with the Senior Policy Advisor and appropriate IFLA Officers to undertake IFLA’s advocacy activities, within identified strategic advocacy themes;
  • Monitoring relevant movements, international conventions and treaties, activities of international organizations and policy initiatives that may affect the legal frameworks in which libraries carry out their work;
  • Evaluating the potential effects of the above;
  • Developing alternative policies beneficial to libraries and their users and the drafting of IFLA statements and positions;
  • Networking with partner organizations (NGO, governmental and commercial) and within relevant international bodies;
  • Assisting IFLA in its representational roles at meetings of relevant international bodies, especially WIPO, including the presentation and dissemination of IFLA statements and positions;
  • Educating current and potential stakeholders;
  • Raising awareness within the library profession and user communities;
  • Contributing to the professional and strategic reflection within IFLA Headquarters and in the Federation as a whole;
  • Advising the IFLA Secretary General, IFLA Governing Board and Chair of CLM on copyright strategies for libraries;
  • Providing support to IFLA’s relevant committees and advisory boards.

Personal Profile
A graduate (at least master's level) in library/information science and/or international politics or law or other relevant discipline, able to communicate fluently in English and at least one of the additional official languages of IFLA (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian, Spanish), able to work independently, and willing to travel internationally.

Selection Criteria
The person in this position will:

  • Have knowledge of international copyright and frameworks, information law and intellectual property, in relation to libraries;
  • Have knowledge of the publishing industry and other information/cultural/commercial agencies in the political process;
  • Be aware of the current state and future direction of library and information services worldwide, and able to represent and lobby on behalf of IFLA in a variety of forums;
  • Be organized and able to work independently, as well as within a small team, with diplomacy, discretion and ability to make interventions;
  • Have demonstrated good written and oral communication skills and the ability to target style to different audiences; excellent knowledge of English, and a good knowledge of another of IFLA’s seven official working languages;
  • Be able to write statements supporting policy, often on the fly, and to present submissions and papers that represent IFLA’s positions to a variety of audiences;

Be committed to participative management practices, workplace diversity and to working effectively in a team environment.

Last update: 1 October 2009