Job opportunity: Landmine Monitor Editor-in-Chief

JOB DESCRIPTION

ICBL LANDMINE MONITOR

Position Title: Editor-in-Chief

Location: Negotiable

Reporting Relationships:Reports to: Landmine Monitor Editorial Board

Supervises: Writers, Editors, Researchers and Interns

Contract Period: Annual and renewable

Salary: Negotiable plus Vacation Pay & Benefits Package

Starting Date: February 2005

Landmine Monitor is an unprecedented initiative of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), the global coalition of non-governmental organizations working since 1992 to eliminate antipersonnel landmines. The ICBL was awarded the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. The ICBL established the Landmine Monitor project in 1998 to monitor the implementation of and compliance with the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and more generally to assess the international community’s response to the humanitarian crisis caused by landmines. Landmine Monitor marks the first time in history that non-governmental organizations have come together in a coordinated, systematic and sustained way to monitor a humanitarian law or disarmament treaty, and to regularly document progress and problems. The Landmine Monitor system features a global research network and an annual report. On 17 November 2004, the ICBL launched the sixth annual report, the 1,300-page Landmine Monitor Report 2004: Toward a Mine-Free World.

THIS IS A NEW POSITION.

Position Summary:

Working in close collaboration with the Editorial Board, the Project Manager and other members of the Landmine Monitor team, and ICBL staff, the Editor-in-Chief is responsible for producing the annual Landmine Monitor report, its Executive Summary, and other research products. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the final edit of the entire annual report. The Editor-in-Chief is expected to provide intellectual leadership for the Landmine Monitor initiative, and to ensure that the high standards of research, writing, accuracy and political impartiality are maintained. The Editor-in-Chief, along with the Project Manager, must ensure that the research network and the editorial team of thematic coordinators and experts/writers are functioning effectively and efficiently.

Requirements:

The Editor-in-Chief must have excellent writing, editing and research skills. English-language skills are essential, other language skills are desirable. Extensive knowledge of the landmine issue is necessary; prior experience with the ICBL and Landmine Monitor is desirable. Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines are required.

Major Responsibilities:

Program development, planning, implementation and evaluation

• Provide input into and Implement policy decisions of the Editorial Board
• Develop and implement annual work plan
• Evaluate LM successes and problems

Annual LM reports and other publications

• Help the Editorial Board to determine the overall content of the annual Landmine Monitor Report in light of the decision to no longer have individual country reports for every nation
• Conduct the final edit of the entire annual Landmine Monitor Report, as well as its Executive Summary, for both content and style, in order to ensure accuracy, consistency, and completeness
• Carry out such research, writing and editing as needed to supplement the work of the research network and Editorial Team throughout the course of the year
• Take the lead in writing certain sections of the annual report and executive summary, as determined by the Editorial Board (for example, “About Landmine Monitor,” “Acknowledgments,” “Introduction,” “Major Findings,” “Key Developments,” “Mine Action Funding,” and new sections capturing essential elements of developments in countries without an individual report).
• Help prepare Fact Sheets and other publications for distribution at Mine Ban Treaty meetings and other fora.

Research Network and Editorial Team

• Help to develop criteria and processes for the selection of researchers for the research network
• In conjunction with thematic coordinators, help to develop and maintain a team of experts (sectoral experts, writers, and/or editors) to prepare the annual report and other products as determined by the Editorial Board
• Provide leadership and supervision to the research network and the Editorial Team of thematic coordinators and experts/writers
• Serve as the primary point of contact for researchers on matters of substance; serve as the “communication link” between the research network, the Editorial Team and the Editorial Board
• Maintain an updated research guide for use by in-country researchers and the Editorial Team.

Representation

• Serve as a representative of and spokesperson for Landmine Monitor, with the media and in various fora, including Mine Ban Treaty meetings, and other national, regional, and international conferences.

Other responsibilities:

Financial management, human resources management, and general administration are primarily the responsibility of the Project Manager. However, the Editor-in-Chief is expected to work cooperatively with the Project Manager on these tasks.

Financial Management

Assist with preparation of an annual budget; assist in drafting funding proposals and follow-up with potential donors; help monitor expenditures; assist with preparation of financial and narrative reports to donors; participate in audit processes as necessary.

Human Resource Management

Help ensure the team of researchers, writers and editors is adequately staffed to achieve short and long-term goals; help ensure interns and volunteers are managed; participate in the resolution of operational issues

Administration

Help establish and implement administrative policies and procedures to ensure efficient, cost-effective operations; help ensure issues of concern are brought to attention of the Editorial Board; help draft and distribute agendas, decision memos, and discussion points as input to meetings; help ensure minutes of meetings are produced and distributed

Please send curriculum vitae, letter of application, writing sample, and list of references to:

Landmine Monitor Hiring Committee

c/o Mines Action Canada
1502-1 Nicholas Street,
Ottawa, ON
Canada K1N 7B7

Email: jobsSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERminesactioncanada.org (emailed applications are preferred)