Regional Secretary for Europe, LWF at The Lutheran World Federation

Worldwide

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Regional Secretary for Europe, LWF</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Place of assignment: Incumbent's country of residence</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">The employment conditions will be defined with the final selected candidate</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Starting date: 1 February 2027</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Contract period: initial contract of 5 years, renewable once</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Work time: 100 %</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Average travel days per year: extensive (more than 20 days per year)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Organizational Context</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a communion of 153 churches in 99 countries that collaborate on matters of theology, Christian unity, holistic mission, humanitarian and development aid. The Communion Office (CO) is the headquarters of the LWF. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">The Office of the General Secretary (OGS) in the CO is responsible for managing and nurturing relationships and ensuring the smooth running of the Communion Office as it fulfils the Strategy of the LWF. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Regional Secretaries (RS) are the OGS’s primary link to member churches at the regional level, focusing specifically on the strategic priority of “Thriving Churches.” The RS for Europe is responsible for the three European Regions: Central Eastern Europe, Central Western Europe, and the Nordic Countries.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">S-he works remotely from the country of residence.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Purpose</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Under the leadership of the General Secretary, the Regional Secretary for Europe:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Accompanies member churches in their ministry, offering counsel, support and cooperation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Supports the churches to express their relationships of communion in their shared life and witness.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Acts as a facilitator in the implementation of LWF’s programmatic work, ensuring coherence, consistency, relevance and responsiveness, both regionally and globally.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Required Qualifications</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Degree in Theology.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Ordained pastor in a member church.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Excellent written and spoken English.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">A member church endorsement is required for this position.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Additional Study and Experience</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Successful experience of at least 5 years in positions involving mission, theological reflection, as well as planning.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Demonstrated excellent capacity in mediation, coaching, and group facilitation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Demonstrated diplomatic, relational and political skills.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Proven process management skills.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Solid experience within an LWF member church and in regional settings.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Demonstrated excellent capacity to develop interpersonal working relationships at both strategic and operational levels.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Proven ability to lead and interact with multi-cultural and multi-professional teams with indirect supervision role.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Knowledge of German and French is an asset.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">LWF Core Skills</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Analytical thinking - Level advanced</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Initiative – Level advanced</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Leadership -</span> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Level advanced</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Achieving results - Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Accountability - Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Working effectively with others - Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Required Skills</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Organisational development – Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Communication – Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Networking – Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Diplomacy – Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Facilitation / Negotiation / Mediation – Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Advocacy / Influence – Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Project management – Level resource</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Position Environment and Dimensions</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Represents the LWF Communion Office regionally and acts as the primary entry point for accompaniment, advice and support to and from mermber churches.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">S-he deepens the understanding of the LWF as a Communion of churches in the European regions, while bringing inputs from the regional level to the global.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Provides guidance and contextualizes LWF policies and practices, ensuring consistency and quality at regional level.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Contributes at regional level to LWF sustainable development and financing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-indent: 35.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Major influence role in shaping regional and global LWF impact and outcomes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Internally</span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">, interacts with the General Secretary and the staff of the Office of the General Secretary, all LWF departments, program staff, event organizers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Externally</span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">, interacts primarily with member churches as well as other churches, ecumenical bodies, donors and related agencies, and any other relevant LWF stakeholders.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Main duties</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Member church accompaniment</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Plans and leads regional and sub-regional leadership meetings.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Maintains regular, ongoing contact with member churches, ensuring strong relationships and flow of information.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Provides pastoral accompaniment through regular visits to the member churches of the region.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Identifies and promotes the development of church leadership regionally and globally, both clergy and lay.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Facilitates relationships between MCs, mitigates tensions and manages conflicts as needed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Programmatic coordination</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Monitors and develops LWF orientations, strategy and objectives for the European regions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Identifies and coordinates expertise and resources in the Communion for program work and capacity building in the European regions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Participates in and contributes to the periodic program reviews of the departments.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Coordinates the process of the mutual responsibility framework in the European regions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Cooperation across the Communion Office</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Supports the design, planning, implementation of programs relating to the three European regions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Cooperates with other LWF Regional Secretaries to ensure cohesion and consistency between the regions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Advises and supports communication for the purpose of communion building.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Convenes regional meetings in the Communion Office to exchange information and address issues in the region of responsibility.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Management</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Line manages a shared assistant position.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Special duties</span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">: Any other duties may be assigned by the General Secretary.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Major challenges</span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">: Accompanying churches that work and witness across different contexts. Strengthening communion relationships across the three diverse regions during times of change. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; layout-grid-mode: line;">Proactively connecting with colleagues in the Geneva Communion Office or delocalized.</span></span></p>