Country Manager Finland

Description

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A TOP TALENT TO LEAD ASHOKA IN FINLAND
 
Are you a proactive, dynamic and entrepreneurial person who likes to both listen and lead? Ashoka is looking for a top talent to lead Ashoka in Finland. Ashoka is the world's first and largest organization for social entrepreneurship and changemaking. We support the world's leading social entrepreneurs and inspire young people to create positive change. 

Position: Country Manager Finland
What: Permanent position (2 years funding secured)
Start: As soon as possible, 1^st November 2019
Where: Helsinki, Finland
Application deadline: September 8^th 
 
The role
Ashoka started in Scandinavia in 2012 in Stockholm and expanded to Norway in 2014. We are now opening an office in Finland for the first time and transitioning to Ashoka Nordic. As Country Manager you will work independently as the sole employee in Finland, but in close contact with established collaboration partners in Finland and employees in Sweden/Norway. You are responsible for the day-to-day operations as well as representing and positioning Ashoka in Finland. This includes work in all Ashoka's programs, communications, administration, fundraising, projects and events. You will also act as a link between Ashoka in Finland and around the world and will establish and cultivate relationships that are necessary for this task. 
 
You are an important part of the Nordic team and Ashoka's global organization and will report to the leaders in Stockholm. This position requires that you speak and write fluently in Finnish and English, and that you can travel in the Nordics and Europe on a regular basis. You will be based in Helsinki, Finland.

Your main tasks will be to: 

• Coordinate the daily operations of Ashoka in Finland, represent and position Ashoka, social entrepreneurship and changemaking in Finland and the Nordic countries 
• Keep track of trends in social entrepreneurship and leading social entrepreneurs in Finland, including being responsible for analysing these trends in Finland with respect to social innovation and other areas interesting for Ashoka
• Identify, interview and follow up social entrepreneurs relevant to our fellowship program in collaboration with the Nordic team 
• Drive Ashoka's fellowship program in Finland by building relevant structures and systems in Finland and be the key contact person for our Fellows in Finland, supported by the Fellowship manager in Stockholm
• Run Ashoka´s Youth Program in Finland. This includes establishing partnerships, securing funding and reaching out to young people through partners, as well as contacting Changemaker Schools in Finland. You will be supported by our Nordic Youth manager in Stockholm
• Coordinate communication efforts in Finland in cooperation with the Nordic team. This includes communication material, translating to Finnish if needed, social media, homepage, Media contact person, stakeholder mapping, marketing, campaigns and PR events. You will be supported by our Nordic Communication Manager in Stockholm
• Take responsibility for long-term financial sustainability with a focus on Finland. This includes deepening relationships with existing investors and partners in Finland, capturing and creating new opportunities and build new partnerships that will enable Ashoka to create more impact in Finland
• Manage office and administration, including some areas of HR (volunteers and interns) and finance (financial reports and budget) in Finland
   

When we ask others who know you on the private and at work, they describe you as:

• Passionately committed to creating a better world and empower more changemakers
• Someone who shows initiative, independence and is not afraid to try new things
• A clear communicator with the ability to engage and mobilize people around you
• Self-driven and confident, all while listening and asking for input from others
• Happy to collaborate and with the ability to connect with a variety of people (youth, entrepreneurs, business leaders, politicians, investors, teachers, etc.)
   

Other skills and experience we are looking for:

• Experience with starting up and following through with a social initiative, organization, business etc. 
• Insight into social entrepreneurship and the field in Norway today
• Experience with fundraising and establishing partnerships
• Experience in economics, communication and/or organization building
• Good analytical skills
• Fluent in Finnish and English, written and oral

What we offer you

• Become part of one of the world's most reputable nonprofit organizations, by 2018 ranked among the world's 100 leading nonprofit organizations by The Global Journal
• Work with the world's oldest and largest organization for social entrepreneurship and changemaking
• Meet and work with some of the world's leading social entrepreneurs - also known as Ashoka Fellows
• Be part of a small, highly motivated team that is working to achieve Ashoka's vision in the Nordics
• Work in a value-driven environment, work independently, and develop and contribute to a society where more people have tools to initiate and control social change and ideas

About Ashoka
Ashoka is a global organization for social entrepreneurship and changemaking. Over the past 38 years Ashoka has not only coined the term social entrepreneur - but also pioneered social entrepreneurship globally. We have identified and supported over 3600 men and women with system-changing ideas to solve some of the world's most difficult issues. We have also worked for the world to see that social entrepreneurship is a powerful way to push forward change.
 
As the rate of change accelerates and our problems grow faster than the solutions, we have seen that more is needed. It is not enough that a few leads and the rest follow; Everyone must be a changemaker. Change competence such as empathy, collaboration, creative problem-solving and leadership is crucial for each of us to be prepared to respond to changes around us. We have also learned that as in math and languages, changemaker skills must be taught and trained early.
 
Ashoka is committed to act as a catalyst focused on creating demand for changemaker skills in society, as we did years ago with social entrepreneurship.
 
Visit us at http://ashoka.org/ or on social media:
www.facebook.com/Ashoka.Nordic
www.twitter.com/AshokaNordic