Advocacy, Policy and Media Outreach Lead

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

SCOPE OF WORK

The IRC is seeking an Advocacy, Policy and Media Outreach Lead for an upcoming FCDO Strengthening Humanitarian Assistance and Response to Protection Risks in Ukraine Project (SHARP). This project aims strengthen the protection response for the most at risk such as survivors of violence, children, persons with disabilities, minority groups and older persons; strengthen legal protection including facilitating access to legal identity and civil documentation; enhance mental health and psychosocial services and improve the legal and policy environment for conflict affected individuals.

The Advocacy, Policy and Media Outreach Lead will provide technical leadership and direction on all aspects of advocacy, policy and media outreach to the SHARP project team. The Advocacy, Policy and Media Outreach Lead is responsible for developing advocacy materials, coordinating the policy comment process, engaging with media, and organizing meetings and events. This role supports the development and implementation of the SHARP project’s advocacy objectives, developing position papers, training materials, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders. The Advocacy, Policy and Media Outreach Lead monitors legislative trends, performs analysis, and crafts key messages in coordination with consortium partners. This role ensures active engagement on strategic protection and rights issues, identifies opportunities for policy influence, and fosters partnerships and complementarity to strengthen the consortium’s advocacy capacity. This role reports to the Team Lead or Deputy Team Leader.

Please note that recruitment is contingent upon the successful award of the project, and the selection of final applicants is subject to FCDO’s approval.

Responsibilities

Leads to the development and execution of a policy and advocacy strategy, a communications plan including media outreach to support project priorities.

Supports project leadership and consortium partners in articulating and advancing organizational advocacy priorities.

Produces and disseminates advocacy communications for key advocacy messages in coordination with technical teams and consortium partners.

Engages, influences, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to achieve advocacy objectives.

Engages with stakeholders, including policymakers, governmental agencies leaders, coalitions and other partners, to advance advocacy goals.

Collaborates with knowledge management, research, evidence, and project teams to support an evidence-based advocacy agenda.

Produces and manage reports, briefing papers, and presentations for internal and external audiences.

Proactively supports reporting, assessments, evaluation and capitalization efforts related to integrated protection.

Engages actively in relevant clusters, working groups, areas of responsibilities, and other coordination mechanisms at regional and national levels.

Represents the consortium at national and regional policy forums and advocacy events.

Requirements

Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Law, Human Rights, Political Sciences, or a Master’s Degree in another relevant field and experience in human rights, and/or humanitarian assistance.

Minimum of 5 years of experience in advocacy and policy related to human rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and/or humanitarian assistance.

Extensive knowledge of Ukraine legal and political systems, civil society and media is preferred

Experience building alliances and coalitions addressing protection, IHL violations, human rights violations and other international development issues.

Extensive knowledge of the humanitarian coordination mechanism in Ukraine and relevant clusters and working groups.

Demonstrated ability to adapt programming to fast-changing operating environment.

Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work with diverse teams and audience.

Extensive knowledge of the Ukraine context, especially population groups most at risk of such as survivors of violence, children, persons with disabilities, minority and LGBTIQ groups, older persons, Roma communities and other ethnic minorities.

Please note that the job description is high level and indicative only at this stage and may be subject to change once the Terms of Reference for the SHARP project are released and as the opportunity develops. This position will be contingent on the outcome of the stage-1 process.

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.