Head of Advocacy – Washington DC

1. Establishing Crisis Action Presence in Washington DC – You will establish a presence in Washington DC for Crisis Action and consolidate and expand Crisis Action’s relationship with core partners and network members in DC. You will bring an ambitious entrepreneurial attitude and work with Crisis Action’s senior team to develop a Washington DC office strategy.

2. Development and Implementation of Collective Advocacy towards US government – You will work with our partner organizations in Washington to drive forward, develop and coordinate advocacy to prevent and stop conflict. Your main objective will be to link up DC based partners to our global advocacy. You will ensure that our global campaigns have a strong US government component. This process will involve advising on strategy, proposing tactics and then implementing diverse advocacy activities. These could include media work, campaign stunts, insider advocacy, preparing reports and briefings and identifying and building relationships with potential allies inside and outside the US government.

3. Washington DC Political Analysis - Focusing on actual or potential conflicts of most concern to our partners, you will investigate and analyze the policy positions of key US government policy makers. You will ensure that Crisis Action builds up in-depth and sophisticated intelligence on the position of key actors within the US government towards relevant conflicts, the results of which will be top quality advice to partners on advocacy demands, strategy and suggestions for action in Washington. You will also be responsible for feeding this intelligence into our global campaign groups, strategies and analysis.

Qualifications

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The following are essential:

· A proven track record in advocacy, influencing policy makers and campaigning

· Proven ability to analyze complex political issues, to identify advocacy opportunities and to define sophisticated strategies for achieving policy change.

· Knowledge of and familiarity with conflict issues and serious human rights violations

· Knowledge of - and significant experience in - influencing US government policies and processes both in relation to Congress and the Executive.

· Excellent relationships and contacts with US government policy makers.

· Excellent political judgment and instincts, especially with regard to foreign affairs.

· Expertise in working with the media including ability to write articles, prepare media releases, brief journalists, promote stories and coordinate large-scale media drives.

· Ability to instill trust and confidence in partner organizations and colleagues from a variety of backgrounds.

· First-class interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent writing skills and the ability to cultivate and maintain high-level contacts within governments, the media and the voluntary sector.

· Ability to identify advocacy opportunities and suggest innovative campaign activities.

· The drive and initiative necessary to take ideas forward to fruition in a coalition setting.

· High levels of energy, enthusiasm and ambition.

· Resilience and an ability to cope with multiple internal and external demands.

· Excellent administrative and information technology skills.

The following are desirable:

· Understanding of the challenges involved in organizing NGO coalitions.

· Fundraising experience.

· Additional languages.

Equal opportunities: Crisis Action values diversity and is committed to equal opportunities. All applicants for employment will receive equal treatment without discrimination on grounds of gender, race, ethnic or national origins, personal disability or sexual orientation.

Disabilities: We are committed to making every reasonable adjustment to the workplace or working arrangements so as to accommodate people with disabilities.

Contact Details

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Contact:

Crisis Action

Email:

newyork1@crisisaction.org

Application Instructions

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If you would like to apply for this position, please complete the application form available for download at http://crisisaction.org/en/news.

CVs may be attached but CVs alone will not be accepted. Please fill out the downloadble application.

Submitting your completed application

Please submit applications by email.

· Please write: “Application: [Your name]” in the Subject line of the email.

· Applications should be sent to: newyork1@crisisaction.org

The closing date for receipt of all applications is Friday March 30, 2012. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.