Senior Advocate

REPORTS TO:
Senior Director for Policy and Advocacy

KEY FUNCTIONS:
Based in London, United Kingdom, the senior advocate will contribute to Refugees International’s (RI) overall objective of strengthening the international humanitarian response to refugee and displacement crises. The senior advocate will promote RI’s policy agenda in the UK, other European countries, and the European Union. S/he will also contribute to RI’s advocacy activities in relation to Europe-based international organizations such as the UN Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The senior advocate may also be asked to advocate on national and regional refugee policies within the EU as they relate to humanitarian emergencies that are of concern to RI in other parts of the world. As a member of RI’s program department, the senior advocate will also be expected to make a strong contribution to the work of RI’s communications and development departments.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Undertake evidence-based advocacy with the UK government, other European governments, and relevant EU institutions with respect to their response to refugee and displacement crises.
• Contribute to RI’s advocacy on refugee and displacement crises with Europe-based international organizations and diplomatic missions.
• Monitor the European policy discourse on refugee and displacement crises and ensure that RI’s headquarters in Washington, DC, is kept informed of key events and developments.
• Represent and promote RI’s policy positions at relevant meetings, workshops, and conferences in Europe.
• Strengthen RI’s network of relationships with Europe-based aid organizations, human rights organizations, and research institutes with an interest and expertise in refugee and humanitarian issues.
• Advise other RI advocates in relation to the way their findings and recommendations can be pursued and promoted in Europe.
• Conduct annually a minimum of two field missions to displacement crises to assess the international response, prepare field reports, and undertake follow-up advocacy activities in Europe.
• Undertake regular travel to Geneva, as well as ad hoc trips to Washington and other locations for relevant meetings and events.
• Contribute to the work of RI’s communications department by undertaking media relations activities and by preparing blogs, op-eds, and articles for publication by RI.
• Contribute to the work of RI’s development department by identifying and pursuing new fund-raising opportunities in Europe.

EDUCATION/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in relevant subjects from accredited universities.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and the ability to work in a second language.
• High-level drafting, editorial, public speaking, and negotiating skills.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• A minimum five to seven years of postgraduate work experience in progressively responsible positions related to humanitarian advocacy and operations.
• Proven familiarity with global refugee, displacement, and humanitarian issues.
• An established network of contacts in the key Europe-based institutions and organizations dealing with refugee, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
• First-hand experience of refugee, displacement, and humanitarian crises in the field, preferably gained by means of deployment in more than one location by a non-governmental or international organization.
• Ability to work alone and to work unsocial hours in view of the time difference between Washington and London. This is the only post in RI’s London office.
• Willingness to work in difficult and dangerous locations.
• A commitment to teamwork, as well as flexibility and a sense of humor.

How to apply:

Please apply by April 15, 2014 to jobs@refugeesinternational.org . Please ensure the subject line references “Senior Advocate Europe” along with your surname. Please include a cover letter, CV, and writing sample. Only finalists will be contacted.