Overview
ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:
The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is a research and advocacy organization that seeks to improve the lives and protect the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. We research their needs, identify solutions, and advocate for programs and policies to strengthen their resilience and drive change in humanitarian practice. The Women’s Refugee Commission is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
SCOPE OF WORK:
The primary role of the Women’s Refugee Commission’s senior advocacy officer in New York is to advance WRC’s priorities within the UN system and with member state missions and nongovernmental organizations working on humanitarian issues. The senior advocacy officer also represents the organization externally with a wide range of partners, policymakers, UN agencies, civil society coalitions and working groups, and other bodies relevant to WRC’s work.
As a member of WRC’s advocacy team, the senior advocacy officer contributes to the design and implementation of the organization’s advocacy strategy and work plan, provides strategic guidance to program team members on the integration of advocacy considerations into their initiatives, and works with the communications and development teams to reflect and advance WRC’s advocacy initiatives through external channels.
The senior advocacy officer is expected to provide vision and leadership on cross-cutting organizational priorities. This position sits in the external relations department and reports to the vice president of advocacy and external relations, who is based in Washington, DC.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• In consultation with WRC leadership, members of the advocacy team, and program and communications staff, lead WRC’s advocacy efforts in New York with UN agencies and bodies, member state missions, international and nongovernmental organizations, and other policymakers.
• Build and strengthen relationships with the diplomatic, humanitarian, and gender equality communities in New York. Identify new supporters for WRC’s work and new opportunities to promote WRC initiatives and research.
• Ensure WRC’s active participation in key policy forums, such as the UN Security Council, Commission on the Status of Women, and the ECOSOC Humanitarian Segment, as well as in processes related to refugee and humanitarian policies.
• Represent WRC at high-level meetings, conferences, and other public events.
• Participate in and, where appropriate, take a leadership role in, New York-based nongovernmental organization or inter-agency coalitions, such as the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Gender Reference Group.
• Play a key role within WRC on the advancement of its organizational strategic priorities related to gender equality, diversity, inclusion, and resilience.
• Work closely with WRC’s communications and program staff to develop strategies and advocacy materials for target audiences, as well as to design public events to promote WRC’s recommendations on humanitarian policy and practice.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Minimum 6 years of work experience on international humanitarian issues, gender equality issues, and/or public interest advocacy.
• Bachelor’s degree in international affairs, political science, law, or related field strongly preferred. Master’s degree or professional degree preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated experience in policy advocacy, including implementing advocacy initiatives for multiple audiences, particularly the UN system.
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian system, UN system, and women’s rights and gender equality issues.
• Substantive expertise in one of WRC’s key advocacy areas (gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic empowerment and resilience, and inclusion) strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: proven ability to effectively communicate complex issues in a clear manner to multiple and diverse audiences and to produce persuasive advocacy materials for a range of audiences.
• Solid diplomatic skills: must be able to manage a variety of internal and external relationships in a cross-cultural professional environment, demonstrate political acumen, and represent the organization with senior-level diplomats and other policymakers.
• Strong interpersonal skills: must be able to work collaboratively, manage professional relationships, seek out diverse perspectives, provide and receive feedback constructively, be solution-oriented, meet and communicate deadlines effectively, and embody WRC’s core values of inclusion, equality, integrity, dignity, and forward-thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with minimum supervision, including the ability to be proactive and self-driven in pursuing initiatives.
Reports to: Vice President, Advocacy and External Relations
Position: Regular, full-time
Starting Salary: $85,470+ (commensurate with experience)
Location: New York (Hybrid)
Posting Date: 10/24/2022
Closing Date: Until filled
The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, or disability. All qualified applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Women’s Refugee Commission is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.