What we are looking for:
NRC Europe (Belgium) is seeking a seasoned Senior EU Policy and Advocacy Adviser to shape and elevate our advocacy towards the EU and its Member States across NRCโs priority themes. In this role, you will drive forward NRCโs global strategic ambitions while strengthening policy influence and advocacy capability across country and regional teams.
ย
What you will be doing:
Youโll play a key role in driving our mission forward. Your main areas of focus will include:
ย
Policy and Advocacyย
Lead on global advocacy priorities efforts targeting the EU and its Member States initiated by Head Office, Regional, Country Offices and/or other NRC representation offices.ย
Monitor relevant EU/MS foreign policy developments affecting NRCโs work, provide analysis to support NRCโs understanding of EU/MS policies and processes, identify opportunities for influencing and informing NRC advocacy strategy and policy development.ย
Propose, initiate, and implement advocacy initiatives geared to influence the policies and practices of the European Union and the Member States as part of NRC advocacy strategies.ย
Advise, inform, and support the development of global policies and/or country-specific advocacy strategies and recommendations in collaboration with other NRC Representation offices, Advocacy Advisers, and Managers.ย
Draft and disseminate high quality advocacy products: briefings, talking points, speeches, letters, reports, position papers, and other written materials for internal and external use as agreed.ย
Organise or coordinate visits from field colleagues to Brussels to support NRCโs advocacy objectives.ย
Effectively liaise internally with file-holders to ensure coordination, consistency, and alignment of NRC messages with NRCโs global policy positions and objectives.ย
Liaison and representationย
Develop and maintain constructive relationships with representatives of EU and Member Stateโs institutions on specific workstream.ย
Work closely with other humanitarian NGOs and networks in the context of joint advocacy initiatives at EU and Member States level.ย
Represent NRC in various meetings and international fora.ย
Act as a main focal point on EU policies for relevant areas of responsibilities.ย ย
Developmentย
Act as the in-house specialist in relation to delegated areas of Advocacy provision (country context or theme specific, and/or interlocutor specific) and provide advice, guidance to senior NRC colleagues (e.g., NRC Representation Office Directors, NRC Country/Regional Directors, and Heads of Programme, Secretary-General's Office).ย
Provide technical support, advice, guidance, and capacity building to NRC in-country advocacy leads and to colleagues in other NRC offices in relation to own specialist and lead areas of advocacy.ย
Contribute to further increase NRCโs profile on the EU scene including, when relevant, through strategic use of media and social media.
Other specific responsibilities:
Establish and lead in the implementation of targeted advocacy toward the EU and a selection of relevant Member States to advance NRC advocacy objectives on a determined number of humanitarian crises, and thematic areas, aligned with NRC Global advocacy and policy priorities.ย
Consolidate NRCโs position as a leading agency for sound humanitarian policy advice through delivery of timely, specific, and evidence-based insights to EU policymakers and donors.ย
Through regular meetings and travel, map-out key EU policymakers in Brussels and in relevant capitals who can effect change regarding priority advocacy issues for NRC.ย
Meet relevant EU representatives and Member States officials to convey NRC messages and to remain informed of important developments and decisions.ย
Develop and maintain a network of civil society colleagues and specific files, and lead coalition work when relevant / necessary.ย
Provide analysis to key NRC staff in advance of main decision-making forums or relevant processes, policy developments, key dates, and activities.ย
Develop, design, and support the organisation of regular lobby missions to Brussels including visits to relevant European capitals for NRC.ย
Oversee and implement follow-up of NRC delegations, meetings, and visits.
Work with the programme teams to identify evidence and learning needs for Inclusion as a pathway to self-reliance for displaced people, specifically to help clarify as part of a MEL readiness assessment what it means when NRC works as enabler, and with local systems, and including displaced people in these, in order to design appropriate MEAL solutions.ย
Please download theย detailed job descriptionย to learn even more about the position.ย
What you will bring:
University degree or equivalent qualification in international relations, law, or social studies.
At least 7-10 years of professional experience in humanitarian settings and complex crises.ย
Demonstrated experience in leading humanitarian advocacy strategies that impact on major institutional decision makers.ย
Previous experience in representing NGOโs, donors, or UN agencies in formal settings.ย
Understanding and interest in EU foreign policy, European institutions, and processes.ย
Demonstrated experience in developing sound and actionable policy recommendations tailored to their interlocutor. Ability to present arguments in a structured, compelling, and articulated manner.ย
Previous experience in drafting speeches, talking points, and position papers. Good research and analytical skills.ย
Working knowledge of international law, IHL, humanitarian principles and of the humanitarian system.ย
Creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Political and cultural awareness.ย
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiation skills.ย
Fluency in English, both written and verbal.ย
Impeccable writing and editing skills.ย
Strong planning and administrative skills, including full computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint).ย
Organisational skills including the ability to multitask, prioritise and work efficiently with limited supervision.ย
Comfortable in a multicultural professional and/or NGO environment.ย
Availability to travel regularly within the EU and externally is an asset.ย
Knowledge of French is an asset.ย
What we offer:
Duty station: Brussels, Belgiumย
Contract: 1 year with the possibility of extensionย
Travel: Up to 20%.
Salary/benefits: Grade 9 on NRCโs Resident salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions.ย
Group Pension insurance (6% of annual gross salary)
Hospitalisation insurance
Lunch vouchers
13th month salary