Advocacy Officer, Resettlement, Asylum and Integration At International Rescue Committee

BACKGROUND

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK

IRC UK was established in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with policymakers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment IRC UK has grown rapidly and now comprises approximately 180 staff.

In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm.

The Purpose of the Role

Scope and Authority

To build the profile, influence and credibility of IRC’s work with UK politicians, political parties and opinion formers on international and domestic issues, in order to bring about policies and practices that deliver immediate and lasting change to IRC’s clients’ lives. Key to this will be identifying strategic lobbying opportunities and enabling colleagues to exploit them fully through the use of innovative and creative tactics that help IRC stand out in a crowded arena. The role will play a critical role in delivering IRC’s UK advocacy strategy.

Key Accountabilities

• Coordinating systematic monitoring, analysis and dissemination of UK political intelligence to inform advocacy.
• Building and maintaining relationships with a core group of political champions in and around Westminster, whilst raising IRC’s profile and awareness of our positions on key issues among a wider political audience in order to increase our ability to deliver policy change.
• Developing and providing regular written or oral briefings to MPs, Peers, government officials, and other decision makers on key policies and campaigns.
• Collaborating with other colleagues to summarise and communicate complex data and policy ideas in ways that are suitable for political audiences.
• Producing specific asks to parliamentarians on a regular basis – parliamentary questions, debate contributions etc.
• Establishing and maintaining effective systems for tracking advocacy, including developing mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of parliamentary activity.
• Organising trips for politicians to IRC programmes in the UK.
• Collaborating with colleagues across departments to ensure that advocacy is integrated and consistent, and based on sound political judgement.
• Performing such other tasks and responsibilities as may be required from time to time in order to ensure the smooth running of the team, the department, cross divisional project groups, and IRC; and deputising for senior members as appropriate and required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Experience of working in the UK’s refugee sector.
• Experience of structures, processes and trends in UK political system.
• Ability to innovatively and creatively apply influencing techniques and tactics to consistently make IRC stand out from the crowd in Westminster, Whitehall and with other key international stakeholders.
• Demonstrably strong verbal and written communication, presentation and persuasion.
• Ability to plan work and meet deadlines when working under pressure on a number of projects.
• Experience of developing effective working relationships with colleagues, and working collaboratively in multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Some understanding of or interest in the international environment including the countries in which IRC works.
• Ability to effectively manage and work within networks and coalitions for lobbying and advocacy purposes.
• Commitment to IRC’s goals, mission, values and approach especially involvement of clients in advocacy.

Candidates must have the right to work in the Uk