Director of Advocacy, IRC UK 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 (IRC 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. Through over 20 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

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 was established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. IRC UK comprises approximately 130 staff. Europe is one of the fastest growing regions for the IRC and currently consists of offices in Germany, Belgium, Sweden, the UK and Switzerland. IRC also runs programmes across five countries in Europe and provides technical assistance to more than 10 others.

THE POLICY & ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT

The European Policy and Advocacy Team, headed by the Executive Director of Policy & Advocacy for Europe, consists of 20 staff based across the UK, Belgium, Sweden, France and Germany. The core purpose of the Policy and Advocacy Department is to increase the IRC’s profile and influence, developing the IRC as a thought leader in Europe that can drive transformational policy change in the humanitarian and development sector. We aim to improve outcomes for people living in, and displaced by, conflict and crisis. The team works closely with IRC’s global teams of policy analysts and advocates based in Washington DC, New York, Geneva, Amman and in other priority countries and regions.

The Purpose of the Role

Increasing IRC’s profile and influence with policy-makers and decision-makers in the UK is key to meeting our goal of delivering improved outcomes for those affected by conflict and disaster around the world. Working in co-ordination with IRC colleagues across Europe and globally, this role will drive an integrated approach to planning and implementation of our influencing strategies that brings together digital and media communications, policy, advocacy and supporter mobilisation to advance IRC’s change objectives in the UK. The Advocacy Director will deepen relationships with UK Government, Parliament and Whitehall, and with policy-makers and political opinion formers such as think-tanks, as part of achieving policy change. S/he will provide overall leadership and vision, setting direction, ensuring the timely and effective implementation of priorities, inspiring and guiding the team.

Reporting jointly to the Executive Director of Policy and Advocacy, Europe, and the Executive Director, IRC UK, the post will work closely with IRC policy teams to ensure maximum political impact for our policy products and ensure policy development is part of an integrated theory of change. This will include developing and implementing a plan to increase IRC’s advocacy impact, mapping existing networks and identifying gaps, building and sustaining new relationships, producing briefings and other advocacy products, organising events, monitoring our impact and demonstrating clear results. It will also support the development of the organisation’s overall approach to strategic advocacy. Through building new relationships and increasing the IRC’s profile, it will influence policy-makers and decision-makers who hold responsibility for action on the issues of most concern to the IRC and the people we serve The post holder will also work alongside colleagues in other humanitarian, development and refugee agencies in both formal and informal coalitions to advance joint advocacy objectives.

The Director of Advocacy also its on the UK Management Team, and supports the Executive Director in setting out the strategic direction for IRC UK. This includes being part of the organizational planning, supporting with board activities and risk management.

Scope and Authority

Authority:

This position has authority to brief senior leaders in the humanitarian and development sector as well as ensuring the IRC is represented at key stakeholder meetings.
Represent the IRC at lobbying meetings with political targets and others at advocacy events and forums. This includes representing the Executive Director of Policy & Advocacy for Europe and/or the Executive Director of IRC UK.
Act as convening chair of NGO consortium events as needed.
Manage a team of advocates.

Responsibility for Resources:

Strategic and operational management of the Advocacy Team.
Work with other budget-holders and manage advocacy budget lines on priority issues/contexts.
Project manage specific advocacy events with an appropriate budget.

Key Working Relationships

Report to the Executive Director of Policy and Advocacy, Europe and the Executive Director, UK.
Work together with the Policy Directors and Director of EU Policy and Advocacy, and with other Policy, Advocacy and Technical Unit colleagues in New York, Washington DC, Geneva and other key regions of the world to help develop clear and succinct advocacy messages and products from more complex policy and technical documents.
Close coordination with other External Relations teams (communications and private fundraising) to deliver coherent and consistent messaging to our external audiences in line with the Department’s Theory of Change.
Work closely with the European Strategic Partnerships Team on engagement with key public institutional donors and influencing donor policies affecting the IRC.
Work with the UK Management Team.
Close co-ordination with Technical Units and with Policy and Advocacy colleagues
Support relevant staff in the IRC President’s Office with key advocacy messages and initiatives involving the IRC President.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Drive and develop IRC’s advocacy work in the UK (30%)

Scope and implement a clear process to agree UK-specific advocacy priorities and objectives, and work with UK colleagues across teams, particularly communications and fundraising, to implement and pursue these.
Develop and then implement a thorough strategy to raise IRC’s profile in the UK Government, Parliament and Whitehall, with relevant policy-makers and political opinion formers, and to achieve policy change on our advocacy priorities.
Support the development and implementation of advocacy strategies to bring about change on priority issues, and convene cross-organisational groups to drive their implementation.
As part of this and on an ongoing basis, identify strategic opportunities to raise IRC’s policy profile, promote IRC’s policy messages, and take action accordingly.
Ensure that IRC makes full use of the UK Parliament, and other relevant bodies, as a means to advance our priorities.
Alert relevant staff to changes in the political climate that affect IRC’s policy and advocacy objectives, and lead discussions and action on how to respond.
Work with Policy, Technical Units Programmes and Communications colleagues to ensure that IRC’s advocacy messages and policy products and are clear, coherent and have a strong likelihood of achieving success.
Work in collaboration with IRC’s Policy and Advocacy colleagues in other key cities including Brussels, Berlin, Washington DC, New York and key country programmes to ensure that we identify and act upon opportunities for coordinated strategies at European and international levels.
Plan and oversee events as part of the above, including with think-tanks, other NGOs and partners.
Work across the Policy and Advocacy Department in Europe to strengthen and develop our advocacy approaches, strategies and tactics to be as effective as possible.
Line manage the Senior Advocacy Officer and matrix manage the Senior Policy Officer ensuring that they are supported, developed, motivated and engaged to perform well in their roles.

Building and maintaining influential contacts (30%)

Develop a power map of key influencers in relevant institutions in the UK, identifying existing gaps and working with others to fill these as appropriate.
Develop strong and constructive relationships with key decision makers in target country governments and parliaments, including advisers, and the wider political sphere to ensure that IRC’s advocacy work is strategic and well-informed by ongoing political developments, and to lobby for IRC’s policy change objectives.
Maintain oversight of IRC’s contact with political figures in the UK, and ensure that this is strategic and is monitored and recorded.
Represent IRC at relevant meetings with government ministers, politicians and other advocacy targets.
Ensure internal departmental and cross-departmental systems are kept up to date, including contact tracking, external moments calendars, and monitoring and recording of impact.
Ensure that political and parliamentary developments in the UK and other target countries are monitored and regularly briefed to other relevant IRC staff.
Scan the horizon for policy and political issues in target countries and internationally which are gaining political traction and keep relevant colleagues informed.
Provide regular written and oral briefings for the CEO, Executive Directors and other senior colleagues.

Networking (20%)

Build and maintain relationships with UK and other relevant humanitarian NGOs and CSO networks, and create effective alliances which promote IRC’s advocacy objectives.
Support the Executive Director and other relevant colleagues in preparing for meetings with senior officials, politicians and other NGOs through providing verbal and written briefings.
Provide support to External Relations colleagues, for example by making presentations and attending key meetings.
Any other tasks appropriate to the role.

UK Management Team (20%)

Work with UK Management Team to set IRC UK strategic direction and annual plans
Represent UK Policy and Advocacy work and share verbal and written updates to UK Management Team and Board
Prepare quarterly Policy and Advocacy updates for the Board, including the External Relations sub committee
Assess organisational risks and identify mitigating measures

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:

Proven political judgement, and detailed knowledge of the workings of UK institutions, and current UK and international debates relevant to IRC’s work
Clear knowledge of the structures and processes governing humanitarian aid, development policy and or migration and issues affecting refugees
Excellent writing skills in English and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent narratives
Excellent negotiating skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
Track record of successfully attracting media support and interest for priority issues
Proven leadership in spotting and creating opportunities, driving change and delivering results in a complex organisation
Skilled in developing general policy positions into clear advocacy goals for change
Strong and effective networking and presentation skills
Strong experience of leading high-performing teams
Excellent organisational and analytical skills
Attention to detail
The ability to travel to work to tight deadlines, and on own initiative
Commitment to diversity and inclusion and to the IRC’s vision, missions and values

Experience:

Significant experience of working in parliament, in Westminster and Whitehall, and/ or in a relevant advocacy role
Proven track record of developing and implementing successful and creative political influencing strategies – including in working closely with communications colleagues to shape opinion
Experience of working on complex and relevant policy issues, ideally on migration, home affairs, humanitarian issues and/ or foreign affairs
Experience of convening cross-organisational teams around shared goals across different departments and geographies, and of quickly forming effective working relationships to deliver results, including through campaigns that engage the public
Proven ability to manage projects, coordinating multiple inputs and maintaining up to date records and reporting
Experience of managing and motivating staff, and of building a positive and high-performing team culture
Highly motivated self-starter
Experience of working in national and/ or international coalitions and in sensitive/ emergency contexts
Line management experience

Desirable: