Application Pack – Head of EU Advocacy, Brussels
Thank you for your interest in the above post. This application pack contains:
· Information about Global Witness
· Job description and person specification
To apply, please send a covering letter together with a two page CV. Your covering letter should demonstrate your suitability for this position.
Your covering letter and CV should be emailed to:
and reach us by no later than 3 October 2016 (9am BST - British Summertime)
Please state where you saw this vacancy advertised in your covering letter.
Please write “Head of EU Advocacy” in the subject heading along with your name. Late applications cannot be considered.
Please note that we will only contact short-listed candidates and feedback can only be offered to those candidates who attend an interview.
Working for us
We aim to be a diverse and inclusive place to work. We value new perspectives, original ideas and different ways of working. We believe that diverse views and experiences improve the way we do our work. We do our best to make our jobs accessible to all regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation or identity.
We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within Global Witness at this level.
Applicants applying for this position must prove they have the ongoing right to work in Brussels.
Global Witness
Global Witness is a dynamic international organisation that investigates and campaigns to prevent natural resource-related conflict and corruption and associated environmental and human rights abuses. We collect irrefutable evidence through our investigations and combine it with powerful advocacy to force change.
Global Witness’ work makes a difference. Our campaigning helped put a stop to illegal logging which was funding wars waged by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and by Charles Taylor in Liberia. We brought the issue of blood diamonds to the world’s attention and the landmark Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was established as a result. Similarly, our investigations into corruption in oil, gas and mining were instrumental in making a case for the establishment of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the leading global mechanism aimed at increasing transparency in transactions between governments and companies.
More recently, our research on conflict minerals in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has exposed how warring parties make millions of dollars each year through illegal control of the mineral sector. Our campaigning has led to landmark due diligence legislation being passed in the US and in DRC. Global Witness’ banks team have exposed how major financial jurisdictions like the UK are being used to launder vast amounts of corrupt money, keeping millions in poverty and reliant on aid. Our pioneering campaign to raise the profile of land and environmental defenders has positioned the issue, for the first time, on the agenda of high-level decision-makers.
In recognition of our impact, we are thrilled to have been awarded the TED Prize and the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2014.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title: Head of EU Advocacy
Reports to: Management Team member (TBC)
Location: Brussels, with regular travel to the UK and overseas travel as required
Role purpose
You will work with our UK and US based teams to advance our campaign objectives within the EU to drive change and increase the global impact of our work. To do this you will use your substantial knowledge of EU institutions, policies and processes, to identify opportunities, influence policy makers and build relationships at senior levels with key allies and targets.
Key responsibilities
Strategy
· Develop and deliver a strategy for our EU work which is aligned to and supports the achievement of the organisation’s overall strategy
· Ensure that campaign activities operate within the organisation’s policies and procedures, including confidentiality, source protection and security, legal and contractual requirements
· To share knowledge and insight with colleagues to increase Global Witness’ knowledge and understanding of the operations and opportunities in the EU
Advocacy and Campaigns
· Lead our EU advocacy through:
o Identifying relevant opportunities (both legislative and non-legislative) to advance campaigns
o Building high level relationships with key Brussels based allies and targets
o Representing Global Witness at key meetings
o Supporting the organisation of events and meetings
o Promoting understanding of Global Witness’s work at EU level
o Working closely with our campaign teams to present our asks to targets
o Demonstrates leadership and management to clearly meet campaign objectives and deliver measurable outcomes and change
Communications
· Works closely with our UK based communications team to develop an EU focused communications strategy and implementation plan
· Act as a spokesperson for Global Witness with the media and with high level advocacy targets
External relationships and fundraising
· Collaborates with the Development Team to prepare funding proposals and support the coordination of funding reports, evaluations and other funder communications
· Drive a collaborative approach to achieving change and raising awareness of our work through developing and participating in coalitions with a diverse range of stakeholders for example, non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
· Represents Global Witness and raises awareness of our work, where appropriate
Leadership and management
· Participates as an active, effective and accountable member of the campaign leadership team;exhibiting strong leadership, leading by example and demonstrating our values and behaviours
· Demonstrates a strong commitment to creating an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace
Ways of working and collaborating
· Works pro-actively and collaboratively with colleagues across Global Witness to help deliver our mission and vision
· Prepare, monitor and deliver an annual budget, including regular re-forecasting; immediately highlighting any risks to achieving the budget forecast
· Assess the impact of campaign through the regular monitoring and evaluation of campaign outcomes
· Works within Global Witness’ policies and procedures at all times
General
· The role will be based in Brussels but will require regular travel to London, and possibly other travel to European cities and other Global Witness locations
· Any other duties equal to the skills and responsibilities required for this role as directed by the line manager
· There is a requirement to be available to attend/represent the organisation at meetings and events outside of normal working hours
Person Specification
Essential
· Displays a commitment to addressing natural resource governance, human rights and environmental challenges
· Significant demonstrable experience leading EU advocacy for an international NGO in Brussels and/or in European capitals.
· Ability to produce campaign impacts across a variety of teams and on a variety of issues.
· Proven track record in fostering relationships with a broad range of senior policy makers, allies and constituencies
· Experience of working in coalition(s) to deliver campaign impacts.
· In depth understanding of EU policies, processes and institutions.
· Demonstrable experience coordinating across a variety of organisational functions, including HR, fundraising, legal.
· Ability to be flexible, respond positively to change, and work effectively under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities
· Fluency in English and French
· This role will be based in Brussels and the individual will need to have the right to work in this location
Desirable
· Working knowledge of extractive industries governance, trade and development policy issues
· Journalistic or investigative reporting experience
· Awareness of defamation and privacy law and experience of managing publications through legal checks
· Fluency in languages other than French and English