Recruitment Pack s2

Recruitment pack

Advocacy Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Advocacy Officer

PURPOSE OF JOB:

To develop and implement advocacy strategies and policy initiatives aimed at bringing legal, political and social change for LGBTI people across Europe, including advocacy with European institutions and national governments, and other relevant stakeholders; capacity-building of policy-makers, civil society and practitioners at European and national levels on implementation of political commitments into concrete measures; and alliance-building with relevant stakeholders.

REPORTS TO: Advocacy Director

Relationships with colleagues

ILGA-Europe values creative and inclusive approaches to work and management that have been achieved through work across teams and participation of staff at all levels in the organisation. Staff members have line management arrangements and specific key relationships which are detailed in their job descriptions but will also need to work collaboratively with their colleagues in order to achieve their agreed targets and outcomes to the required standards.

MAIN TASKS

Advocacy and policy strategy development

1. Develop and implement effective policy and advocacy strategies with regional institutions, government or other relevant actors to respond to priorities identified by the European LGBTI movement, and to achieve legal, political and social change for LGBTI people in Europe

2. Monitor the external environment, assess opportunities for advocacy of human rights of LGBTI people at European level, and make proposals for appropriate responses and cooperation by ILGA-Europe.

3. Provide advice on advocacy strategies and policy positions at national level to support the work of local, national and regional LGBTI organisations where they identify needs

4. Advise the Advocacy Director on the development of strategic responses to opportunities and challenges to the human rights of LGBTI people both from European and national level

5. Identify emerging issues for LGBTI people, analyse the policy implications and make proposals for appropriate responses by ILGA-Europe

6. Prepare policy positions, reports, discussion papers, briefings and other documents on key policy issues, appropriate for a range of audiences

Capacity building and mobilisation

7. Develop and implement capacity building activities and/or tools to enable national or regional LGBTI organisations to successfully advocate for the human rights of LGBTI people and social justice at national and European level, and to meaningfully engage in ILGA-Europe’s advocacy and campaigning activities at European level

8. Conduct needs assessment of national LGBTI groups, in particular in relation to advocacy priorities set out in the strategic plan of ILGA-Europe.

9. Develop and implement peer learning activities for LGBTI organisations and other stakeholders on good practices related to legal, political and/or social change (e.g. legislation, public policy, implementation of laws and policies, social awareness, etc.)

10. Ensure strategic allies at European and national level are equipped to sustainably mainstream LGBTI issues in their work

External Relations/Alliance-building

11. Develop and maintain strategic partnerships and coalitions with other NGOs, human rights organisations, other relevant organisations and actors (e.g. researchers, legal experts, etc.) to support advancement of ILGA-Europe’s work

12. Facilitate connection between relevant LGBTI organisations, allies and partners, with a view of ensuring synergies between actions carried out by different stakeholders in a given area of work

13. Support the Advocacy Director in developing and maintaining a high profile for ILGA-Europe with external stakeholders (European institutions, intergovernmental organisations, statutory bodies, media and other relevant actors) and in mobilising key stakeholders to support legal and policy change

14. Develop communications messages and material, in close cooperation with the Communications team, to effectively communicate ILGA-Europe’s positions and priorities to a wide variety of audiences

15. Represent ILGA-Europe at meetings and events at national and European level and to prepare and give presentations as required

General

16. Develop a strong working knowledge of all ILGA-Europe programmes and advocacy priorities

17. Work collaboratively as part of the ILGA-Europe staff team in ways that achieve agreed goals and objectives

18. Assist in the organisation of ILGA-Europe’s annual conference, seminars, meetings and other events, take notes and draft reports on such events as required

19. Support the Advocacy Director in the monitoring of the effectiveness, efficiency, quality and equality of the policy team’s work and to bring forward proposals for continuous improvement

20. Manage financial aspects of projects and activities, which fall within the post holder’s direct responsibility: budgeting, monitoring of budget implementation, financial reporting to funders, fundraising for new initiatives, and sustaining excellent relations with donors, in conjunction with Advocacy Director and Finance Manager

21. Respond to enquiries and provide information to members and the general public, liaising with other staff and referring elsewhere within ILGA or externally as appropriate

22. Be accountable for the achievement of the agreed inputs related to the officer’s portfolios as defined in the annual work programmes

23. Actively participate as a member of the wider ILGA-Europe team with other employees, volunteers, the staff of ILGA World, and Board members, to promote and achieve ILGA-Europe’s objectives

24. Ensure that all activities are carried out with full regard to ILGA-Europe's policies on diversity and equal opportunities

25. Ensure compliance with such laws and regulations as may be applicable to the operations of the fundraising and outreach work

26. Prepare reports, discussion papers, briefs and other appropriate documents for meetings of the executive board, annual conference and other internal meetings

27. Undertake all duties in compliance with health and safety regulations and legislation

28. Undertake other duties that may be reasonably required from time to time.

Person specification

Advocacy Officer

Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications/Training / Relevant degree / Post-graduate degree in relevant area
IE Competencies / Governance
Working on own initiative
Providing Direction
Strategic thinking
Facilitating Change
Working with People
Using resources
Supporting member and stakeholder satisfaction
Managing Performance
Management of Projects
Equalities
Partnership Working
Facilitation of meetings and events
Strategic planning
Competences / Written and verbal presentational skills
Working with computers
Managing information
Production of documents
Special Aptitudes / Fluent in English and possess a working knowledge of a second European language
A commitment to equal opportunities and inclusion
A good knowledge of human rights and equality issues, particularly as they relate to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and intersex people
Any other job related personal circumstances or qualities / Ability to relocate to Brussels and regularly travel in Europe
Occasional unsociable working (weekends and evenings and working away from home) with reasonable notice
Previous experience / Experience of project work at national or international level / Experience of working in an NGO

Advocacy Officer

Role Competencies

Area of Competencies / Competencies /
Governance / Promote the values and mission of the organisation
Managing Self and Personal Skills / Manage your own resources and professional development effectively in order to meet the requirements of the job
Develop your personal networks
Agree achievable objectives for self and give a consistent and stable performance
Schedule work to make best use of time and resources
Demonstrate high standards of honesty, integrity and fairness
Takes responsibility for own actions
Offer objective advice to Advocacy Director, Executive Director and other colleagues without fear or favour
Resist pressures that encourage unethical behaviour.
Show respect for the views and actions of others
Providing Direction / Know who the key influencers are – both internally and externally to your area of responsibility – and how to go about involving them, as required in work programme
Understand political processes and dynamics relevant to work and how to successfully operate within them
Develop and implement advocacy strategies and actions responding to the needs of community
Map the environment relevant for your areas of work
Analyse information accurately to support decision making within a complex environment
Take initiative and accept responsibility and accountability for your area of work
Demonstrate clear commitment and enthusiasm for organisational values, goals and policies, including those related to equality
Comply with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements
Promote equality of opportunity and diversity in your work
Communicate relevant information and knowledge to work colleagues
Facilitating Change / Foster the development and application of knowledge in your work for the organisation and membership
Recognise changes in circumstances promptly and adjust plans and activities accordingly
Find practical ways to overcome barriers
Present information clearly, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding
Make time available to support others
Recognise the achievements and the success of others
Working with People / Develop productive working relationships with colleagues and relevant stakeholders
Value team work and respect the role of other team members.
Share knowledge and expertise without taking over.
Address problems effecting work performance
Seek to resolve conflict with colleagues
Facilitate, and participate effectively in meetings, conferences, training and events
Use communication styles that are appropriate to different people and situations
Using Resources / Foster the development and application of knowledge
Ensure your own action reduces risks to health and safety
Financial / Use budgets to support goals and objectives
Obtaining best value for money for the organisation
Management of projects / Scope and plan projects effectively and prioritize areas of work
Co-ordinate activities, resources, and plans in order to complete project activities to agreed timescale
Keep key stakeholders informed and effectively communicates project outcomes
Contributes to the evaluation of project planning and implementation
Supporting Member and Stakeholder Satisfaction / Monitor problems that member & stakeholders might be facing and support them in solving these problems
Work with others to improve members’ & stakeholders’ support and communication
Contribute to your organisation’s understanding of its members’ & stakeholders’ needs
Managing Performance / Manage personal targets and work programme in order to achieve agreed standards and outcomes
Continually improve personal performance and learning
Analyse information accurately for decision making within a complex environment
Identify the factors affecting the quality of their performance and take appropriate action
Welcome and use feedback on performance constructively
Incorporate result of appraisal into personal development plan
Equalities / Translate equalities awareness into service delivery
Set a good example of good equalities practice at all times.
Partnership Working / Identify key partners and strategic partnership opportunities locally, nationally and internationally
Manage and contribute to multi-cultural projects and partnerships in a culture-sensitive manner
Establish both formal and informal partnerships for project implementation and advocacy purposes
Sets up partnerships to maximise benefit

In addition the Advocacy Officer will require the following areas of Professional Competence

Area of Competence / Skills/Knowledge
Written
and Presentational Skills / A very high standard of written and spoken English
Write articles and documents in plain English that communicate effectively with their targeted audience
Edit documents written in English to achieve clear and precise meaning in plain
Ability to proof-read documents written in English for syntax, meaning, grammar and spelling and make appropriate corrections to text
Ability to present material to a range of audiences using multi-media
Managing Information / Design and implement information retrieval systems
Record, store and supply information using a paper-based filing system
Identify information required by members, the public and other clients and provide information to meet their requirements
Know how to find and use sources of information and expertise, including IT
Programming Skills / General principles and processes for identifying and defining requirements
Analysis and evaluation techniques
Project management methods and techniques
Project evaluation and review methods [1]