[Hiring] Director of Advocacy @International Rescue Committee

Role Description

As the Director of Advocacy, you will lead development of the IRC’s advocacy efforts to support key priorities across crisis and solutions-driven global influence priorities for the International Rescue Committee. You are responsible for crafting our influence strategies using IRC’s programmatic and research evidence, surgical policy and practice solutions, and trusted brand to inspire collective action. You are the expert for understanding current federal legislative and policy trends in the US and how our policies cut across political agendas. You will engage key stakeholders across government and civil society. You will work across the IRC to develop advocacy campaigns and build relationships including with Congressional representatives, U.S. and other government officials in D.C. as well as foundations, think tanks, multilateral organizations, and other humanitarian organizations. You will also look across IRC’s global priorities, engaging relevant embassies and crafting specific advocacy messages for donor governments.

Major Responsibilities

• Advocacy Strategy:
  • Lead advocacy strategies for specific policy goals, including thought leadership objectives relevant to the U.S. market.
  • Collaborate with policy leads to advance IRC's key influence priorities.
  • Craft advocacy strategies that are suited to global donor government priorities.
• Influence Analysis:
  • Develop U.S. power maps for key policy issues to identify influence priorities.
  • Cultivate relationships across the U.S. Government and lead Congressional engagement.
  • Support development and execution of creative influence strategies, including with nontraditional partners.
  • Ensure IRC’s global priorities are integrated into advocacy and influence strategies.
• Advocacy:
  • Support efforts to build IRC’s credibility, profile, and relationships by engaging with key policy stakeholders.
  • Collaborate closely with other U.S. market staff and global policy and advocacy staff.
• Legislative and Policy Tracking:
  • Expand IRC’s legislative reach by tracking and analyzing shifting Congressional and Executive branch positions.
  • Translate policy asks into legislative asks.
  • Engage U.S. Government stakeholders relevant to the IRC’s work in the U.S.
• Policy Engagement:
  • Contribute to policy generation by providing U.S.-specific analysis.
  • Support IRC’s policy team in identifying and developing impactful policy priorities.
• Communications:
  • Provide market and audience expertise to communications team to shape policy communications specific to the U.S.
  • Support the team in developing communications strategy and materials for advocacy targets.
• Steward Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
  • Promote gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in IRC's culture and policy solutions.
• Spokesperson:
  • Act as an IRC influence spokesperson on focused advocacy areas.
  • Act as key interlocutor with legislative and governmental staffers.
• Board and Advisors:
  • Support relationships with IRC's Board and Advisors by identifying points of mutual interest.
• Teamwork:
  • Support a positive team culture by acting openly and collaboratively.
  • Potential supervision of Senior Advisor or other staff.

Key Working Relationships

• Position reports to: Senior Director, Advocacy & Influence and Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
• Internal contacts: Policy and Advocacy colleagues across the globe; Technical Excellence leads; International Programs leads; Crisis Response, Recovery and Development Department; Communications; Awards Management; President’s Office, External Relations Department
• External contacts: Key Opinion Formers and policy makers in the U.S. Government and U.S. Congress, other humanitarian leaders and think tanks, relevant embassies, multilateral institutions

Requirements

• Degree in relevant field such as Public Policy, Law or International Relations
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy and advocacy strategy development with a focus on creativity and strategic thinking
• 10-12 years of experience working on complex humanitarian and/or development issues
• Knowledge of U.S. Government functioning and prior work with the U.S. Government or Congress are a plus
• Understanding of global issues, multilateral engagement experience
• Examples of influence/impact on legislative and executive policy
• Strong network of influencers and policy makers
• Deep understanding of global issues related to the humanitarian field
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, being solutions-oriented
• Extensive knowledge of humanitarian aid and refugee issues, particularly around the complex drivers of humanitarian need
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate successfully with experts, high-level decision and policy makers, and colleagues in the humanitarian and development fields
• Good public speaking skills
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent narratives
• Fluency with key parts of the IRC’s strategy and existing policy strategy
• Ability to work on tight deadlines and juggle competing demands
• Self-motivated

Benefits

• 10 paid sick leave
• 10 U.S. holidays
• 20-25 generous paid time off based on role and tenure
• Medical insurance starting at $163/month
• Dental starting at $6.50/month
• Vision starting at $5/month
• Flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter)
• 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match (immediate vesting)
• Non-elective employer contribution based on age and years of service (3-year vesting)
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families

Equal Opportunity Employer

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.