Advocacy Advisor (Maternity Cover - 12 month contract)

Position Status Full-time, 12 month contract (maternity cover)

Salary Level circa £40k, depending on experience

Reporting to Director, Policy and Advocacy

Travel Up to 30%

Mercy Corps is a leading global organisation powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In conflict, in disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps Europe (MCE) has grown rapidly in terms of volume of activity and complexity. With offices in Edinburgh, London and Geneva, we now attract over £90m in income, and employ around 100 domestic and expatriate field team members. The breadth and impact of our programmes makes Mercy Corps a unique and truly rewarding place to work. Our teams are proud of what we achieve in the field and we are always looking for talented individuals who share our passion and commitment. Our four person European Policy and Advocacy team is based in London, working closely with Policy and Advocacy staff in Washington and Amman, and technical and programmes staff around the world.

MCE's Policy and Advocacy (P&A) team has ambitious goals to influence policy and practice in the UK and continental Europe around our key priorities and contexts – whether that be raising the profile of major complex crises, persuading governments to invest more, and more effectively, in ending conflict and violence, or ensuring humanitarian response helps people to become increasingly independent and resilient going forward.

We are looking for a full time Advisor to lead and deliver our efforts to influence UK and European policy makers and institutions around key themes and contexts, including:

• The use of cash, financial inclusion and market support in crisis and fragile settings and in supporting refugees;
• Improving the response to crises in Iraq, Somalia and other contexts as they arise.

The Advisor will be responsible for:

• Representing internally and externally as Mercy Corps' policy expert on these issues;
• Working with staff across Mercy Corps to hone our key policy objectives around these issues and to develop and deliver a clear strategy to influence policy makers globally;
• Producing or commissioning reports, briefs and other materials, and hosting events to disseminate our research, analysis and recommendations to a wide and influential target audience, including through the media;
• Tracking and evaluating the impact and outcomes of our influence work on these issues.

The successful candidate will not only have the right experience on paper but also the right personal 'fit'; someone who lives and breathes our culture and values, with a visible passion for the work we do and a desire to tell our story. You should also:

• Have a minimum three years of policy or advocacy experience, including high level influencing and representation on technical issues, and experience of developing and delivering advocacy strategy is essential;
• Understanding of technical and policy issues around responding to crisis, conflict or displacement is essential;
• Expertise in the use of humanitarian cash transfers, financial inclusion or market based approaches in fragile or conflict settings is highly desirable.

• Be educated to degree level, or equivalent experience. What else will we look for?

• Excellent communicator and a shameless networker, able to build strong contacts and relationships.

• A clear passion for the sector and specific issues, and the work of Mercy Corps in this space.

• The ability to understand and assimilate complex technical and policy issues and communicate them effectively to a wide range of audiences.

• A self-starter with the ability to manage and deliver complex projects involving multiple partners to deadline, and to work independently to drive forward our messages.

• Demonstrable research skills.

• Strong team worker.

• Able to cope with changing priorities, often at short notice, and work well under pressure.

• Proactive and solutions-based attitude.

• High levels of motivation, professionalism and resilience.

• Skilled in anticipating and solving problems and communicating issues, involving others as needed.

• An exposure to and interest in international development issues is important, along with an empathy for MC's mission.

The position is based in central London and will require some national and international travel.
Candidates must have the right to work in the UK at the time of appointment.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis by CV and cover letter. For a full job description, please follow the link to apply.

Apply Here
PI100292063

Apply Here