Advocacy Advisor (f/m)

Location: Liaison & Advocacy, Brussels/Belgium, with regular travels to Geneva/Switzerland

SOS Children’s Villages International is the umbrella organisation for the global federation of SOS Children’s Villages. As a non-governmental social development organisation we support children without parental care and families in difficult living conditions through services in care, education, health and emergency relief, and we advocate for children’s rights. We work in 135 countries and territories, reaching over one million children, young people, families and caregivers each year.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Monitor policy developments on quality alternative care at international level, identify opportunities, develop and implement advocacy strategies according to SOS Children’s Villages strategic objectives and work programme; promote opportunities to concretise these achievements at regional and national levels
• Provide or support policy research, do analyses and give advice concerning your areas of responsibility
• Develop advocacy messages and positions in collaboration with the Liaison and Advocacy Team and Member Associations, including capacity building and driving engagement towards international institutions
• Write briefings, statements, notes and other communication materials for external and internal audiences
• Ensure a good information flow with colleagues, other internal departments and Member Associations
• Organisation and facilitation of events and workshops
• Representation and networking on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages International especially to UN Institutions and other actors as required

Requirements

• Excellent knowledge and experience of working with the UN institutions, structures and policies and the surrounding environment (INGOs, networks, etc); experience with regional institutions or the EU can be an asset
• Track record in partnership development into a complex environment
• MA Degree in International Relations, Political Science, EU studies; Human Rights or related field; BA Degree and commensurate experience can also be considered
• 5 years of proven relevant professional experience in the field of children’s rights and ideally quality alternative care, including in policy analysis and development and advocacy activities in an NGO environment
• Strong analytical capacity and project management skills; ability to organise and manage own work
• Excellent networking and communication skills, both written and oral
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English; knowledge of other language(s) is a distinct advantage
• Full computer literacy
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment
• EU citizenship or labour permit for Belgium and Switzerland required

We offer

• International working environment, with a social and thriving team culture
• Experience working with an international NGO in the field of children’s rights
• An attractive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience

If you are interested in this position, please click on APPLY below and send us your application by 18 February 2018 at the latest and include:

• Your CV (max. 2 pages)
• A cover letter (max. 1 page) outlining your motivation for this position
• A sample of your work (statement, position paper, briefing) that you have written in English