Government Relations Advocate at Refugees International

Government Relations Advocate / Senior Advocate

REPORTS TO:
Director of Policy and Advocacy

PURPOSE:

This position is responsible for advancing RI’s advocacy agenda with the US government. Of particular focus are the members and staff of the U.S. Congress, especially the relevant appropriation and authorization committees and the leadership. A core means of accomplishing this will be to enhance the strategic advocacy work of the regional and thematically focused staff. RI examines thematic issues of return and recovery, statelessness, women’s rights, humanitarian reform, climate displacement, peacekeeping and neglected and emerging crisis. Additionally, the successful candidate will periodically travel on overseas assessment missions, and will then bring those findings, as well as the recommendations of other RI advocates to the attention of the US Congress and relevant Bureaus.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Advocacy

•Devise and carry out advocacy strategies to implement RI recommendations in consultation with the Director of Policy and Advocacy.

•Working with a colleague or with an external consultant, conduct assessments of humanitarian crises and the level and causes of displacement, with a particular focus on crises known to be of concern to the US government. Assess the impact of crises on particular individuals and communities through interviews with the displaced. Conduct interviews with other individuals knowledgeable about the situation, including NGO and UN personnel and government officials and produce field reports.

•Provide timely analysis to RI on relevant U.S. Congressional regional and thematic concerns surrounding the budget and foreign appropriations process.

•Collaborate with fellow advocates and other RI staff to advance agency thinking on key issues and to support the achievement of the agency’s mission.

•Draft and edit reports, op-eds, blogs, and other materials to advance RI’s mission vise-a-vie the U.S. Government.
 

Outreach

•Hold frequent meetings with members of Congress and staff, U.S. government officials, UN agency personnel, and other relevant actors to advance the overall advocacy agenda of the organization or to carry out a plan of action related to a particular region or theme.

•Serve as a resource for the US Administration and Congress for information on humanitarian issues, either by providing the information directly or by facilitating contact with appropriate RI staff.

•Develop and maintain relationships for Refugees International with members of the U.S. Congress and their staff, particularly those members that serve on regional and thematic committees of relevance to RI’s core concerns related to displacement and humanitarian emergencies.

•Contribute to agency fund raising efforts by meeting donors, drafting sections to donor reports, helping to organize Board and donor tours, and giving public talks on displacement issues.
•In consultation with the Communication staff, develop media contacts and conduct interviews as needed to advance the advocacy agenda of the organization.

•Establish contacts on behalf of RI with peer organizations working on Congressional advocacy and serve as RI’s primary liaison with these groups.

•Represent the agency at coordination meetings organized by NGOs, the U.S. government, the UN, think tanks, and other relevant institutions.

•Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

•Masters degree in public policy, international relations, law or a related field. A minimum of four years of professionally relevant advocacy and policy-related work, related to humanitarian assistance, international development, or human rights. A demonstrated ability in overseas work, with an emphasis on refugees in crisis situations preferred.

•Excellent Communication skills, especially writing and public speaking. English language fluency and working knowledge of another language of value to the agency’s overseas work, such as French, Spanish, Arabic, etc. 

Willingness to travel to emerging crises and isolated places up to two months per year. First-hand knowledge of how the U.S. Congress functions, especially in its consideration of humanitarian issues. Preference given to candidates that have worked on the Hill or who have previously served in the Administration. The job may require lifting and carrying luggage and boxes, prolonged periods of sitting in tight quarters, significant computer work, which may require repetitive motion, prolonged periods of sitting, and sustained visual and mental applications.

Please apply by 26 April 2011 to jobs@refintl.org. Please insert "Government Relations" in the subject line and include a cover letter, CV, and writing sample. Only finalists will be contacted to set interviews. Salary and title commensurate with experience