Associate Director, UN Advocacy

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Background: Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The External Relations (ER) Department mobilizes external audiences to raise the requisite funds, influence policies and achieve practice changes to improve outcomes for our clients, while growing and protecting our global brand. The Global Policy & Advocacy team is a dynamic part of the ER Department that leverages the power of IRC’s ideas to solve the biggest challenges facing IRC’s clients across the “arc of crisis” and influence external stakeholders, in particular governments and multi-lateral institutions, to enact these solutions to ultimately make meaningful change for our clients. From addressing the drivers of conflict to meeting the needs of displaced people, the team partners with innovative thinkers, experts and those with lived experience to identify solutions and bring them to life. We take pride in being solutions-oriented and creative. We are precise in our goals, tactics, and messages. We drive change year over year, knowing that system change takes dedicated focus while maintaining the flexibility to respond to emerging needs across the globe. Finally, we are collaborative, constantly seeking new ideas and perspectives from others in our sector and beyond as we work side by side with programs, strategy, communications and research and innovation teams across the IRC.

Job Overview: The Associate Director for United Nations Advocacy is responsible for developing and implementing advocacy strategies to advance the views of IRC staff in the field and the interests of the clients we serve with the the UN Secretariat agencies (Secretary-General’s Office, Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and Department of Peacekeeping), UN Specialized Agencies, UN ECOSOC Humanitarian Segment, the UN General Assembly’s Humanitarian Coordination pillar and UN Security Council (UNSC) member states. As a core member of IRC’s Global Policy & Advocacy team, the Associate Director seeks to inform and influence the international response to understanding crisis and to use our extensive field and technical experience to provide thought leadership on innovative aid solutions. The Associate Director is the internal and external focal point for matters related to the United Nations in New York and, as such, provides strategic advice and support to the other internal departments on matters before the UNSC. The work of this vital role will be done in close collaboration with colleagues in New York, Washington, Geneva, London, Brussels, Stockholm, and relevant IRC field offices.

Major Responsibilities:

• Policy tracking and influence analysis: Track UNSC developments related to country priorities and conduct targeted UNSC outreach and engagement to UNSC member state missions. Analyze and report on relevant policy trends, humanitarian dimensions, and key developments within the UN Security Council and the UN Secretariat; identify opportunities and support development of recommendations for policymakers.
• Advocacy strategy: Together with colleagues, develop and implement advocacy strategies to influence policy and program approaches of donors, host governments, and humanitarian and development organizations to improve the use of aid and ensure better outcomes for people affected by forced displacement, consistent with our overall priorities and strategy on aid reform. Liaise closely colleagues across the organization to ensure that our global advocacy strategies and UN policy recommendations are rooted in the IRC’s field experience and technical expertise. Identify and facilitate opportunities for IRC senior leaders to build relationships with UN and UN Mission decision-makers to directly advance IRC’s thought leadership agenda.
• Advocacy: Expand IRC’s policy influence within UN OCHA and with New York-based representatives of relevant UN Specialized Agencies by establishing a working rapport with senior staff, alerting OCHA and other Agencies to IRC’s concerns in various crises, and driving policy reforms to improve humanitarian action on the ground. Engage with policy stakeholders at the highest levels by representing the IRC at key meetings at the United Nations, including attending regular face-to-face meetings with the UN Security Council Permanent Representatives, Deputy Ambassadors, Political Officers, First and Second Counselors, Policy Experts and Humanitarian Affairs Officers. Lead development and coordination of IRC’s engagement in major UN fora, including annual UN General Assembly meetings.
• Policy Engagement: Contribute to policy generation by providing UN specific analysis to increase the credibility and efficacy of our solutions through constant collaboration and in focused policy fora. Support IRC’s policy team in identifying and developing policy priorities that are impactful and achievable.
• Spokesperson: Engagement with public audiences to showcase the work of the IRC. Represent IRC’s views in meetings of the UN Security Council, UN Secretary-General’s Executive Office, Under-Secretary-Generals, Inter-Agency Standing Committee Principals and Working Groups, various Special Representatives to the Secretary-General, UN Special Envoys, UN Panels of Experts, and UN Special Rapporteurs.
• Steward Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: both in the culture of IRC, as well as in the policy solutions we develop and the ways we wield influence.
• Teamwork: Support a positive team culture by acting openly and collaboratively, supporting colleagues in their work and sharing credit with others where appropriate.

Key Working Relationships:

Position reports to: Director, Advocacy

Position directly supervises: N/A

Internal contacts: Global Policy and Advocacy colleagues; Technical Unit leads; Program leads; Communications and Fundraising departments; President’s Office

External contacts: Key partners at the UN; UN Member State Missions; peer organizations and think tanks; relevant coalitions

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Graduate degree or equivalent experience in relevant field such as Public Policy, Law or International Relations

Work experience:

• 6-8 years of proven experience in advocacy roles, including significant time in representational positions, and knowledge and execution of advocacy techniques and policy analysis
• Successful experience managing high-level relationships
• Prefer direct experience with the United Nations, a UN Mission or with a peer organization doing UN-facing advocacy
• Prefer knowledge of humanitarian issues and the work of humanitarian organizations.

Demonstrated skills and competencies:

• Deep knowledge of humanitarian programming, especially in conflict-driven settings
• Extensive knowledge of relevant UN-related processes and products, particularly: UNSC deliberations and dynamics, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, UN reform reviews, UN Agency Executive Committee deliberations, Global Compacts on Refugees and Migrants
• Deep familiarity with international humanitarian law and laws of armed conflict
• Deep familiarity with leveraging points throughout UN and Member States that can be targeted to achieve policy change objectives; strong network among key Members States and NY-based UN agencies
• Knowledge of and experience working with humanitarian organizations, including relevant INGOs, think tanks and academic institutions
• Ability to think strategically, synthesize complex information and develop innovative policy and advocacy approaches
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate successfully with experts, high level decision-makers, and colleagues in the humanitarian and development fields
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent narratives that resonate with policymakers
• Ability to travel and to work on tight deadlines
• Initiative and ability to work independently on fast-paced issues, and juggle competing demands

Working Environment: Hybrid work environment, minimum 3 days per week required in office. Up to 20% travel required.

Compensation: ($105,000 - $115,000) Posted pay ranges apply to U.S.-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

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.

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