Policy, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator

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.

IRC Ukraine is entering its fourth year of response to the full-scale invasion by Russian in February 2022 and, as such, is an evolving country program into a new phase of the response. The office has three field offices, in addition to the main office in Kyiv, over 250 staff and 15 local partners. All programming activities are located in the East and Southeast of the country, in the areas along the frontline, in the sectors of protection (child protection, women & girls protection, and general protection), economic recovery & development, and health.

Job Summary
The Policy, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator is a strategic advisor to the Country Director and the Senior Management Team (SMT). He/she will lead IRC Ukraine's efforts in advocacy strategy development and implementation, coordinating closely with regional and global advocacy, policy and communications colleagues to ensure that PAC opportunities are leveraged across the national, regional, and global levels. 

The PAC Coordinator is a member of the Ukraine Senior Management Team and will work with country leadership to leverage IRC's influence towards external stakeholders; elevate the voices of our clients; contribute to meaningful policy change; and ensure visibility of IRC's work in-country using programmatic evidence and aligning with the country program's objectives.  

This role will supervise IRC Ukraine's Advocacy and Liaison Senior Manager, and the IRC Ukraine's Communications Manager.

Main Responsibilities

•    In collaboration with the Ukraine Country Director and the MENAU Regional PAC Director, lead the design and implementation of the IRC Ukraine, Policy, Advocacy and Communications Strategy.

•    Advise and support colleagues to implement Ukraine-related policy and advocacy initiatives with targets in in global capitals as required. 

•    Serve as a member of the Ukraine Senior Management Team (SMT) to ensure a strategic approach to PAC and contributing to the strategic direction of IRC's work in country.

•    Produce high quality public and private policy and advocacy materials including briefing notes, position papers, talking points, and advocacy reports.

•    Work with colleagues to support the production of IRC's programmatic thematic reports with focus on the IRC Monthly Protection Monitoring Reports through reviews for red lines and sensitivities as well as inputs of relevant information on the context. 

•    Regularly liaise with in-country stakeholders on issues of concern, incl. UN, donors, diplomatic missions, and peer agencies. While supporting the Advocacy and Liaison Senior Manager to grow the IRC's bilateral relationships with government counterparts.

•    Promote a principled approach to policy, advocacy, and communications among relevant internal stakeholders and ensure that external messaging is evidence-based and driven by field realities.

•    Closely monitor humanitarian policy debates and media pertaining to Ukraine, ensuring that relevant information is analyzed and disseminated internally in a timely and effective manner.

•    Provide analysis for the SMT and wherever relevant, inputs for high-level meetings.

•    Represent the IRC in humanitarian coordination fora, conferences, lobby meetings, and other events as requested; or provide talking points for other senior representatives, including the Country Director. 

•    Actively contribute to joint NGO advocacy positions, messages, and initiatives, as prioritized in the IRC Ukraine PAC strategy.

•    Act as media spokesperson for the IRC ensuring we are able to spotlight the issues faced by our clients and the solutions necessary to alleviate their needs. 

•    Manage the PAC department, including budget, staff and outputs. 

•    Provide capacity building on PAC to staff and partners to implement impactful advocacy and policy interventions.
Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will supervise the Advocacy and Liaison Senior Manager, and the Communications Manager.

Key Working Relationships

•    Direct Reporting to: Country Director.

•    Management in Partnership to: Regional Director of Policy, Advocacy & Communications.

•    Management of: IRC Ukraine Advocacy and Liaison Senior Manager, and IRC Ukraine Communications Manager

•    Close collaboration with: The Senior Management Team, Technical Coordinators, Field Coordinators, field staff, Global Advocacy and Communications Colleagues.

External: NGO Forum, particularly the Advocacy Working Group, government officials at a variety of levels, public and private donor agencies, international and national NGOs, and UN agencies.

Job Requirements

Education: Minimum: Bachelor's degree in International Relations, Political Science, Foreign Policy, Development Studies, Law, Public Relations or another related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies

•    A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience crafting and delivering policy and advocacy work responding to complex humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict situations with strong nexus/development interlinkages.

•    Proven analytical and strategic thinking skills and experience leading advocacy initiatives in a challenging environment.

•    Excellent communication, presentation, and representation skills, with the ability to link evidence generated from programmatic work to inform policy advocacy agenda and identify emerging trends.

•    Excellent English verbal and written communication skills in a wide range of applications (briefs, press releases, letters, presentations) and for different audiences (donors, policymakers, journalists, government officials and 'general public').

•    Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.

•    Ability to work well in fast-evolving external contexts, and under significant administrative and programmatic pressures.

•    Ability to work in a diverse team and on short deadlines.

•    Creativity, hands-on attitude, and attention to detail.

•    Existing experience of the Ukrainian humanitarian response is an advantage 

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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