NGO JOBS

Working with the world’s poorest people to transform their lives. Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries. We work in partnership with the very poorest people in these countries, directly enabling them to improve their lives, as well as using our knowledge and experience to influencedecisions made at a local, national and international level that can significantly reduce extreme poverty.

Job Title: EU Policy and Advocacy OfficerReports to: Head of Advocacy – Ireland and EUDirect reports: Intermittent postgraduate internsJob Location: 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2Contract Details: PermanentPay Band: Grade 5 (€40,928 to €48,151)Job Purpose: To support, develop and coordinate Concern’s policy and advocacy work towards the EU in order to address the root causes of extreme poverty. The focus of Concern’s advocacy towards the EU is in the areas of hunger (with a focus on food and nutrition security); humanitarian policy and practice; and aid effectiveness.

A significant part of this role will be dedicated to coordination of a three year advocacy project with our Alliance2015 partners: focussed on strengthening policy and advocacy towards the EU institutions in the areas of Hunger, Education and the post-2015 development framework.
Main duties & Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate and deliver policy and advocacy at the EU level in relation to the existing work streams of the International Advocacy Team.

1. Work with colleagues across Concern in order to ensure a coherent approach to policy and advocacy work directed towards the EU institutions

2. Coordinate the actions and activities of Alliance members in order to deliver successful implementation of the three year Alliance programme of policy and advocacy towards the EU.

3. Develop and contribute to position papers on areas of EU policy of importance and relevance to Concern’s work.

4. Provide support to senior colleagues leading on policy and advocacy work towards the EU.

5. Act as a focal point for country programmes wanting to implement policy and advocacy actions towards the EU

6. Proactively monitor developments at EU level in relation to legal, political, policy and practice developments that impact on the objectives of Concern and Alliance.

7. Develop tools to communicate on a regular basis – internally and externally - the work of Concern at the EU level, and the importance of the EU to Concern’s work.

Person specification: Essential

• Masters in Development or a related field

• Experience in planning and delivering policy and advocacy on development and/or humanitarian issues ideally with knowledge, experience and expertise on hunger and humanitarian issues.

• Experience in coordination of multi-stakeholder projects, including the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across the organisation and partners across different locations.

• Strong understanding of national, EU and multi-lateral institutions relating to Development, Humanitarian Assistance and External Actions and current debates relating to development, humanitarian relief and the roles of NGOs, governments and international institutions.

• Excellent writing and presentation skills

• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to communicate complicated issues.

• Proven ability to work independently and a desire to strengthen advocacy capacity within Concern

• Excellent interpersonal and team-working skills, flexibility, and reliability

• Excellent time management skills and the ability to work under pressure

• Willingness to travel overseas when required.

Desirable

• Experience of measuring the results of policy and influencing work, including an understanding of the connection between policy level results and broader poverty reduction goals.

• Experience of producing accessible materials on EU policy issues for a range of audiences

Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Ireland at the time of application.

Concern has a Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants, especially beneficiaries, from abuse and exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, partner organisations, and anyone engaged by Concern or visiting our programmes, and the standards of behaviour expected of them.

Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions in these two documents.

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).

Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.