Back Senior Advisor, Policy and Advocacy, Europe

About CIVIC

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international nonprofit with offices around the world working to improve protection for civilians caught in conflict zones. CIVIC envisions a world in which no civilian is harmed in conflict. Our mission is to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and strengthen the resolve and capacity of armed actors to prevent and respond to civilian harm. We are advocates who believe that no civilian caught in conflict should be ignored, and advisors who provide practical solutions to preventing and responding to civilian harm. Learn more at civiliansinconflict.org.

About the Position

CIVIC’s Europe Program was established in late 2017 with the aim of fostering European leadership on the protection of civilians (POC) agenda. CIVIC’s work in Europe encourages, stimulates, and assists key stakeholders to improve POC policies and practices in their own operations and security force assistance activities, while also prioritizing POC in their security and defense agendas and larger foreign policy orientations. CIVIC’s work includes research and advocacy, policy work, and the provision of technical expertise, including through trainings, exercises, and workshops. CIVIC’s main interlocutors in Europe include national governments (France, the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland etc.), multi-national organizations (NATO, the EU), and civil society.

We seek a highly motivated Senior Advisor to deepen CIVIC’s engagement with key European stakeholders, with an initial primary focus on the European Union, NATO, and some European governments including – but not limited to - The Netherlands. The Senior Advisor will craft and oversee an ambitious program of work that includes direct and coalition-based advocacy, policy analysis, managing research projects, and leading cross-organizational coordination with other CIVIC programs and country offices in the delegated area of responsibility.

The Senior Advisor will also have responsibility for managing all grant-funded projects within the program of work, including developing and monitoring workplans and budgets, and will coordinate with other CIVIC programs on joint projects as needed.

Post will report to the Europe Director.

Key Functions

The primary focus of the Senior Advisor, Policy and Advocacy, is to substantively develop CIVIC’s strategy for promoting protection outcomes through policy change through the European Union, NATO, and the Dutch Government. The individual will support the implementation of advocacy strategies on the full range of countries and thematic issues on which CIVIC works.

He/She will further shape CIVIC’s presence in Brussels, and CIVIC’s programmatic engagement with European governments, including The Netherlands.

He/She will also advise CIVIC’s Program Team, Executive Director, as well as global advocates, technical advisors, and researchers on matters of technical knowledge as required and helpful for realizing CIVIC’s strategic objectives.

Under the direct supervision of the Europe Director, in close collaboration with the larger Europe team, and within the scope of his/her delegated areas of responsibility, the Senior Advisor, Policy and Advocacy will:

• Act as CIVIC’s principal advisor and spokesperson with the European Union, NATO, and other European governments including the Dutch Government.
• Provide technical expertise and relevant advocacy support to CIVIC’s country programs on advocacy with the EU, NATO, and European governments including the Dutch government, in close coordination with the Europe Director, Program Directors, and other relevant internal counterparts. Proactively flag opportunities, and build advocacy sequences that serve program objectives.
• Identify, develop, implement, and seize advocacy opportunities, whether bilateral or collective, to serve the Europe Program’s objectives; contribute and propose dedicated advocacy strategies to advance CIVIC’s programmatic objectives at large, especially those of our country programs.
• Develop and maintain a network of relevant relationships within NATO (HQ, ACT, SHAPE, JFC-NP, LANCOM, CCOE, COE SFA, and other relevant NATO entities) and delegations of NATO member nations to NATO; the European Union (ECHO, EEAS, CSDP, EPF, as well as EU leadership and Permanent Representations of EU member states to the EU). Other relevant Brussels-based entities and civil society organizations.
• Propose or update comprehensive engagement strategies for CIVIC with the EU and NATO in order to positively influence their POC policies and practices, while leveraging their foreign policy orientations on priority contexts of intervention.
• Act as CIVIC’s primary focal point within the so-called “Roadmap” consortium of NGOs engaging with the Dutch MOD on the definition, adoption, and implementation of higher POC standards.
• Seek opportunities to elevate CIVIC’s cross-cutting organizational priorities, including urban warfare and security force assistance, as well as other priority thematic areas for the Europe Program (hybrid warfare, privatization of war, etc.).
• Contribute to strengthening CIVIC’s voice on contexts/crises European stakeholders are involved, including NATO, the EU and other European governments, whether CIVIC has developed in-country presence or not.
• Propose, conduct, and disseminate research in order to inform advocacy and policy work.
• Provide strategic contributions and ad hoc support to the larger Europe Advocacy Program, under the supervision of CIVIC’s Europe Director. Seek optimal coordination and information sharing, mutual support with CIVIC’s global advocates in view of elevating CIVIC’s advocacy objectives worldwide.
• Liaise with CIVIC’s communications team and external journalists or media in order to contribute to raising the profile of CIVIC’s advocacy initiatives in the delegate areas of responsibilities; write blogs, Op-Eds, social media posts, and other relevant communications materials.
• Deputize for the Europe Program Director upon request, and based on feasibility.

The Senior Advisor will lead all fundraising opportunities related to his/her delegated areas of responsibilities, including grant proposals, and will be able to identify and cultivate funding opportunities for the program. He/she will provide fundraising support to the Europe Program if or when relevant.

The Senior Advisor will also manage all grant deliverables directly related to his/her delegated areas of responsibilities and will be accountable for grant compliance.

The Senior Advisor will be responsible for cultivating and maintaining professional relationships with senior, Congressional staff, and counterparts in other humanitarian, human rights, and peacebuilding organizations.

This position requires 8+ years of similar experience. The successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to influence stakeholders at the senior level. This candidate will also be flexible, with drive and an energetic and dynamic approach to problem-solving as well as demonstrated ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines within an organization driven by high standards.

This position requires leadership, independence, versatility, tact, and strong program and project management skills. The ideal candidate enjoys variety in their daily work; embraces innovation; excels at relationship and trust-building; can write clearly and succinctly and has an established record of publications; is detail-oriented but also appreciates the big picture; is able to communicate effectively with peers and supervisors and “manage up”; and is committed to advocating on behalf of people and communities affected by conflict.

Requirements/Qualifications

• 8 years’ experience
• Education: Masters Degree or equivalent (JD) in relevant field (International and European Politics, National Security, or Law)
• Proven subject-matter expertise, as demonstrated through publications and work experience, in concepts related to civilian harm mitigation, protection of civilians or Human Security.
• Deep familiarity with the organization and workings of the European Union and/or NATO and/or with one or several European Governments
• Ability to provide high-quality and timely strategic advice for senior managers and external stakeholders.
• Exerts sound judgment in the use, prioritization, and allocation of his/her time and organization-wide resources.
• Works collaboratively across teams and functional areas and with external stakeholders to enhance the organization’s reputation, profile, and impact.
• Exhibits a high degree of self-direction and self-motivation in aligning personal and team actions with the goals of the organization.
• Abilities and Skills: Incumbent must be proficient in Microsoft Word; must be able to document, organize, and summarize notes from desk research and interviews and must be familiar with and adhere to at least one industry-accepted citations and style system (APA, Chicago, Oxford, etc). Must be able to write publishable quality research reports and policy briefs.
• Personal qualities of resourcefulness, diligence, tact, discretion, and integrity in all matters.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a constructive team player in a fast-paced, diverse, and at times stressful work environment.
• Fluency in English is required; a good command of French is a plus

Additional Details

Application deadline: August 23rdth

Start date: October 1st

If you have any questions about this position or the application process, please contact: mmartin@civiliansinconflict.org.