Senior Advocacy Advisor - EU
Contract: Permanent, Full time
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Salary: 59,708 - 62,694 depending on experience with excellent benefits
About WaterAid:
Want to use your skills in EU advocacy to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone everywhere?
We need passionate, creative and dedicated people. In return, you will be encouraged and empowered to be yourself at your very best. Together, we will make a bigger difference.
Join WaterAid as our Senior Advocacy Advisor at the EU to change normal for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good. On top of that you'll be joining a 2020 Great Place to Work award-winning organisation.
About the Team:
The WaterAid International Affairs team plays a leadership role across the WaterAid Federation to drive the design and delivery of WaterAid's major influencing with key donors, international and multilateral institutions to achieve SDG 6. The team's purpose is to convince influential political decisionmakers to prioritise water, sanitation and hygiene in their policy and funding agendas, and to create the conditions that enable everyone, everywhere to access WASH by 2030.
About the Role:
As our Senior Advocacy Advisor for EU engagement you will focus on advocating and communicating WaterAid's positions to staff within the institutions of the European Union, MEPs, Member States and other relevant partners with the aim of influencing their decisions. The role will build and strengthen partnerships with relevant organisations who can help further our collective objectives. This role requires an individual who is an effective and self-starting advocate to build strong connections within institutions of the European Union, member states permanent representations, EU delegations and civil society organisations based in Brussels.
In this role, you will develop and implement advocacy strategies designed to influence EU policies and practices on water sanitation & hygiene in line with WaterAid's globally agreed campaign priorities, and in coordination with allies. Working closely with WaterAid Sweden and WaterAid colleagues in Germany the role will support development and implementation of national advocacy plans that contribute to the implementation of EU advocacy strategy for WaterAid. The advisor represents WaterAid in Brussels at meetings/conferences, give media interviews and speak publicly as well as working with the Global International Affairs Director to link our EU advocacy to our advocacy in country programmes around the world.
You'll also:
- Keep abreast of complex and fast changing political debates and monitor emerging trends internationally, across key EU donor governments to inform WaterAid's political positioning, ensuring the organisation's advocacy is responsive and relevant;
- Maintain a high level of expertise on issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals and help to develop WaterAid advocacy on key breakthroughs in support of achieving SDG 6.
- Provide strategic support to WaterAid staff and partners to engage effectively with EU institutions and thought leaders with political clout, including tracking operations in select countries, creating opportunities for direct advocacy and learning, reviewing publications/letters/policy recommendations, and developing briefings.
- Author and/or commission publications related to the EU and WASH/climate change/global health.
About You:
- Substantial EU knowledge, experience and networks
- Sound political judgement and proven experience of engaging with and influencing decision makers at the Council of the EU, Commission and Parliament, including a good contact list
- Knowledge of international development policy and finance, preferably as it relates to health, climate change, education, water, or sanitation and hygiene OR an associated field such as humanitarian relief or human rights.
- Extensive advocacy experience, demonstrated by examples of strategic impact on policy change and experience of using policy, research, lobbying, public campaigning, media and digital work to influence a political agenda.
- A keen political 'savviness' and an awareness of the potential for achieving political change, with proven experience of engaging with and influencing decision makers.
- A strategic, innovative and creative thinker with the ability to deliver tangible results.
- Fluent understanding and extensive experience of the techniques and skills required for effective project management.
How to Apply: To see the full job pack, please click 'Apply'.
- Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter into one document in either Word Document or PDF format.
- Please indicate your location and the right to work eligibility in your Cover letter.
Pre-employment screening: In order to apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to the applicable laws in the respective country.
Closing date: Applications will close at 23:59 on 25th September 2023. Availability for the interview is required from the week commencing 2nd October 2023
Our Commitment
An inclusive workplace:
We are committed to being an organisation where everyone is included, respected, and empowered to be their best. We represent and celebrate our staff, partners and everyone we work with, and create a culture where everyone can reach their full potential.
Equal opportunities:
We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.
Safeguarding:
We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously.