Senior EU Policy & Advocacy Adviser Belgium

What we are looking for:

NRC Europe (Belgium) is seeking a seasoned Senior EU Policy and Advocacy Adviser to shape and elevate our advocacy towards the EU and its Member States across NRC’s priority themes. In this role, you will drive forward NRC’s global strategic ambitions while strengthening policy influence and advocacy capability across country and regional teams.

What you will be doing:

You’ll play a key role in driving our mission forward. Your main areas of focus will include:

Policy and Advocacy

• Lead on global advocacy priorities efforts targeting the EU and its Member States initiated by Head Office, Regional, Country Offices and/or other NRC representation offices.
• Monitor relevant EU/MS foreign policy developments affecting NRC’s work, provide analysis to support NRC’s understanding of EU/MS policies and processes, identify opportunities for influencing and informing NRC advocacy strategy and policy development.
• Propose, initiate, and implement advocacy initiatives geared to influence the policies and practices of the European Union and the Member States as part of NRC advocacy strategies.
• Advise, inform, and support the development of global policies and/or country-specific advocacy strategies and recommendations in collaboration with other NRC Representation offices, Advocacy Advisers, and Managers.
• Draft and disseminate high quality advocacy products: briefings, talking points, speeches, letters, reports, position papers, and other written materials for internal and external use as agreed.
• Organise or coordinate visits from field colleagues to Brussels to support NRC’s advocacy objectives.
• Effectively liaise internally with file-holders to ensure coordination, consistency, and alignment of NRC messages with NRC’s global policy positions and objectives.

Liaison and representation

• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with representatives of EU and Member State’s institutions on specific workstream.
• Work closely with other humanitarian NGOs and networks in the context of joint advocacy initiatives at EU and Member States level.
• Represent NRC in various meetings and international fora.
• Act as a main focal point on EU policies for relevant areas of responsibilities.

Development

• Act as the in-house specialist in relation to delegated areas of Advocacy provision (country context or theme specific, and/or interlocutor specific) and provide advice, guidance to senior NRC colleagues (e.g., NRC Representation Office Directors, NRC Country/Regional Directors, and Heads of Programme, Secretary-General's Office).
• Provide technical support, advice, guidance, and capacity building to NRC in-country advocacy leads and to colleagues in other NRC offices in relation to own specialist and lead areas of advocacy.
• Contribute to further increase NRC’s profile on the EU scene including, when relevant, through strategic use of media and social media.

Other specific responsibilities:

• Establish and lead in the implementation of targeted advocacy toward the EU and a selection of relevant Member States to advance NRC advocacy objectives on a determined number of humanitarian crises, and thematic areas, aligned with NRC Global advocacy and policy priorities.
• Consolidate NRC’s position as a leading agency for sound humanitarian policy advice through delivery of timely, specific, and evidence-based insights to EU policymakers and donors.
• Through regular meetings and travel, map-out key EU policymakers in Brussels and in relevant capitals who can effect change regarding priority advocacy issues for NRC.
• Meet relevant EU representatives and Member States officials to convey NRC messages and to remain informed of important developments and decisions.
• Develop and maintain a network of civil society colleagues and specific files, and lead coalition work when relevant / necessary.
• Provide analysis to key NRC staff in advance of main decision-making forums or relevant processes, policy developments, key dates, and activities.
• Develop, design, and support the organisation of regular lobby missions to Brussels including visits to relevant European capitals for NRC.
• Oversee and implement follow-up of NRC delegations, meetings, and visits.
• Work with the programme teams to identify evidence and learning needs for Inclusion as a pathway to self-reliance for displaced people, specifically to help clarify as part of a MEL readiness assessment what it means when NRC works as enabler, and with local systems, and including displaced people in these, in order to design appropriate MEAL solutions.

Please download the detailed job description to learn even more about the position.

What you will bring:

• University degree or equivalent qualification in international relations, law, or social studies.
• At least 7-10 years of professional experience in humanitarian settings and complex crises.
• Demonstrated experience in leading humanitarian advocacy strategies that impact on major institutional decision makers.
• Previous experience in representing NGO’s, donors, or UN agencies in formal settings.
• Understanding and interest in EU foreign policy, European institutions, and processes.
• Demonstrated experience in developing sound and actionable policy recommendations tailored to their interlocutor. Ability to present arguments in a structured, compelling, and articulated manner.
• Previous experience in drafting speeches, talking points, and position papers. Good research and analytical skills.
• Working knowledge of international law, IHL, humanitarian principles and of the humanitarian system.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Political and cultural awareness.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiation skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Impeccable writing and editing skills.
• Strong planning and administrative skills, including full computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint).
• Organisational skills including the ability to multitask, prioritise and work efficiently with limited supervision.
• Comfortable in a multicultural professional and/or NGO environment.
• Availability to travel regularly within the EU and externally is an asset.
• Knowledge of French is an asset.

What we offer:

• Duty station: Brussels, Belgium
• Contract: 1 year with the possibility of extension
• Travel: Up to 20%.
• Salary/benefits: Grade 9 on NRC’s Resident salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions.
• Group Pension insurance (6% of annual gross salary)
• Hospitalisation insurance
• Lunch vouchers
• 13th month salary
• Possibility to work from home up to three days per week
• Teleworking allowance
• Commuting allowance
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Market Place.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you have any questions about this role, please email ho.recruitment@nrc.nowith the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

About Us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH

How to apply

Click HERE to apply.