Senior Advocate for the Middle East

Welcome!

Refugees International (RI) a humanitarian organization which advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for refugees and other displaced people seeks to hire a Senior Advocate for the Middle East. This regional expert will be RIs primary advocate for human rights and protection of displaced people; will work closely with affected communities local partners and refugee-led organizations; and will promote solutions to humanitarian and displacement crises in the Middle East.

Ideal candidates have experience devising and implementing advocacy strategies in collaboration with the communications government relations and fundraising components of the organization. In addition strong candidates have experience in the region in a humanitarian capacity; have knowledge of (and ideally) experience in documenting findings and written briefs and reports based on those findings; and have experience conducting research and interviews with displaced people UN and NGO personnel and government officials.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research and Analysis

• Research displacement and humanitarian crises in the Middle East with a particular focus on the Gaza crisis and Syrian displacement crisis across the region;
• Conduct two to three assessment trips a year to crisis zones in the Middle East (conditions permitting);
• Interview affected individuals communities and others knowledgeable about the crisis situations including other NGO professionals and the United Nations and government officials;
• Write reports issue briefs op-eds letters congressional testimonies and other written products analyzing humanitarian crises and challenges; and make recommendations to meet these challenges;
• Conduct desk-based research as necessary when not on international travel and other reasonably related duties as assigned.

Advocacy

• Devise and execute advocacy and campaign strategies to promote the implementation of policy recommendations in collaboration with colleagues in the Program and Strategic Outreach teams. These strategies should include the use of advocacy campaign tactics like partner and civil society mobilization to bring pressure to bear on policy and law makers;
• Implement a plan of action related to advocating for the displaced and communicating other humanitarian crises in the Middle East;
• Advise and brief senior officials from the U.S. government the United Nations and donor communities on humanitarian crises; and recommend improvements for the protection of displaced populations and the delivery of humanitarian assistance;
• Work with RIs Senior Director for Advocacy Strategy and partners to effectively engage U.S. Administration and Congressional offices in support of RIs advocacy goals;
• Advance the advocacy agenda through established media contacts and interviews;
• Represent the organization at coordination meetings organized by NGOs the U.S. government the UN think tanks and other relevant institutions;
• Build and maintain partnerships with local groups providing humanitarian assistance and IDP and refugee-led networks in the Middle East to advance shared advocacy goals; consult these groups closely when forming advocacy strategies.
• Partner each year with an RI Refugee Fellow working on the Middle East to amplify the Fellows advocacy priorities ensuring that the work is grounded in the needs and perspectives of impacted communities. This requires a demonstrated ability to collaborate share leadership and show flexibility in shaping priorities based on lived experience.
• Advance the overall advocacy agenda of the organization.

EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION

• A minimum of seven-ten years of highly relevant experience on the Middle East including a combination of overseas work preferably with refugees/internally displaced people or in crisis situations required;
• Experience working for U.S.-based NGOs and/or direct experience with U.S. advocacy and U.S. policy highly desirable;
• Bachelors degree in international humanitarian affairs political science human rights or Middle East required;
• Masters degree preferred.
• We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of displacement or forced migration.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED or PREFERRED

• Familiarity with the agencies of the international humanitarian system is required;
• Excellent analytical writing and public speaking communication skills required;
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable;
• Ability to work well with others in small teams required;
• Willingness to travel to potentially risky and isolated places with limited external support required;
• Formal hostile environment training preferred;
• Familiarity with digital photography and digital videography is very useful.
• A person offered the position must be eligible to work in the United States.

ABOUT REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL

Refugees International (RI) advocates for assistance and protection for refugees and displaced people and for solutions to refugee and humanitarian crises. The team of advocates travel to some of the worlds most severe displacement crises to investigate first-hand the challenges displaced people face create polity solutions and demand action.

SALARY RANGE: Depending on background and experience.

• $95000-$110000 per year depending on experience

TO APPLY

Applications should include a cover letter and resume. Writing samples may be requested. Please send the application to REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL

Refugees International advocates for lifesaving assistance human rights and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
The team ofadvocates travel to some of the worlds most severe displacement crises to investigate first-hand the challenges displaced people face create policy solutions and demand action.

Refugees International is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity equity inclusion and belonging and to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. RI welcomes applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race color national origin gender sexual orientation age religion physical or mental disability marital status veteran status or other factors protected by law.

Required Experience:

Senior Manager