Belgium: SENIOR ADVOCACY OFFICER

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Senior Advocacy Officer (SAO) is member of a small and dynamic staff at the International Secretariat of Pax Christi. The SAO position combines representation, research, fundraising and administrative tasks in support of the Secretariat’s advocacy mandate. The SAO reports to the Secretary General.

The SAO works closely with a network of advocacy officers from member organizations and with a network of volunteer advocates based in Geneva, New York, Washington D.C., Strasbourg, Vienna, Brussels, Paris, and Addis Ababa. This way the SAO is able to spread out valuable information from the field, allowing Pax Christi International to speak up of the most salient issues faced by communities immersed in violent conflict. Some of our advocacy key topics include: violence against civilians, disarmament (including nuclear disarmament), inter-state and intra-state violent conflicts, and conflicts related to natural resource extraction and emergencies as they arise.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates the preparation and implementation of an institutional multi-year advocacy plan.


• Coordinates research and production of content for advocacy on Pax Christi International priorities including drafting or inputting into briefing papers, speeches, submissions to intergovernmental meetings, web content, and other institutional reports.


• Develops and manages strategies to promote broad use of the member organizations’ data and research for advocacy purposes; in coordination with other team members monitors and assures consistency of organizational image.


• Plans/ implements advocacy campaigns in coordination with other team members.


• Coordinates the work of several advocacy teams and structures within the international movement.


• Coordinates logistics to ensure proper participation of staff and network members at UN and other intergovernmental fora.


• Coordinates work with teams of experts within the network in order to develop official policy and advocacy positions on selected issues.


• Ensures ample and positive collaboration on advocacy-related issues with long-term international partners.


• Provides leadership in exploring the use of new technologies for advocacy.


• Represents the organization to external media as appropriate.


• In conjunction with international leadership, represent Pax Christi International at different networks, fora, conferences, and events as appropriate.


• Produce regular updates on the advocacy work of Pax Christi International for selected audiences.


• Organizes relevant training for staff and network members.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced university degree in peace studies, social sciences, international relations or other related field.


• Minimum five years of advocacy-related experience. Significant experience working in collaboration with church and faith-based organizations is a plus.


• Solid knowledge of international human rights instruments and mechanisms.


• Substantive experience concerning production of conflict and policy analysis for advocacy purposes.


• Proven outstanding writing and editing skills in a range of formats for various audiences: news and feature reporting; research reports; newsletters; speeches; opinion pieces; web content.


• Substantive experience in designing and managing successful advocacy campaigns.


• Substantive experience working with policy makers at the national/ international level.


• Solid knowledge regarding new technologies for advocacy.


• Highly proficient in MS Office.


• Experience working in a non-profit environment.


• Native or almost native English fluency; working knowledge of French and Spanish.

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Proven interest in peace issues.


• Self-motivated with a positive attitude and able to work efficiently and accurately to deadlines.


• Highly creative and proactive attitude; able to generate and implement innovative ideas and strategies.


• Excellent research and analytical skills.


• Excellent collaborative skills and ability to establish effective working relationships with a significant diversity of groups – in terms of culture, religion, geography, and age – across the organization.


• Strong communicator with outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

LOCATION:

This is a full time position based at the Pax Christi International Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.

TERMS AND SALARY

Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience within Belgian non-profit standards. If needed, Pax Christi International will sponsor a work permit for the selected candidate.

ABOUT PAX CHRISTI

Pax Christi International is a plural faith-based worldwide peace network. It promotes a vision of just peace which is rooted in the Gospel and includes a global framework of structures and systems advancing the fullness of a dignified life for all people and their communities, unquestioned respect for human rights, and ecological sustainability. Pax Christi firmly believes that peace is possible and that vicious circles of violence and injustice can be broken. Pax Christi International seeks to create cultures of peace and reconciliation and to achieve this, its core work is built around active nonviolence, comprehensive reconciliation, and people-centred advocacy for peace. Our network is made up of a number of autonomous Member Organizations spread over 50 countries and 5 continents.

For more information about Pax Christi International, please visit our website: www.paxchristi.net