Senior Officer (Advocacy Partnerships)

The RAI Policy and Advocacy team supports federal and state advocacy on U.S. resettlement policy and practice (as well as wider issues of concern) to the IRC’s U.S. Programs team, including 25 U.S field offices across the United States. In the past several years, US field offices have witnessed the strengthened organizational and political influence of anti-resettlement grassroots actors. In early 2016, fuelled by attacks against refugee resettlement in the U.S. Congress as well as moratoriums on resettlement declared by 31 Governors, the IRC witnessed a barrage of state legislative attacks on refugee resettlement. In the years since, IRC field offices throughout the United States have strengthened their education, outreach, and advocacy work at the state and local levels- passing legislation, securing state budget resources, or gathering resolutions of support, due to efforts to lift up the contributions of refugees and the strong support of local communities that our programs enjoy. A key component of state and national advocacy success has been the ability to incorporate external voices and validators in our advocacy work. The Senior Officer Advocacy Partnerships will serve as a bridge between these grass tops leaders and their grassroots members/constituencies, the national Advocacy team, and the RAI field offices. The Partnerships Lead will strengthen the Policy and Advocacy team’s capacity to provide direct advocacy support throughout the network and providing tools, resources and learning for these new partners while also connecting them with opportunities for engagement on refugee issues at the state and national level. At the same time, the Partnerships Lead will seek to build relationships with new and existing donors to create a network of long-term financial support for this work. The Senior Officer Advocacy Partnerships will also take on a unique role with the Refugee Advocacy Lab, coordinating partnership engagement for states beyond the IRC network and identifying high-impact partnerships across states and regions. Major Responsibilities: Coordinating with the RAI Policy and Advocacy team, the US field network and the newly formed Refugee Advocacy Lab and its partners, the Senior Officer Advocacy Partnerships will lead on engagement with external partners in support of state and national advocacy deliverables. Targeted partnership development and engagement should reflect a range of sectors including but not limited to: business; religious; security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security; ethno-professional organizations; education; etc. •Coordinate with the RAI Advocacy team to research, identify, and advance new relationships in support of refugee advocacy efforts nationally and with conservative audiences. •Coordinate with state advocacy leads to broaden the constituency of support for advancing inclusive policy goals. •Research and identify relationships with new and potential funders in support of the Refugee Advocacy Lab’s national coordinating partners for follow on resources. •Develop and execute meetings and events to facilitate learning, partnerships, and collaboration with external partners. •Develop and implement outreach tools and resources (e.g., factsheets, tailored outreach materials, etc.) for education, providing those trainings as necessary. •Coordinate with the Refugee Advocacy Lab team to facilitate partnership engagement beyond the IRC network. •Support the rollout and success of the Business Pledge on behalf of the Refugee Advocacy Lab. Key Working Relationships: Position Reports to: director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Senior Director, Refugee & Asylum Policy and Advocacy Position directly supervises: N/A Indirect Reporting: Director, State Advocacy (U.S. Programs) Other Internal and/or external contacts: Internal: •Senior Policy and Advocacy Director (overseeing US Programs advocacy) •US Programs field office staff & State Advocacy officers •US Programs HQ staff •Communications staff including Marketing External: •National resettlement partners & staff of local resettlement agencies or affiliates •In-district offices of federal legislators & staff •Local or regional media as appropriate •Refugee Advocacy Lab Term •One-year with potential for extension Job Requirements: Education: •Bachelor degree or higher in a related field. Work Experience: •6+ years working in politics or community engagement. •Experience developing and implementing successful partner engagement strategies with both grassroots and grasstops groups. •Experience coordinating efforts within a larger policy and advocacy team- facilitating connections across states and federal-state-local work. •Experience in using strategic communications including digital channels for advocacy would be an asset. •Experience working in coalition to build support amongst various stakeholders. Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: •Understanding of the U.S. resettlement program and/or and knowledge of policy issues related to U.S. immigration is highly desirable. •Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent and sensitive narratives. •Ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with non-traditional partners. •Strong public speaking, presentation and networking skills. •Ability to work as a team player with remote supervision and multiple lines of internal communication and accountability. •Initiative and ability to work independently on fast-paced issues. •Commitment to the IRC’s vision, mission and values. The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation. IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, Egalite, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.