Advocacy Manager

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a civil European rescue association founded in 2015 to face the humanitarian tragedy and the lack of adequate state rescue capacity in the Mediterranean on the deadliest maritime migratory route in the world since 2014. Created by a group of European citizens, our maritime and humanitarian organisation has three missions:

1. To rescue people in distress at sea.
2. To protect and assist survivors on board our ship.
3. To bear witness and raise awareness about the tragedy unfolding in the central Mediterranean.

Today, SOS MEDITERRANEE is a network composed of four European entities (Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland) sharing the objective to support our rescue operations at sea. Search and Rescue (SAR) operations have been carried out since February 2016 in the Central Mediterranean off the Libyan coasts with the chartered ships Aquarius and Ocean Viking. To date, over 38.000 people have been rescued by SOS MEDITERRANEE.

AIM OF THE POSITION

The Advocacy Manager is part of the operations department of SOS MEDITERRANEE and reports to the Head of Communications and Advocacy. The Advocacy Manager works with the support of the Operations team and collaborates with:

• The onboard crew, mainly Deputy Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinators and post-rescue team members (protection/medical team)
• Shore team members, mainly the communications team.

The role of the job holder is to contribute to develop and implement the advocacy strategy of the operations department.

The person will :

1 . Participate in the design of SOS MEDITERRANEE’s advocacy strategy

• Contribute to the internal process of design and evolution of SOS MEDITERRANEE’s advocacy strategy, involving key stakeholders within SOS MEDITERRANEE’s network
• Contribute to framing and developing SOS MEDITERRANEE’s advocacy messages and proposals and guarantee that these are always aligned with the network’s charter and core values, fit with operational constraints, are coherent with public positioning and always in support of operations at sea

2. Collect and present advocacy-related qualitative and quantitative data

• Define, organise & manage the collection of operational data & information to ensure that SOS MEDITERRANEE’s advocacy is grounded on solid, relevant and timely evidence, in close collaboration with operational teams onboard and on shore
• Produce comprehensive advocacy tools, write internal briefing memos, public reports, map opportunities and stakeholders
• Actively watch context and positioning related to SAR / migration policies and write memos for internal purposes

3. Coordinate the implementation of SOS MEDITERRANEE advocacy

• Liaise and engage with relevant NGO networks, working groups and coalitions in the SAR, maritime and humanitarian sectors, with support of other SOS MEDITERRANEE members when relevant, to contribute to and influence collective action towards advocacy objectives
• Contribute to internal communication on advocacy activities within the organization.
• With the support from the Head of Advocacy and communication, engage with decision makers at global level, identifying key targets and processes / events and ensure adequate levels of participation from SOS MEDITERRANEE in these events
• Can be requested by the Communications Manager to directly engage in public communication events and act as a spokesperson in the media.

Vocational qualifications and certifications

• Master’s degree in Law, Humanitarian Aid, International Development, Public Relations, Social Sciences or related field

Work Experience

• At least 3 years of work experience in advocacy, in international development contexts
• Experience in SAR contexts is an added value

Technical expertise

• Knowledge of humanitarian sector and migration issues
• Excellent networking, relationship building skills
• Solid research, reporting, policy analysis and writing skills
• Experience collecting and using data analytics to inform program activities
• Highly computer literate with capability iMS Office, including Excel. Knowledge in Information Management a plus.
• Knowledge of context of migration in the Mediterranean Sea
• Knowledge of maritime law and SAR conventions, of maritime industry is a plus

Languages

• Excellent command of English
• Knowledge of French, German, Italian is an added value

Interpersonal competencies

• Sound teamwork experience
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, autonomous
• Ability to step back from hostile external contexts
• Good understanding of cross-cultural issues
• Capacity to work with remote teams
• Ability to cope with uncertainty and frequent change of plans

Conditions

• Open-ended contract (Permanent contract)
• Position based in Marseille, other locations to be discussed (Paris, Berlin, Milan)
• Possibility of homeworking 2 days a week
• Necessary to have a valid work permit to work within the EU
• Annual gross salary: 37 000 – 43 000 K EUR depending on experience and location
• Tickets restaurant, mutuelle covered 100% by employer
• 25 days of paid leaves + 11 compensation days per year