Advocacy Manager – Ukraine

Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has assisted more than 700,000 people with emergency food, shelter and NFIs, legal assistance and information counselling, protection from violence, education and multi-purpose cash grants.

NRC co-chairs the Humanitarian Access Working Group with OCHA, is an active member of the Steering Committee of the Perekhid Initiative for the transition of humanitarian multi-purpose cash into shock-responsive social protection schemes of the Government, developed the National Housing Strategy for IDPS and the first draft of the new Housing Code of Ukraine with the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, and produced or co-author a number of policy papers on impediments to humanitarian access.
NRC has been engaging international actors through humanitarian diplomacy and voicing humanitarian access constraints at high level meetings in Geneva, Brussels, Oslo and New York, and through international media.

The scope of the work of the Advocacy Manager is extensive and requires a highly qualified individual with a broad network amongst NGOs and UN Agencies, a deep understanding Humanitarian and Human Rights Law and the protection needs in Ukraine, and the ability to identify legal reform initiatives for NRC engagement with a substantial long-term impact on social protection services in the country.

The Advocacy Manager will supervise a multidisciplinary team comprised of three units: Advocacy, Communications and Media, and Policy Development/ Legal Reform.

Below is a brief summary of the role. Please download the Job Descriptionfor further details.

What you will do:

Advocacy:

• Lead in the planning and implementation of advocacy initiatives tied to specific projects (education, refugee issues, etc).
• Participate and lead engagement with NRC rep offices with support from the Central and Eastern Europe Regional Office.
• Develop CC-specific advocacy strategies, priorities, and products to be used for national and international stakeholders.
• Support Ukraine-led engagement with the CEERO humanitarian diplomacy initiatives.
• Ensure that advocacy is mainstreamed into the country strategy and programmes, including in grant proposals.
• Actively participate in the Country Management Group (CMG) and support the work, where relevant, of crisis management teams.

Media & Communication:

• Develop and manage the implementation of a media and communications plan for NRC Ukraine in support of the advocacy strategy.
• Produce regular reactive and pro-active advocacy and media products such as briefing notes, fact sheets, talking points, research papers, and articles, and, where appropriate, support field staff in the production of advocacy products, in line with country and regional priorities.
• Actively liaise with national and international media to develop relationships with strategic outlets to advance NRC advocacy objectives and bring awareness to NRC’s work and the situation inside Ukraine.
• Manage and report on donor commitments tied to advocacy, media, and communications; support program staff to develop advocacy-specific objectives and logframes for new funding.
• Ensure oversight of sign off for all media and communication products in Ukraine as per NRC guidelines.

Access:

• Work closely with the Ukraine Access team to support timely analysis and advocacy on access issues, particularly in the East and South of Ukraine.
• Contribute to the development of international and national advocacy initiatives, with a particular focus on access barriers faced by people in need and humanitarian agencies.
• Design internal and external humanitarian access briefings and accompanying data collection tools that contribute to raising awareness of humanitarian access barriers and potential solutions across NRC’s areas of operation.
• Maintain active contact with Access/Liaison counterparts from peer agencies (including Local Humanitarian Partners) and relevant organizations.

Policy Development:

• Provide policy analysis aimed at strengthening NRC’s understanding of, and ability to, influence relevant humanitarian policies and practices in Ukraine, and keep NRC updated on relevant developments in Ukraine.
• Contribute to the strategic decision-making of the country program as a member of the country management group.
• Working with NRC program staff, contribute to the development of user-friendly information management and data collection methods for use in media and advocacy products.

Legal Reform:

• Oversee NRC’s engagement in legal reform processes and associated initiatives to promote changes in the social protection legal landscape in Ukraine.

What you will bring:

• Minimum 5 years of experience working as an Advocacy Manager in a humanitarian/recovery context
• Understanding of fundamental principles of humanitarian action
• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Experience and expertise in law, policy and legislative issues.
• Experience and understanding of humanitarian access and diplomacy work

Context/specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the context in the region/Ukraine is key
• Proficiency in Russian / Ukrainian is a strong asset.
• Proficiency in English -both oral and written is strongly desired for this role.

What Makes This Position Attractive?

• The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization helping people forced to flee. The organisation protects displaced people and supports them as they build a new future. NRC began relief efforts after World War II, and today, works in both new and protracted crises across more than 40 countries.
• Meaningful work that responds to the diverse needs, priorities, and concerns raised by beneficiary communities. NRC Ukraine meets immediate humanitarian needs, prevents further displacement, and contributes to durable solutions.

What We Offer:

• Duty station: Kyiv – Ukraine
• Contract duration: 12 months fixed term-renewable subject to performance, structure and funds availability
• Travel : up to 30% (domestic and international)
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC salary scale grade 9, terms and conditions.
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. In the selection of our staff, 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.

Key Information – Please Take Note When Applying

• Learn more about NRC here and NRC Ukraine
• To apply as an internal candidate, please click on the suitcase icon “I am an employee” on the top right of the page to be redirected to NRC’s internal career site.
• Apply by completing all the system-required fields of your experience, employment history, and education in your application.
• Ensure to attach your latest CV and application in English.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as per your passport.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and early closure of publication should be anticipated.