Senior Humanitarian Policy and Protection Adviser – Switzerland

NRC requires an experienced Senior Humanitarian Policy and Protection Adviser to support NRC’s global policy work, with a focus on protection of civilians and durable solutions. The Humanitarian Policy and Protection Adviser will be responsible for leading, developing, advising on, and guiding NRC’s protection policy work. This will include implementing the framework for NRC’s protection policy work, formulating NRC’s positions on key protection issues, and creating policy, and research strategies in collaboration with and in support of colleagues across NRC to address key protection issues. The Adviser will guide and coordinate, and where relevant, lead, NRC’s engagement in capitals on protection policy work. They will engage with the humanitarian community, including coordination mechanisms, on protection policy and advocacy issues, and coordinate NRC’s engagement with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and its Member States on issues related to protection of civilians, as well as leading policy work in relation to durable solutions to displacement. This role requires an efficient, resourceful, and organised approach to work, as well as excellent attention to detail, reliability, and strong written and verbal communication skills.

Specific responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, specialist advice, and guidance to enable the development and implementation of NRC’s work on protection policy, particularly as related to protection of civilians (PoC), such as peacekeeping, conflict and hunger, deconfliction, and durable solutions to displacement.
• Lead strategic planning for NRC’s protection policy work, including implementing the framework for this area of work for NRC’s new strategic period, and develop policy, advocacy, and research strategies including theories of change to address key protection policy issues in collaboration with and in support of colleagues across NRC.
• Lead on internal communications, coordination, and awareness raising in relation to protection policy work, ensuring timely and effective flows of information and fostering a collaborative approach to this work across the organisation.
• Support the implementation of NRC’s policy and country office strategies in relation to protection, with a focus on protection of civilians, and strengthen NRC Country Offices’ linkages to capital and global-level protection debates and issues, and vice versa.
• Engage externally on protection related issues and processes, including through building and maintaining links with protection mandated organisations and groups including UNSC, UNHCR, OCHA, ICRC, OHCHR, UNICEF, DPA and others, in coordination with NRC staff, and where relevant in coordination with other humanitarian organisations and networks/alliances
• Lead and guide the development of strategic policy and advocacy products by carrying out research and analysis, provide inputs to/draft to products and messages, and identify, pursue, and develop opportunities to develop and disseminate NRC products and messaging on protection.
• Liaise with NRC’s Global Protection Lead to contribute from a policy perspective to the implementation of NRC’s protection programming roadmap,
• Ensure that project targets are met and in line with project proposals and donor requirements Supervise and oversee, when relevant, the work of Interns/Junior Fellows/Assistants as required by the Head of Humanitarian Policy

Generic responsibilities:

• Implementing the framework for NRC’s protection policy work in line with NRC’s policy roadmap and NRC’s 2025 strategy
• In collaboration with other colleagues develop NRC’s institutional positions on key issues
• As relevant lead on, coordinate and contribute to, policy and advocacy products related to protection which contribute to organisational strategies and theories of change
• Coordinate and facilitate events; including agenda setting, communications, surveying/gathering input, logistics, travel, and venue arrangements, note taking, online document filing and other preparations
• Contribute to policy and advocacy efforts related to protection
• Contribute to, and draft communication and outreach products (including key messages, media products, position papers etc.)
• Ensure outreach and communication through online presence, mailing lists, newsletters, media products etc.
• Coordinate the development and distribution of tools, guidelines, and training material.
• Prepare donor reports and support material for grants in line with donor requirements
• Additional tasks related to protection as requested by the line manager

• Other tasks and responsibilities falling under the PnP role mandate, as instructed by the line manager
  Professional competencies:

• University degree in a relevant topic such a law or area studies or equivalent qualification, preferably at master’s degree level

• Legal expertise is preferred for this role

• A minimum of 5-7 years of documented relevant experience within the humanitarian sector in roles related to protection policy issues, including protection of civilians, durable solutions, advocacy, and/or policy

• Field experience, including in roles related protection, policy and/or advocacy strongly preferred

• Strong knowledge and understanding of IHL as it relates to protection, and of the humanitarian principles

• Knowledge and understanding at operational level of humanitarian standards and coordination mechanisms, including the IASC, humanitarian principles, humanitarian access, and humanitarian financing

• Conscientiousness and reliability, with strong planning and project management skills and excellent attention to detail

• Ability to work efficiently and to organise and prioritise different streams of works, including keeping to tight deadlines

• A strong command of the English language; other languages are considered an asset

• Excellent presentation skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills
  Context/Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of working in the field, preferably on policy or advocacy related to protection of civilians, such as peacekeeping, civil-military relations, engagement with non-state armed groups, for example in roles encompassing protection, advocacy, or policy.

• Experience with humanitarian coordination mechanisms and ability to work constructively, collaboratively, and professionally with stakeholders from a variety of different organisations and perspectives

• Knowledge of UN dynamics, systems, structures, and processes, including the UNSC, the IASC, and the GPC

• Experience in humanitarian project planning, coordination, and management

• Demonstrated research and analysis skills, and experience of producing high quality briefing notes, key messages, and other policy products

• Demonstrated experience of clearly and effectively communicating complex topics to non-technical audiences

• Prior experience with NRC is an asset

• Proven project management experience, including with donor reporting and budget processes preferred by not required

• Knowledge of or fluency in other languages relevant for the position is an asset, especially Spanish and French**.**