ILGA-Europe is recruiting an Advocacy Director to lead our policy, advocacy and strategic litigation work at a decisive moment for rights and democracy in Europe and Central Asia.

Deadline: Thursday, 17 September at 23:59 CEST

About this position

We are looking for an Advocacy Director to join ILGA-Europe on an open-ended contract to lead our policy, advocacy and strategic litigation work.

This role is for someone who is a political strategist, and able to lead a strong team through both seizing emerging opportunities and delivering on long-term goals. We’re looking for a candidate who can shape ILGA-Europe’s advocacy priorities and strategy at a moment when democracy and rights for everyone are under pressure, this role is about shaping the future of societies.

The Advocacy Director will lead ILGA-Europe’s work to protect and advance the rights of LGBTI people on regional and national level in a shifting political landscape, build durable relationships with decision-makers, institutions and civil society –threading the line of navigating opposing positions while staying true to what ILGA-Europe stands for, and guide the team deciding on strategies, including mobilisation or pressure and steady, persistent engagement with institutions, governments, and policy-makers. The successful candidate will connect and embed our work firmly within the broader goal to protect democracy and rule of law, connect with other movements, and ensure policy work is approached through an intersectional lens that contributes to the respect for the human rights of other marginalised communities. The postholder will also bring a strong sense of how social change happens, how laws and policies can best contribute to LGBTI equality, and how to effectively represent the interests of a broad and diverse membership.

The position leads and manages the Policy and Advocacy Team, and reports directly to the Executive Director, working closely with colleagues working on programmes and movement building, communications, and individual giving, to ensure alignment and connection across different areas of work.

About ILGA-Europe

ILGA-Europe is a driving force for political, legal and social change at European and Central Asian level. Our vision is of a world where dignity, freedoms and full enjoyment of human rights are protected and ensured to everyone regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.

ILGA-Europe are comprised of over 700 member organisations throughout Europe and Central Asia. From Iceland to Turkey and Kyrgyzstan to Malta, we work together with extraordinary organisations and activists to bring about real change for LGBTI people.

A core part of our work is advancing protections for LGBTI people across the region and supporting the development of strong, skilled and connected movements. This includes policy and advocacy work on regional and national level, strategic litigation, grant-making, convening, shaping narratives and strategic support to LGBTI organisations and activists.

The Advocacy Director will contribute directly to this work, with particular responsibility for our policy and advocacy strategy and our public affairs.

ILGA-Europe staff are based in Brussels and work closely with activists and organisations across the region. We value collaboration, shared learning, and creative approaches to supporting social change.

The movement and our work are only as strong as our people. We support our staff and we value the knowledge, experience and commitment they bring to the organisation.ILGA-Europe offers a competitive employment package, including insurance, pension contributions, training opportunities and other benefits. Details are provided at the end of this advertisement.

What are the main job functions of the Advocacy Director?

As the postholder, you will set the strategic direction of ILGA-Europe’s policy, advocacy and strategic litigation work, and lead the team that delivers it – shaping how we advance the human rights of LGBTI people across Europe and Central Asia at a decisive moment for democracy and rights in the region.

You will:

Set the direction for our advocacy and policy work

Read political developments across European and Central Asian institutions, national governments and parliaments – in a context of rising polarisation and backlash against the rights of LGBTI people (particularly trans people) and other marginalised groups – and judge, together with the priorities of communities and movements, what is realistic and strategic at a given moment; advise the Executive Director accordingly.
Set ILGA-Europe’s advocacy strategy and policy positions at regional level and in support of national-level advocacy, connecting LGBTI equality to the protection of democracy and the rule of law and applying an intersectional lens.
Monitor the external environment and identify opportunities, challenges, trends and emerging issues that may impact ILGA-Europe, and, together with the Executive Director, develop strategic and operational responses.
Spot moments for public campaigns, mobilisation and media work that advance advocacy and policy work of ILGA-Europe – working closely with the Communications Director.

Build relationships and influence

Build alliances beyond usual allies and support the team in doing so, including with policy-makers and legislators across the political spectrum, and civil society actors working on different issues.
Engage directly with regional institutions, national governments and parliaments on significant national-level developments, working alongside member organisations
Manage ILGA-Europe’s public affairs and represent the organisation with decision-makers, media and institutions.
Maintain strong working relationships with civil society partners across the region, and with ILGA-Europe member organisations.

Shape shared positions

Lead the development of ILGA-Europe’s policy positions, including through engaging with or consulting with member organisations.
Support member-led advocacy work on national level, and the strengthening of national-level strategies and responses to developments, in collaboration with member organisations.
Build and maintain coalitions with civil society, democracy and human rights actors – shaping shared positions, agreeing common asks, and setting up collaborative partnerships for joint advocacy work.

Lead the team and contribute to the wider organisation

Lead and manage the Policy and Advocacy Team, accountable for delivery on time and budget.
Manage and develop staff: guide and coach staff on approach and ways of working, as well as delivering on set objectives, support and motivate, provide regular supervision, feedback and appraisals, and help staff grow in their roles.
Contribute to organisational management, and to shaping overall strategy, policies and culture.
Contribute to the organisation’s wider work: take a share of responsibility for running elements of the Annual Conference, oversee parts of the Rainbow Map and Annual Review preparation, and support the development of messaging for various developments, prepare grant applications, contribute to budgeting, prepare reports and briefs, as needed.

The role requires a proactive, collaborative and sensitive approach to all areas of work, and a firm commitment to advancing laws and policies in ways that are rooted in values and the needs of communities and movements.

Please see the full job description for more details.

What skills, knowledge and abilities are we looking for?

We are looking for someone strategic, politically well-versed, and a strong relationship-builder, who can combine long-term advocacy vision with the judgement to seize short-term opportunities. To fit this role well, you should be strongly committed to working for human rights and equality, and have competencies and demonstrated experience in:

Understanding of how political change and social change happen, and how they interact;
developing and leading advocacy and policy strategies at a European, regional, or international, including in changing or contested political environments (or skills and experience from national-level that the candidate can transfer to operate at European level);
designing rights-based advocacy within the frameworks and mechanisms of democracy and the rule of law, and engaging with the institutions that give these effect (such as the EU and Council of Europe);
grounded understanding of the LGBTI rights landscape in Europe and Central Asia, including strong understanding of laws, policies and standards related to the equality and dignity of LGBTI people, and an ability to read and navigate legal and policy frameworks;
strong analysis and synthesis skills, allowing to spot emerging trends and build comprehensive advocacy responses;
leading and managing a team, including setting strategic direction, supporting design and development of work, delegating effectively, and supporting staff development;
synthesising complex political, legal or policy information into clear strategic priorities and messages, and communicating effectively across a range of audiences;
collaborating proactively and effectively across teams, and with external partners including member organisations, coalition partners and institutional stakeholders;
applying an intersectional approach to human rights advocacy, ensuring work on one form of marginalisation contributes to the broader human rights of other marginalised communities;
finding points of convergence and points of difference with a wide range of actors, and working productively across disagreement, including with partners who may be only partially comfortable allies;
building and sustaining relationships with policy-makers, legislators, institutional actors and civil society across the political spectrum, and supporting the team in doing so;
identifying and using communications, mobilisation and public pressure and media opportunities in support of advocacy goals, including a good sense of when such opportunities support or harm broader goals;
ability to take initiative, prioritise multiple work strands and meet deadlines, plan and work independently, while being a strong and proactive team player;
ability to work as part of a diverse team and with people from diverse backgrounds, to maintain positive working relationships, and to ensure respect of equality and diversity in everyday work;
willingness to relocate to Brussels or Belgium and to travel, primarily within Europe and Central Asia. The regular working week is Monday to Friday but on occasion travel and work during weekends will be required.

Fluency in English is required, but due to ILGA-Europe’s wide regional mandate, candidates who also speak Russian and other relevant languages are encouraged to apply.

Useful additional experience

Working directly with LGBTI organisations and/or other marginalised groups, ideally in movement-based or grassroots contexts, or experience working in or alongside human rights, democracy or social justice organisations;
ability to navigate EU and Council of Europe institutions and bodies, such as the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the EU, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), and the Commissioner for Human Rights; and their political dynamics;
high-level, strategic understanding of how strategic litigation and the implementation of judgments – including through the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) – can be used as advocacy tools.

Employment conditions

This is an open-ended full-time position on an employment contract under Belgian law, 37.5 per week (usually Monday to Friday, with occasional work and travel on weekends possible).

Salary scale: from €7,069 to €7,554 (gross), starting at the beginning of the scale, increasing annually and with indexation. This annual salary is comprised of 12 months’ remuneration plus additional holiday pay paid out as of the second year of employment – the expected net monthly starting salary is approx. €3,900.

ILGA-Europe’s employment package includes:

20 days of annual leave (+10 public holidays) and an additional 5 days in December,
additional 50 € per month contribution to costs of home-working,
fair measures to ensure recovery of extra hours worked during busy periods,
a policy supporting employees who transition during employment,
policies ensuring flexibility for care of dependants and other family members,
an employee pension scheme,
luncheon vouchers at 8€ per day worked,
contribution to public transport costs for staff commuting to the office,
hospitalisation and ambulatory health insurance (which cover the majority of LGBTI-specific care),
support for professional development (trainings, coaching and other learning opportunities enabling staff to grow in their positions).

Non-EU citizens and individuals who do not have an EU work permit can apply. We cover all the costs related to obtaining a work permit and visa, and manage the process. ILGA-Europe colleagues can provide advice in finding accommodation, registering your residence and many other day-to-day issues related to moving to Belgium.

As a workplace, ILGA-Europe strives to be flexible and responsive to employee needs, balancing that with the needs of the wider team and those of the LGBTI movement. We offer flexible working hours and possibility to partially work from home, though the office in Brussels will be your main location of work. Given the nature of the work, you will not be able to start your employment with ILGA-Europe remotely (from another country of residence).

Application

Due date to send applications: Thursday, 17 September at 23:59 CEST. Please submit a signed electronic version by e-mail to: [email protected]. The application form is available below the page.

Please do not submit any other documents as these will not be reviewed.