Are you passionate about advancing LGBTQI youth rights across borders? Do you have strong strategic leadership, management, research, advocacy skills at the international level? We’d love to hear from you!

Join our team as a fixed-term Advocacy & Research Manager and help us represent the intersectional needs of LGBTQI young people across Europe through strategic advocacy, research, and partnerships.

In this role, you will lead the Advocacy & Research Team and provide strategic leadership for IGLYO’s advocacy, policy and research work during the fixed-term parental-leave cover period.

You will further oversee IGLYO’s engagement with European and international institutions, manage research and funded projects, and ensure that IGLYO’s advocacy is informed by evidence and the experiences of LGBTQI young people and Member Organisations.

And as a member of the Management Team, you will also contribute to organisational planning, coordination, and decision-making.

Fixed-Term Contract: October 2026 – June 2027

Application Deadline: 21 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST

Interview Invites: 26 August 2026

Online Interview Dates: 01–02 September 2026

About IGLYO

IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation is the world’s largest network dedicated to LGBTQI young people and their rights. We represent the voice of over 150 Member Organisations in 40 countries across the European region.

We advance the rights of LGBTQI young people, advocate for their equality and inclusion, empower their voices, and connect them across borders through international events, capacity-building training, thematic research, advocacy, awareness-raising campaigns, network building, regranting, and intersectional community dialogues.

IGLYO’s vision is a world where we, young people in all our diversity, are able to express and define our own sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and variations in sex characteristics, and are able to participate fully in all aspects of life, rise to our full potential, and enjoy respect and positive recognition. More information about IGLYO’s work can be found at www.iglyo.org.

Organisational Structure

This fixed-term position is being recruited as part of IGLYO’s current Executive Director parental leave cover. During the Executive Director’s parental leave, IGLYO’s current Deputy Executive Director and Advocacy & Research Manager will serve as Acting Executive Director, and the organisation’s structure will temporarily change to reflect this arrangement.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for managing IGLYO’s advocacy and research portfolio and the Advocacy & Research Team as Advocacy & Research Manager, but will not hold the title or wider organisational responsibilities of Deputy Executive Director. The contract is fixed-term because it is linked to this temporary parental leave arrangement and will run from October 2026 to June 2027.

Recruitment process

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by 26 August 2026. Online interviews will take place on 1–2 September 2026 and will last approximately 50 minutes. Candidates invited to interview will receive further information about the format and any preparation required in advance.

For any questions about the role or application process, please contact Rú Ávila Rodríguez (they/them) at [email protected].

Working at IGLYO

The secretariat of IGLYO is based in Brussels, Belgium, and comprises an 11-person team, working in a variety of different areas. We try to foster a collaborative and supportive work environment which is flexible and allows everyone to achieve their best work. Joining IGLYO means being a key part of a huge network, and with this comes the responsibility to keep abreast of issues of importance to LGBTQI youth and be adaptive and open to new perspectives.

Contract details

Job title: Advocacy & Research Manager

Line management: Two Advocacy & Research Officers (and consultants)

Reporting to: Acting Executive Director

Working hours: Full time

Expected start date: October 2026

Contract type: Temporary, October 2026 – June 2027

Place of work: Brussels, Belgium

Salary

Monthly gross salary: 3500-4000€, depending on experience

Prime de fin d’année: This is a 13th month salary, paid in December, taxed slightly differently

Double pécule de vacances: This is an extra month holiday pay, paid (after 1 year of work in Belgium) in May to the value of 92% of a usual work month

Financial benefits

Lunch vouchers: 10,00€/day worked with an employee of 1,09€/day, giving a net 8,91€/day – averaging at 116,00€/month

Teleworking working allowance: 148,73€/month

Internet allowance: 20€/month

Travel to work: Around 41€/month if based in Brussels. This depends on where you live and what form of travel you take to the office

Personal development budget: 500€/year

Relocation costs: 250€ for an international relocation

Other benefits

Annual leave: 26 days

Additional leave: 5 days between 24-31st December

Working from home: Up to 3 days/week

Remote working: Up to 12 weeks/year

Job description

Purpose of the role

The Advocacy & Research Manager provides strategic leadership for IGLYO’s advocacy, policy and research work during the fixed-term parental-leave cover period. The postholder will lead the Advocacy & Research Team, oversee IGLYO’s engagement with European and international institutions, manage research and funded projects, and ensure that IGLYO’s advocacy is informed by evidence and the experiences of LGBTQI young people and Member Organisations. As a member of the Management Team, they will also contribute to organisational planning, coordination and decision-making.

Strategic Leadership & Organisational Development

Lead the development, implementation and regular review of IGLYO’s advocacy and research strategies, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s Strategic Plan, annual work plan, and priorities established by the membership and Board.
Provide timely strategic advice to the Executive Director, Board, Management Team and staff on institutional developments, policy opportunities, and appropriate organisational responses.
Lead annual planning for the Advocacy & Research Team and monitor progress against agreed objectives, deliverables, indicators, budgets and funding commitments.
Develop and maintain systems to assess the reach, quality and influence of IGLYO’s advocacy and research work, ensuring that learning is incorporated into future planning.
Contribute to IGLYO’s wider organisational strategy, governance, risk management, fundraising, and development as a member of the Management Team.
Promote effective coordination and information-sharing between the Advocacy & Research Team, other staff teams, the Board, and IGLYO’s membership.

Advocacy & Policy Development

Lead the implementation of evidence-based advocacy and policy strategies aimed at achieving legal, political, and social change for LGBTQI young people.
Oversee IGLYO’s engagement with the European Union, the Council of Europe, the United Nations, and other relevant European and international institutions and processes.
Maintain a strategic overview of relevant political, societal, policy, legislative and institutional developments, identifying emerging issues, risks and opportunities for IGLYO and its Member Organisations to influence policy, legislation, standards, funding and implementation.
Develop clear short-, medium- and long-term advocacy objectives, and ensure that IGLYO’s influencing work is grounded in evidence and the experiences and priorities of LGBTQI young people.
Lead the development and review of IGLYO’s policy positions and recommendations, in consultation with the Executive Director, Board, relevant staff and Member Organisations.
Lead the drafting, review and quality assurance of policy briefings, consultation responses, institutional submissions, position papers, statements, reports, speeches, presentations and talking points for different audiences.
Coordinate IGLYO’s responses to emerging political and policy developments, including determining when public, joint or private advocacy approaches are most appropriate.
Represent IGLYO at high-level institutional meetings, conferences, hearings, working groups, expert groups and civil society coordination spaces.
Prepare and support staff, Board members and young representatives participating in external advocacy, including through strategic briefings, coaching, presentations and key messages.
Coordinate joint advocacy initiatives, policy positions and statements with LGBTQI organisations, youth organisations, children’s rights organisations and other civil society partners.

Research & Evidence Development

Lead the implementation of IGLYO’s research agenda, ensuring that research priorities respond to evidence gaps, advocacy opportunities and the needs of LGBTQI young people and Member Organisations.
Design, commission and oversee high-quality qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research on issues affecting LGBTQI young people.
Develop and oversee research frameworks, methodologies, research questions, terms of reference, data-collection tools, sampling approaches and analysis plans.
Ensure that IGLYO’s research complies with appropriate standards relating to research ethics, informed consent, safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection and responsible data management.
Recruit, brief and manage research consultants, universities, academic partners, advisory groups and external experts, including overseeing contracts, timelines, deliverables, budgets and quality.
Review and quality-assure research reports, surveys, data analysis, literature reviews and other evidence products before publication.
Ensure that research findings are translated into clear, accessible and actionable policy recommendations, advocacy messages and practical resources.
Work with the Communications & Network Team to develop appropriate formats for disseminating research to policymakers, members, young people, practitioners, funders and wider audiences.

Member Engagement, Youth Participation & Capacity-Building

Ensure that IGLYO’s advocacy positions and research priorities are informed by meaningful consultation and collaboration with Member Organisations and LGBTQI young people.
Work with Member Organisations to identify shared advocacy priorities, emerging challenges, capacity needs and opportunities for collective action.
Design and oversee capacity-building activities, tools, briefings and peer-learning opportunities that strengthen members’ ability to engage with European and international policy processes.
Prepare and support Member Organisations and young activists to participate in institutional meetings, consultations, public speaking and other advocacy opportunities.
Facilitate connections and exchanges between members, allies, institutions and experts to encourage collaboration, shared learning and coordinated advocacy.

Strategic Partnerships & External Representation

Develop and maintain strong relationships with policymakers, officials and other relevant stakeholders within European and international institutions.
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with LGBTQI organisations, youth and children’s rights organisations, equality bodies, professional networks, researchers, funders and other relevant actors.
Identify opportunities for cross-movement cooperation, particularly where LGBTQI youth rights intersect with education, mental health, housing, migration, digital rights, racial justice, disability rights, gender equality and civic participation.
Represent IGLYO in coalitions, advisory structures, expert groups, working groups and civil society coordination mechanisms.
Facilitate joint analysis, consensus-building and coordinated action between organisations with different mandates, perspectives and levels of capacity.
Protect IGLYO’s independence, values and youth-led approach when developing partnerships and engaging with institutions, funders and other external actors.

Communications & Knowledge-Sharing

Work closely with the Communications & Network Team to ensure that IGLYO’s external communications accurately reflect its research, evidence, policy positions and advocacy objectives.
Develop clear and consistent key messages for institutional, civil society, member, media and public audiences.
Advise on the timing, framing and potential risks of public statements, campaigns and communications relating to politically sensitive issues.
Ensure that policy and research findings are communicated in accessible formats, including summaries, briefings, presentations, web content and resources for young people.

Team Leadership & People Management

Provide supportive and accountable line management to staff within the Advocacy & Research Team, including regular supervision, objective-setting, work planning, appraisal and professional development.
Set clear team priorities and allocate responsibilities according to organisational needs, staff roles, capacity and development goals.
Monitor workloads, deadlines and staff wellbeing, responding proactively when priorities, resources or working arrangements need to be adjusted.
Support staff to develop their strategic thinking, policy analysis, research, writing, presentation, relationship management, and project management skills.
Review and quality-assure the team’s outputs while enabling staff to work autonomously and develop their own areas of expertise.

Project, Funding & Budget Management

Prepare and monitor advocacy and research budgets in coordination with the Finance & Operations Manager, regularly reviewing expenditure, forecasts and budget variances and taking appropriate action where required.
Identify funding opportunities that support IGLYO’s advocacy and research priorities and contribute to the organisation’s financial sustainability.
Develop and submit high-quality funding proposals, project plans, theories of change, results frameworks, budgets and supporting documentation.
Manage relevant institutional grants, ensuring that activities, outputs and expenditure remain aligned with approved proposals, contracts and requirements.
Ensure that appropriate evidence, monitoring information, participation records and supporting documentation are gathered and retained for reporting and audit purposes.
Prepare accurate and timely narrative reports.
Maintain constructive relationships with funders and project partners, communicating significant changes, risks or delays promptly.
Oversee the timely implementation of funded advocacy and research projects, ensuring that activities, milestones, deliverables and reporting requirements are completed to the required standard and within agreed deadlines.

General

Promote IGLYO’s mission, values and commitment to youth leadership, human rights, equality and intersectionality.
Handle sensitive, personal and politically confidential information with discretion and care.
Maintain up-to-date professional knowledge of developments relevant to LGBTQI youth rights, European policy, advocacy and research practice.
Participate actively in staff meetings, organisational planning, training, events and other shared responsibilities.
Travel within Europe and occasionally beyond Europe as required.
Work flexibly within the needs of the organisation, which may occasionally include evening or weekend work, with reasonable notice.

Personal specifications

We recognise that relevant knowledge and skills can be developed through different routes. Experience may come from paid employment, volunteering, activism, community organising, research, education or other settings. A particular degree or formal educational pathway is not required.

The essential criteria describe the core experience and abilities needed to take on the role. The desirable criteria are additional strengths and are not requirements. We do not expect applicants to meet every desirable criterion, and we encourage candidates with relevant transferable experience to apply.

Advocacy, Policy & Institutional Engagement

Essential

At least five years’ relevant experience across advocacy, policy, research, human rights, equality, youth work or a related field, including substantial responsibility for advocacy or policy work.
Experience engaging with policymakers, public institutions, civil society organisations or other decision-makers to influence policy or practice.
Ability to analyse complex political and policy information, map stakeholders and power, and use sound political judgement to develop clear positions and recommendations, identify appropriate advocacy targets, messages and approaches, and manage sensitivities and reputational risks.
Good working knowledge of LGBTQI rights, youth rights and the European human rights and equality context.

Desirable

Direct experience engaging with the European Union, Council of Europe, United Nations or other international institutions.
Experience coordinating coalitions, joint advocacy or policy positions, or supporting national organisations to engage with European or international processes.
Knowledge of EU legislative, policy and funding processes.

Research & Evidence

Essential

Experience designing, commissioning or overseeing research, with sufficient knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the quality and limitations of evidence.
Ability to critically review evidence and translate findings into clear, accessible and actionable policy recommendations.
Understanding of research ethics, safeguarding, informed consent, confidentiality, data protection and responsible data management.

Desirable

Experience with surveys, interviews, focus groups, participatory research or research involving young people.
Experience analysing quantitative data or using survey and data-analysis tools.
Experience managing research consultants, universities or academic partnerships.

Leadership, Project & Organisational Management

Essential

Experience managing, supervising or coordinating staff, volunteers, consultants or project teams, including setting priorities, monitoring progress and providing constructive feedback.
Ability to support staff wellbeing, accountability and professional development while enabling people to work autonomously.
Experience managing complex funded projects, including work plans, deadlines, deliverables, budgets, monitoring and narrative reporting.
Ability to manage competing priorities and contribute constructively to organisational planning and cross-team working.

Desirable

Experience as a formal line manager, including supervision, appraisal and professional development.
Experience contributing to a management team, organisational strategy or governance.
Experience managing EU, government or other institutional grants.

Communication, Partnerships & Participation

Essential

Excellent written and spoken English (C1), sufficient to draft and edit high-quality policy and research documents and represent IGLYO externally.
Strong presentation, facilitation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to adapt communication for policymakers, young people, members, researchers, partners and funders.
Strong diplomacy and consensus-building skills, including the ability to work constructively with organisations with different perspectives and levels of capacity.
Experience working collaboratively with communities, members, activists or rights-holders and supporting meaningful and inclusive participation.

Desirable

Experience acting as an organisational spokesperson or engaging with the media.
Experience communicating research in accessible or youth-friendly formats.
Experience facilitating discussions involving different levels of power, expertise or organisational capacity.
Knowledge of French or another language relevant to IGLYO’s membership and institutional work.

Values, Ways of Working & Practical Requirements

Essential

Commitment to IGLYO’s mission and to human rights, intersectionality, meaningful youth participation and inclusive working practices.
Ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgement and handle sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
Confident use of standard office, spreadsheet, online collaboration and consultation tools, with the ability to learn IGLYO’s systems.
Ability and willingness to travel within Europe and occasionally beyond Europe.
Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends when required, with reasonable notice.

Desirable

Experience working in politically sensitive or hostile policy environments.
Experience working in an international, multicultural or membership-based organisation.

Eligibility and Inclusive Recruitment

IGLYO is committed to building a diverse and representative team. We particularly welcome applications from women, trans, non-binary and intersex people; Black people, people of colour and people from ethnic minority backgrounds; migrants and refugees; disabled people; people living with HIV; and people under 30.

Due to Belgian requirements and the nature of this fixed-term contract, applicants must already have, or be able independently to obtain, the right to work in Belgium for the full duration of the contract. IGLYO is unfortunately unable to sponsor a work visa or work permit for this position. We recognise that immigration and residency situations can be complex and will provide reasonable administrative support, where possible, to candidates who already have the right to work in Belgium.

How to apply?

Please follow these simple steps to apply:

Please read through the job description and personal specifications above.
If you feel ready for this role, download and fill out our Experiences & Qualifications form, which will act as your CV. You will need to upload this form as a PDF in our Online Application Form (see below). Please make sure you DO NOT include your personal details (name, surname, phone number) in the PDF to ensure we can anonymise your application.
Prepare your answers to the questions in the Online Application Form. Please write your responses in your own words and use specific examples that clearly explain your personal contribution, decisions and learning. We have seen an increase in generic applications produced using generative AI, which do not allow us to assess a candidate’s actual experience or judgement. The use of generative AI to generate, draft or substantially rewrite your answers will therefore work against your application. We will not accept applications using generative AI, as we will be unable to assess your individual skills and suitability for the role. Standard spelling, grammar and accessibility tools may be used.
Think of two referees who could support your application. These can include current or past managers, colleagues, volunteers, etc. who were involved with you professionally. We will only contact them, with your permission, as a last stage if you are selected for the position.
Once you have everything, fill out and submit the application form by Friday 21 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

Please note that we will only accept complete applications submitted through the online application form. We will not accept applications sent via email or using generative AI.

For any questions about the role or application process, please contact Rú Ávila Rodríguez (they/them) at [email protected].

Read more about the job description, requirements, and salary & benefits in our fully transparent Application Pack, and submit your application through our form by Friday 21 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST.