Migration Policy and Advocacy Officer

Background Information

Founded in 1983, the Red Cross EU (RCEU) Office is a membership office representing the 27 National Red Cross Societies in the EU, the Norwegian Red Cross, the Icelandic Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The RCEU Office helps to coordinate relations between its member organisations and EU decision-makers and stakeholders, sharing their extensive expertise in supporting people and communities experiencing vulnerability within and outside the EU. Based on our members’ practical insights, we promote dignity and wellbeing by facilitating and voicing common positions and recommendations towards the EU and Member States. We also monitor European developments that could impact the implementation of our members’ work, as well as supporting them to prepare joint proposals to access EU funding. For more information, please visit https://redcross.eu/.

Job Purpose

Guided by the Head of Social Inclusion and Migration Unit (SIMU) and working collaboratively with other colleagues in the unit, the Migration Policy and Advocacy Officer will monitor the EU legislative and policy agenda to identify intervention opportunities for the Red Cross EU Office and its members. The Officer will lead advocacy and representation efforts towards the EU institutions and other relevant stakeholders to promote policies and practices that respect migrants’ rights and dignity and support their social inclusion. Working closely with the Migration and Research Officer and the Red Cross EU Office Communications unit, the Migration Policy and Advocacy Officer will translate research, policy analysis, and the realities of Red Cross EU Office members into influencing strategies and targeted advocacy messages. The role is central in ensuring that the Red Cross EU Office’s migration priorities, in line with the Red Cross EU Office Strategy 2022-2027, are effectively represented in key policy and legislative debates at EU level.

Key Responsibilities & Requirements

Positioning and influencing

• Represent the Red Cross EU Office and its members (RCEU) in relevant policy areas and thematic issues towards a wide range of stakeholders at external events with different formats, including presenting at conferences, designing and running workshops, as well as in bilateral and multilateral advocacy meetings.

• Monitor and analyse relevant legal, policy and practice developments within the EU and at national level, identify issues of concern and opportunities for the RCEU concerning migration policy.

• Collaborate closely with the Migration Research Officer and the Communications Unit to ensure the development of evidence-based advocacy and messaging on select policy issues that engage all relevant targets and reflect Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Principles and the realities of Red Cross EU Office members.

• Undertake actions to ensure concrete improvements in policies and practices by influencing and enlisting the support of policy makers, elected officials, civil servants, intergovernmental and governmental bodies and agencies, funders, strategic partners and other allies.

• Maintain and develop RCEU’s position as a key expert in EU migration policy through regular dialogue with institutional, civil society and other strategic partners, including through participation in relevant networks, alliances and working groups.

• Produce high quality written material in coordination with National Society and IFRC migration experts (position papers, articles, written responses to consultations).

• Conceptualise, prepare and deliver external policy and advocacy events.

• Together with the Communications team, develop Red Cross EU Office communications outputs on migration across media channels and towards relevant audiences (social media, website, media requests).

• Support the SIMU in designing and implementing advocacy strategies.

Increase EU resources

• Identify relevant EU funding opportunities and support members’ access to EU funds in coordination with other colleagues in the office as necessary.

• Engage with EU policy makers to influence the priorities of EU funding programmes linked to migration.

Serve Red Cross EU Office members on EU-related issues

• Promote, facilitate and support members’ participation in influencing activities at EU level where appropriate, including in bilateral meetings with policy makers and in public events.

• Enhance peer-to-peer support and facilitate mutual learning among members working on migration.

• Respond to members’ requests for advice on EU related issues and support their advocacy efforts at national level.

• Help ensure an overview of the activities of members in the field of migration and asylum and co-produce communication material highlighting their programmes.

• Produce regular internal reports, updates and newsletters for members.

• Contribute to Red Cross Red Crescent Movement-wide initiatives, such as the Migration Network Platform for European Red Cross Cooperation on Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants (PERCO), and support understanding about the implementation among members of the IFRC Policy on Migration and the Movement Migration Strategy.

• Work closely with other Movement partners, particularly the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to strengthen coordination, knowledge-sharing, and joint advocacy efforts in the field of migration and asylum.

Other

• Actively contribute to the transversal tasks of the office, such as the development of internal newsletters, public communication outputs, cross-cutting advocacy initiatives, work planning, reporting and other relevant tasks as required.

• Support the organisation of training, workshops and events for members.

Candidate Profile

Education

• University degree in political science, law or other related field

Experience

• At least 4 years of experience in the field of advocacy (developing and implementing advocacy strategies), ideally influencing and lobbying EU institutions. Experience working in an international organisation, civil society or a membership organisation is an asset.

• Experience in drafting reports, papers and briefings.

• Experience in developing, managing and maintaining relationships with colleagues, external partners and policy makers.

• Experience in EU policy and legislative processes, particularly in the field of migration and asylum.

• Prior engagement with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including with a National Society is an asset.

Skills, abilities and knowledge

• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills in English, including for drafting reports, papers and briefings.

• Excellent lobbying, negotiation, and influencing skills, with a proven ability to engage strategically with policymakers and institutional stakeholders.

• Strong interpersonal skills, cooperative attitude and ease in conversing with diverse interlocutors.

• Ability to develop and articulate strategic advocacy messages.

• Ability to negotiate and coordinate different views and positions in a multicultural environment with a positive attitude and a strong sense of diplomacy and tact.

• Great teamwork skills but also ability to work independently

• Curiosity and openness to exploring and understanding the work of Red Cross societies at national and local levels.

• Good working knowledge of Word, Excel, Power Point and Teams.

• Knowledge of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an asset.

• Fluently spoken and written English.

• Good command of another EU language.

Terms and Conditions

• Permanent contract, subject to Belgian labour legislation (this requires an official registration in Belgium).

• Full time position of 38 hours per week.

• Based in Brussels, Belgium, with occasional travel within Europe.

• The monthly gross salary ranges between EUR 2,900 and EUR 3,100 depending on experience. We further offer an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Application Procedure

Please send your CV (max two pages) and a cover letter (max one page) – in English to [email protected] by midnight CET on 9 July 2025.

Please include the job title and your full name in the file names, and mention “Migration Policy and Advocacy Officer” in the email subject.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. The starting date will be discussed with the selected candidate.

If you do not hear back from us by 1 September 2025, unfortunately your application has not been selected.