Senior Advocacy and Policy Adviser

The Opportunity

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as the Senior Advocacy and Policy Adviser, Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack in Geneva Switzerland Save the Children International office.

Role Purpose:

The Senior Adviser will be working for the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) as a member of its Secretariat, though based in Save the Children’s Geneva Advocacy Office and formally employed by Save the Children International.

In close coordination with all members of GCPEA, the Senior Advocacy and Policy Advisor will ensure that GCPEA is represented in and influences key fora and processes relevant to protecting education in armed conflict. In particular, the Senior Advisor will conduct advocacy and support the process of promoting endorsement and implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration and its accompanying Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict (the Guidelines). The Safe Schools Declaration is an intergovernmental political commitment to safeguard education in armed conflict which has been endorsed by 118 countries to date.

The Senior Advisor will represent GCPEA in external meetings, including at high-level, with government officials in Geneva, New York and in capital cities, as well as with representatives from UN agencies, INGOs, and other relevant entities. She/he will lead the design and implementation of strategies to influence UN and intergovernmental processes related to protecting education from attack and promoting the Safe School Declaration.

The Senior Advisor will provide technical support and expertise to GCPEA’s members at the international and national level to support effective implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration in-country. She/he will also provide strategic advice to GCPEA’s Executive Director and Secretariat as well as GCPEA members on opportunities to engage and influence decision-makers and agendas to better protect education in armed conflict.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• A minimum of 8 years of advocacy experience in an NGO environment, with experience in successfully leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies;
• Strong networking skills, and experience in participating in or coordinating NGO working groups or coalitions or networks of agencies and advising them on common strategies, messages, and opportunities;
• Proven record in influencing governments, and other organisations through representation or advocacy;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the delivery of presentations;
• Strong analytical skills, and an ability to distil large amounts of information and communicate it effectively;
• Knowledge of the institutional and legal framework governing humanitarian and development work, and familiarity with International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law;
• Experience working in or around international development and humanitarian organizations, including knowledge of the United Nations system and of the major policy debates relating to the protection of education;
• Demonstrable creative ability in accessing new opportunities, expertise, and ideas;
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation;
• Desirable: Experience working in a crisis-affected country in an advocacy role
• Desirable: Fluency in French or Spanish;
• Strong computer skills including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint;
• Good interpersonal skills, an ability to work in high-stress situations and across geographical and functional boundaries in a diverse organisation;
• Commitment to Save the Children’s and GCPEA’s values.

This role will be based in Geneva, Switzerland Save the Children International office location on approval, provided the successful candidate has proof of eligibility to work from the preferred location.

Where we Work – Where We Work | Save the Children International

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your salary expectations. A full copy of the role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.