ILGA-Europe - European Region of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Brussels
Advocacy Officer
Deadline for application: 21 April 2017 

ILGA-Europe is a driving force for political, legal and social change at European level. Its 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 is comprised of over 490 member organisations throughout the European Region. From Iceland to Italy and Ukraine to Malta, it works with extraordinary activists to bring about real change for LGBTI people across Europe. Its strong team based in Brussels empowers activists, connects key change actors at European and national levels, leads on thinking and responding to important trends for the European LGBTI movement.

ILGA-Europe is looking for an Advocacy Officer to work with the staff team in Brussels.
The job profile
The Advocacy Officer will be actively contributing to ILGA-Europe’s advocacy work aimed at bringing legal, political and social change for LGBTI people across Europe, by working with European institutions to leverage their mechanisms for change, by setting benchmarks for national governments on LGBTI equality, by engaging with governments and civil society at national level to strengthen capacity to translate political commitments into concrete measures, and by acting as a thought-leader on strategic issues for the European LGBTI movement.

The tasks of Advocacy Officer will include developing and implementing effective policy and advocacy strategies with regional institutions, government or other relevant actors to respond to priorities identified by the European LGBTI movement; monitoring of developments and assessing opportunities for advocacy of human rights of LGBT people at European level; developing and implementing capacity building for policy-makers, civil society and practitioners at European and national levels on implementation of political commitments into concrete measures; and developing strategic partnerships and coalitions with other NGOs and relevant actors.

Candidates should be strongly committed to working for human rights and equality, and have competencies and demonstrated experience in:
• developing and implementing effective policy strategies and advocacy strategies with regional institutions, government or other relevant actors to achieve legislative, political and social change.
• capacity building of civil society organisations and movements, including empowerment of NGOs and other actors to successfully advocate for the advancement of human rights and social justice with governments and intergovernmental institutions.
• building strategic alliances and coalitions, mobilising key stakeholders to support legal, political and social change.

Qualifications, experience and other requirements are:
• Proven expertise in human rights international standards and equality issues, including as they relate to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Excellent political judgment and understanding of political dynamics.
• Experience in developing and conducting advocacy initiatives to respond to needs of a community.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, in particular ability to build meaningful relationships with institutional and civil society partners.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to develop evidence-based policy proposals.
• Experience and knowledge of the functioning and decision-making processes (in particular in inter-governmental organisations).
• Experience in designing and providing capacity-building to civil society organisations to strengthen their capacity to advocate for legal and policy change.
• Excellent communication skills (writing and presentation), including a high standard of written and spoken English ; capacity to explain complex issues simply, concise and clear for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated capacity to adapt to rapidly changing environments and to find innovative ways to respond to emerging organisational needs.
• Capability to take initiative, to plan and work independently, while being a strong and dependable team player; Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work as part of a diverse team, to maintain excellent working relationships in a high-paced environment, and to implement respect of equality and diversity into your everyday work.
• Willingness to relocate to Brussels and to travel in Europe as required.
• Experience of working with grassroots organisations, preferably in the field of LGBTI human rights and equality (highly desirable).

Useful additional experience/knowledge includes:
• Experience of campaigning.
• Working knowledge of at least one European institutions (European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).
• Working knowledge of another major European language.

Employment information
Open ended full-time position subject to continued funding for the post. Salary scale: from €44,798.74 and €49,967.83, starting at the beginning of the scale. The organisation has a generous remuneration package, including contributing to local transportation costs, luncheon vouchers, hospitalisation insurance, a pension scheme for employees and ‘family friendly’ policies. Relocation support from within Europe to Brussels will be given where appropriate.

Closing date for receipt of applications: Friday, 21 April 2017 (17:00 CET). Please submit a signed electronic version by e-mail to: Maria Pinto, Human Resources and Admin Officer, maria@ilga-europe.org.

• Announcement on the ILGA-Europe website.