Senior Advocate for Displaced Women and Girls' Rights

Refugees International (RI) seeks to hire a Senior Advocate for Women's and Girls' Rights. The Senior Advocate will serve as RI's primary advocate for the rights and protection of displaced women and girls, working closely with affected communities, local partners, and refugee-led organizations to promote solutions to the specific humanitarian and protection challenges facing women and girls. The Senior Advocate will be a member of the Program Team and report to the Vice President for Programs and Policy.

Ideal candidates will have strong advocacy skills and research experience working on the protection needs of displaced women and girls in humanitarian settings. Candidates should have experience conducting research and interviews with displaced people, UN and NGO personnel, and government officials, and collaborating with and building coalitions. They should be prepared to collaborate closely with the communications, government relations, and fundraising components of the organization.

This position is based out of Refugees International’s office in Washington DC.. We have a flexible, hybrid work environment, with an expectation of 3 days in the office per week. We strongly encourage individuals with lived experience of displacement to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy (60%)

• Devise and execute advocacy and campaign strategies to promote policy recommendations, including partner and civil society mobilization to bring pressure to bear on policy and law makers;
• Implement a plan of action to advocate for displaced women and girls and communicate their needs across RI's areas of engagement;
• Advise senior officials from the U.S. government, the United Nations, and donor communities on the protection and humanitarian needs of displaced women and girls;
• Advance the advocacy agenda through established media contacts and interviews, including writing articles for publication in newspapers, journals, and other outlets;
• Represent the organization at coordination meetings organized by NGOs, the U.S. government, the UN, think tanks, and other relevant institutions;
• Build and maintain partnerships with local groups providing humanitarian assistance and IDP and refugee-led networks—including women-led organizations—to advance shared advocacy goals; consult these groups closely when forming advocacy strategies;
• Partner with an RI Refugee Fellow working on women's and girls' rights to amplify the Fellow's priorities and ensure RI's work is grounded in the needs and perspectives of impacted communities;
• Lead or support relevant coalitions to enhance RI's visibility and impact on women's and girls' rights in humanitarian settings;
• Contribute to grant proposals and reports related to women's and girls' rights in displacement; 
• Advance the overall advocacy agenda of the organization.
  
  

Research and Analysis (40 percent)

• Research displacement and humanitarian crises with a focus on their distinct impact on women and girls, including gender-based violence (GBV), access to sexual and reproductive health services, livelihoods, and protection from exploitation and abuse;
• Conduct two to three field assessment trips per year to document first-hand the protection and assistance needs of displaced women and girls;
• Interview affected individuals, communities, and others knowledgeable about the situations facing women and girls, including NGO professionals, United Nations personnel, and government officials;
• Write reports, issue briefs, op-eds, letters, congressional testimonies, and other products analyzing the humanitarian and protection challenges facing displaced women and girls;
• Mainstream women's and girls' rights and gender-responsive approaches throughout RI's field reports and advocacy strategies.
  
  

EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION

• A minimum of seven to ten years of highly relevant experience on the rights of displaced women and girls, including overseas work, preferably with refugees, internally displaced people, or in crisis situations, and experience on issues of gender-based violence and women's protection, required.
• Experience working for U.S.-based NGOs and/or direct experience with U.S. advocacy and U.S. policy highly desirable.
• Knowledge of the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda required; experience implementing or advocating on WPS commitments is highly desirable.
• Bachelor's degree in international affairs, political science, human rights, gender studies, or a related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of displacement or forced migration.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED or PREFERRED

• Familiarity with the agencies of the international humanitarian system and the gender and GBV coordination architecture (e.g., GBV Sub-Cluster, Gender Standby Capacity) is required.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and public speaking communication skills required.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in a second language is highly desirable.
• Ability to work well with others in small teams required.
• Willingness to travel to potentially risky and isolated places with limited external support required.
• Formal hostile environment training preferred.
• Familiarity with digital photography and digital videography is very useful.
• A person offered the position must be legally eligible to work in the United States.
  

SALARY RANGE

$95,000-110,000 per year depending on background and experience.

TO APPLY

If you are interested, please apply. Your application should include résumé and cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position.  Writing samples may be requested.

About Refugees International

Refugees International advocates for lifesaving assistance, human rights, and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises around the world. The team of advocates travel to some of the world’s most severe displacement crises to investigate first-hand the challenges displaced people face, create policy solutions, and demand action.

Refugees International is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. Refugees International encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, or other factors protected by law.