Senior Advocacy Adviser – EU

Want to use your skills in Policy and advocacy leadership to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone everywhere?

Join WaterAid as Senior Advocacy Adviser – EU to change normal for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good. On top of that you’ll be joining a 2020 Great Place to Work® award-winning organisation.

WaterAid’s International Affairs team is the ‘political brain’ of WaterAid, we filter the signal from the noise about how key actors think, and what informs their behaviour. Our work enables WaterAid to confidently navigate and leverage the external landscape facing our campaigns. We garner high quality intel, craft politically persuasive messages and build a broad cohort of champions.

As our Senior Advocacy Adviser – EU you will focus on advocating and communicating WaterAid’s positions to staff within the institutions of the European Union, MEPs, Member States and other relevant partners with the aim of influencing their decisions. The role will build and strengthen partnerships with relevant organisations who can help further our collective objectives. This role requires an individual who is an effective and self-starting advocate to build strong connections within institutions of the European Union, member states permanent representations, EU delegations and civil society organisations based in Brussels.

This position reports directly to the International Affairs Director who is based in the UK.

Salary is €50,580 – 53,260 depending on experience.

To see the full job pack, please click ‘Apply’. Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter into one document in either Word Document or PDF format.

Applications will close 23:59 on 02 October 2022. Availability for interview is w/c 03 October 2022 – Interviews will be conducted on Microsoft Teams.

In this role, you will maximise WaterAid’s existing relationships with global influencers (e.g. statespersons, academics, high profile individuals and celebrities, philanthropists and business leaders), increasing strategic engagement for advocacy and campaigning impact, especially in donor markets.

You’ll also:

* Develop and implement advocacy strategies designed to influence EU policies and practices on water sanitation & hygiene in line with WaterAid’s globally agreed campaign priorities, and in coordination with allies.

* Keep abreast of complex and fast changing political debates and monitor emerging trends internationally, across key EU donor governments to inform WaterAid’s political positioning, ensuring the organisation’s advocacy is responsive and relevant;

* Represent WaterAid at meetings and conferences, write blogs, give media interviews and speak publicly.

* Build a network of contacts and relationships, gather information, and advocate with multilateral institutions

* Keep abreast of complex and fast changing political debates and monitor emerging trends internationally, across key donor governments to inform WaterAid’s political positioning, ensuring the organisation’s advocacy is responsive and relevant;

* Author and/or commission publications related to WASH/climate change/global health/country operations

You will have extensive advocacy experience, demonstrated by examples of strategic impact on policy change and experience of using policy, research, lobbying, public campaigning, media and digital work to influence a political agenda

To be successful, you’ll need:

* A keen political ‘savviness’ and an awareness of the potential for achieving political change, with proven experience of engaging with and influencing decision makers Essential criteria from person specification

* A fluent understanding and extensive experience of the techniques and skills required for effective project management.

* Understanding and experience of employing imaginative communication techniques and an appreciation of how those tools could work with policy, research and lobbying to influence a political agenda

* Imaginative, creative and accurate written and verbal communications skills in English, and experience of producing advocacy materials and resources.

* Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills and proven experience of contributing to strategy development, including monitoring and evaluation.

Additional Information:

Please note that we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. In order to apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your right to work eligibility in Belgium.

WaterAid is committed to ensuring that wherever we work in the world there is no tolerance for the abuse of power, privilege or trust. WaterAid reinforces a culture of zero tolerance towards any form of inappropriate behaviour, abuse, harassment, or exploitation of any kind. The safeguarding of our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf, is our top priority and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All staff and volunteers are required to share in this commitment through our Global Code of Conduct. We will conduct the most appropriate pre-employment references and checks to ensure high standards are maintained.

We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.