Advocacy Advisor - UN (P3)

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world's hardest-to-reach places - over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you're creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

The Advocacy Advisor will advocate, influence, and communicate for policy change in and at the United Nations based on Save the Children's policy and advocacy strategic plan and priorities. They will lead a selected priority area of work with relevant UN processes and bodies. They will represent Save the Children to relevant institutions and to influence them. They will be instrumental in influencing the agendas of governments through their engagement and networking with Permanent Missions in New York and Geneva. They will play a key role in contributing to the global humanitarian and child rights agenda of Save the Children, working in close collaboration with the global humanitarian, child rights, and technical teams. The role holder will be ensuring strong integration of the local to global advocacy agenda, playing a critical role in supporting and enabling Save the Children's country offices and regions, local partners, and ensuring that they are able to meaningfully contribute to influencing at the global level. They will work closely with other team members and global units, country offices and regions to promote and facilitate safe and meaningful children's participation with UN processes in New York and Geneva.

Location

Hybrid - New York Advocacy Office

What You'll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Advocacy

• Promote Save the Children's organizational priorities and key messages with policy makers and decision makers, including the UN Security Council, Human Rights Council, General Assembly, permanent missions, UN agencies, partner NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Lead the advocacy and strategy on relevant priorities and UN processes.
• Support the NY and Geneva Advocacy Team to plan and implement advocacy and outreach for specific influencing priorities and processes, including planning of meetings, priority events, publication launches to promote Save the Children's organizational priorities and key messages with UN policy makers and decision makers.

Development and Implementation of Strategies

• Coordinate activities to meet benchmarks set in the team's work plan, and which contribute to Save the Children International strategic objectives (coordination of advocacy activities, building constructive networks, organization and management of events, drafting of policy briefs, undertaking research, etc.). Take the lead on agreed files and strategies.
• Support the development, coordination and implementation of the SC strategy for key engagement and influencing periods and moments (e.g. the UNGA).
• Where applicable, provide project management support.

Alliances and Partnerships

• Build a strong network, in particular with key Member State decision makers.
• Build relationships with relevant NGO and UN partners, including through NGO working groups/coalitions and interagency meetings, that enhance our advocacy impact.
• Be a credible and effective representative for Save the Children and its key initiatives in UN and other relevant forums.

Child Participation and Safeguarding

• Act as Child Safeguarding focal point for the office to ensure full implementation of Save the Children's Child Safeguarding policy and Child Safe Participation in the team.
• Provide regular training and orientation to team members and other relevant parties.
• Conduct Child Safeguarding risk assessment and develop mitigation plans with relevant colleagues.
• Support Children's meaningful participation in UN Processes.

Required qualifications for the role

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 5 years of relevant experience
• Demonstrable experience working in international diplomacy and humanitarian affairs and/or child rights.
• Demonstratable experience in external engagement with decision makers.
• Experience in advocacy and policy work at national and/or international level, including proven success in developing and implementing high quality advocacy strategies
• Capacity of analyzing complex policies and experience in developing policy briefs and policy papers across multiple thematic areas.
• Experience of coordinating networks, building partnerships and forging coalitions to ensure good information sharing, mutual accountability and joint coherent action.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
• Understanding of the United Nations system and multilateral systems.
• Excellent project management skills, with a track record of taking projects from concept stage to execution and building collaboration across functional and geographical boundaries
• A commitment to child rights and to the aims, mission and goal of Save the Children.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.

Preferred qualifications for the role

• Fluency or working proficiency in French.
• Knowledge of Spanish, or another UN official language would be an asset.

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• Flexible schedules and time off: Flexible schedules, generous PTO, 11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays, and hybrid working opportunities
• Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family
• Family: A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits
• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
• Retirement: A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
• Wellness: 15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days), mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
• Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org.