The Policy & Advocacy Team is responsible for delivering a programme of policy influencing focusing on Irish, EU and international institutions in close collaboration with colleagues in overseas programmes. The policy and advocacy advisor on Human Rights and Civil Society Space will contribute to this programme of policy influencing within these areas, with a specific focus on tackling corporate power.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement effective advocacy for bringing about change on specified advocacy priorities

• In collaboration with other members of the team, develop and implement an advocacy strategy for the priority themes, in line with Trócaire’s best practice approach to advocacy;
• Ensure regular reporting, monitoring and evaluation of the advocacy strategy;
• Engage with relevant stakeholders including the Irish political system, the European Union and other international institutions as appropriate to influence policies and practices;
• Represent Trócaire on key external networks, and at high level meetings and conferences related to the advocacy priorities;
• Clearly articulate Trócaire’s message on the advocacy priorities in the media and in other public and on-line communications and events;
• Ensure compliance with legal responsibilities in relation to lobbying.

Research policy issues on specified focus areas including identifying policy and advocacy priorities

• Develop and maintain an excellent working knowledge of current and emerging policy trends relevant to your focus area;
• Lead and facilitate the process of identifying advocacy priorities in collaboration with the team, overseas staff and partners;
• Ensure that policy development is rooted in and informed by Trócaire and partners work in country programs, through building and maintaining relationships with staff based overseas;
• Advise and support research initiatives at country and regional level that provide evidence for global policy and advocacy priorities;
• Oversee the commissioning and/or lead research projects on specific policy areas;
• Develop high-quality policy position papers, publications and briefing papers on priority policy and advocacy issues;
• Develop joint research and advocacy on corporate accountability and climate justice with other policy team members.

Engage and support Trócaire country programmes in policy and advocacy

• Ensure policy and advocacy is informed by the experience in country programmes and supports the organisational ambition around partnership and localisation;
• Convene or participate in a Global Advocacy Priority Working Group as an integrated way of working with colleagues to develop and deliver the advocacy strategy;
• Link with and support country-based staff with policy and advocacy support for their own planning and implementation of country-based advocacy;
• Identify opportunities for linking countries working on common issues across country classifications (as outlined in the strategic plan) and support the development of advocacy linkages at local/regional and global levels where possible.

Team and broader organisational integration and network collaboration

• Provide ‘rapid response’ policy and advocacy support to Trócaire CEO /Deputy CEO and management as required (e.g. development of ad hoc briefings etc.);
• Participate fully in the Policy & Advocacy Team, including contributing to team planning, development and roll out of best practice approaches, organizational initiatives, communications, reviews and reports;
• Take a lead on occasional specified Policy & Advocacy Team projects and participate in same as required;
• Participate fully in relevant cross-organisational groups, including the Organisational Advocacy Campaign working group and the working group with campaigns and communications;
• Look for opportunities to work collaboratively with other Policy and Advocacy Advisors on joint policy and advocacy initiatives in order to maximize impact of shared objectives;
• Collaborate with like-minded organisations and networks in Ireland and globally, for maximum impact;
• Play a leading role within the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights;
• Any other duties as may be assigned by Trócaire from time to time.

Essential Requirements

• Relevant third level degree – in human rights, international relations, international development or similar;
• At least five years of a proven track record in policy analysis, research and production of analytical and/or advocacy material on a relevant policy area;
• A proven track record in effective advocacy on a relevant policy area;
• Knowledge of human rights;
• Knowledge of political systems within the EU, Ireland or UK and political lobbying;
• Familiarity with the policies and operations of key institutions, including international human rights institutions;
• Demonstrable capacity and commitment to working in collaborative fashion with programme staff, international staff and partners;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and willingness to undertake media and public speaking work;
• A proven commitment to teamwork;
• An ability to maintain a positive attitude working in an environment where results are difficult to achieve and quantify;
• Digital competency in relation to oversight and monitoring of policy impact.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in a relevant field;
• Two years’ experience of working overseas with NGOs;
• Knowledge of business and human rights;
• Knowledge of human rights and climate change;
• Group facilitation skills;
• Knowledge of the Irish political system;
• Development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems;
• Spanish.