Regional Policy and Advocacy Lead - MENAU

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

This role is open to candidates located and with the right to work in Jordan and Lebanon.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has worked across the Middle East, North Africa, and Ukraine (MENAU) region for more than forty years, responding to some of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises.

Today, more than 75 million people across the MENAU are in need of humanitarian assistance, as conflict, displacement, climate change, and economic instability continue to disrupt lives and limit access to essential services. Vulnerable groups—especially women, children, and people on the move—remain most at risk.

With more than 1,000 staff working across Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine, the IRC delivers integrated programs that meet both immediate and long-term needs—improving access to health, safety, education, and economic wellbeing, and helping those affected by crisis to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Regional Policy and Advocacy Lead for MENAU is a key member of IRC’s Regional Management Team, ensuring a strategic approach to policy and advocacy engagement across the region. The role aims to influence the policies and practices of key national, regional and global decision-makers while translating the experience and expertise of IRC programmes and partners into influence at national, regional and global levels.

The Regional Policy and Advocacy Lead provides strategic leadership and support to country programmes, while leading on policy and, advocacy and managing in partnership IRC’s communications efforts across the region. S/he leads the development of regional policy positions and ensures that MENAU advocacy products are strategically aligned, evidence-based and meet the quality and standards expected by the organisation.

The Regional Policy and Advocacy Lead represents IRC on regional policy and advocacy platforms, helping to shape debate and ensuring the perspectives and priorities of country programmes and partner organizations are at the forefront of humanitarian and development decision-making. Working closely with global colleagues, s/he also ensures that regional realities shape the IRC's wider policy and advocacy positions.

Reporting to the MENAU Regional Vice President, with a management in partnership to Global Policy and Advocacy team, namely the Global Director of Program Advocacy and Engagement, Director – Policy and Advocacy and works closely with global Policy and Advocacy, while supervising and supporting regional and country level policy, advocacy and communication staff. The Regional Policy and Advocacy Lead is based in Amman or Beirut with frequent travel in the region, and as needed to New York, Washington D.C., London, Brussels, Geneva and other capitals.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Overall Strategy and Team Management:

• In close coordination with the Regional Vice President, leads the development, alignment and implementation of policy and advocacy strategy for the region.
• In close coordination with the global Policy and Advocacy team, contributes to and supports the implementation of organizational strategies.
• Builds and maintains relationships with diverse MENAU organizations and individuals to develop networks and increase collective impact.
• Maintains overall accountability for regional and country-based policy, advocacy and communications team cohesion, product delivery and ensures all products meet the quality and standard set by the organization.

2. Advocacy and Policy:

• Works in close collaboration with country-level and global policy and advocacy colleagues, to develop and drive policy and advocacy products for in-country, regional and international policymakers, ensuring that field priorities and perspectives are integrated.
• Coordinates and supports the work of country-level policy and advocacy staff and ensures that country-focused information and materials are widely disseminated internally and externally.
• Supports the development of policy and advocacy material for national, regional and global use including talking points, briefing notes, position papers and advocacy reports.
• Supports IRC’s efforts to scale the most impactful programmatic interventions by crafting strategies to overcome political and policy barriers to their deployment nationally, regionally, while informing global debates.
• Provides policy review for organizational positions and materials related to key issues in MENAU.
• Represents IRC in regional advocacy, policy and coordination forums, as well as at key lobbying meetings in global capitals, the UN and where necessary.
• Provides analysis and produces content for executive and regional leadership and ensures the Regional Vice President is briefed on all relevant policy developments.

3. Communications and Media:

• Provide day-to-day management of the Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Communications, MENAU to ensure regional alignment of the regional public affairs and communications strategy.
• Support the expansion of IRC’s reach and visibility in the region, acting as an IRC spokesperson with regional and international media.
• Ensures consistent advocacy messages, calls to actions and policy asks in external communications products, including press releases, talking points, and spokesperson briefings.
• Collaborates with Deputy Director on polished and accessible external communications materials to inform key audiences and influence policy decisions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Management in Partnership of the MENAU Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Communications and their team. Management in Partnership of the ECD Policy, Advocacy and Communications Lead, as well as Management in Partnership of country-level policy and advocacy staff.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal: Regional Vice President; MENAU Regional Management Team; MENAU Country Directors; global policy and advocacy staff and Vice President for Global Policy and Advocacy with Management in Partnership with the Director of Program Advocacy and Engagement, global communication staff with close coordinate with the Director of Global Public Affairs and Communication; country and regional based staff as appropriate.

External: Regional and national advocacy fora, international and national NGOs, UN agencies, public and private donor agencies, national governments/authorities, regional and international media representatives.

REQUIREMENTS

• University Degree in Communications, International Affairs, Policy & Advocacy, Political Science, or any other relevant field. Master’s degree is preferable.
• At least ten years of increasingly responsible professional experience responding to complex humanitarian crises and/or post-conflict situations, with a track record of delivering change through highly impactful policy, advocacy and communications strategies
• A keen understanding of political complexities in the MENAU region is required; previous experience working in the Middle East is required
• Solid communications and media relations experience required
• Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken) is required, with demonstrated outstanding writing skills.
• Proven ability to persuade and influence diverse audiences
• Excellent analytical, presentation, communication and reporting skills
• Ability to navigate interpersonal and inter-departmental organizational dynamics to keep focus on goals and products
• Must be willing and able to travel regularly within the region and occasionally internationally
• Culturally sensitive, able and interested in working with a multi-ethnic team
• Arabic Speaking candidates from the Middle East region are strongly encouraged to apply.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.