Starting Date: ASAP
Status: Full Time

Child Safeguarding Policy: Level 1- The job holder will not have regular contact with children

Reports To General Manager

Advocacy, Research and Policy Unit
The Advocacy, Research and Policy Unit lies at the heart of the organisation’s work and supports the organizations’ activities and public positioning, across sector areas, aligned with the organisation’s strategic priorities: a) Safety and protection, b) Catalysing livelihoods opportunities, c) Strengthening the independence of civil society.

More specifically, the Unit is responsible for:

1. Developing and implementing SN’s strategy to achieve policy change, legislative amendments, improvement of practises, and to raise awareness on the issues of:

– access to social rights (employment, housing, health care, education)

– access to asylum, dignified reception conditions and integration opportunities for migrants and refugees.

– access to justice and human rights.

– non-discrimination (social, racial, gender).

1. Providing research and analysis of the policy framework on the themes covered by SN’s strategic priorities.
2. Providing evidence-based reporting, including scientific announcements and publications, to inform SN’s public positioning and to contribute to the organizational learning and knowledge.
3. Developing SN’s cooperation and engagement with other civil society organizations, public authorities, national and European policy makers, the academic and research communities.
4. Supporting SN’s public positioning and representing the organization, in cooperation with the Communications Department, the Management and the Board.

Job Overview

The objective of the position is to provide leadership and strategic thinking to strengthen the organisation’s advocacy impact on issues related to social inclusion of vulnerable persons such as migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, Roma, and those affected by the financial crisis including the unemployed and single parent families.

The Head, in close coordination with the programmes department, will determine the organisational advocacy priorities, develop and implement advocacy strategies and social policy proposals. This includes developing and implementing strategies to advance SN’s advocacy priorities in collaboration with Governmental and non-Governmental actors and influence public opinion. To ensure our advocacy has the greatest impact, the post-holder will draw evidence directly from SN beneficiaries, explore strategic synergies between SN programmes and seek the creation of strategic alliances with civil society partners to improve people’s lives.

Responsibilities and duties

• Develop and implement the advocacy strategy according to the objectives and priorities of the organisation; draw concrete plans of action.
• Supervise and guide the SN Research, Advocacy and Policy team.
• Advise and participate in the strategic discussion around SN’s programmatic choices from a critical reflection stance.
• Ensure proper flow of information upstream and downstream, through active participation in internal meetings.
• Lead discussions, trainings, briefings, about SN’s vision, values and advocacy at HQ and project level to raise awareness within SN personnel. Οrganise, in particular, internal trainings and briefings about protection and human rights issues as well as the asylum and migration management systems and the provision of legal aid.
• Conduct background research, undertake stakeholders’ analysis, and follow up relevant legal and policy developments and debates on the themes addressed in the advocacy strategy, and in particular, on protection and human rights, including asylum and migration.
• Prepare and oversee internal and external reports, participate in public consultations (for draft laws) on the themes addressed in the advocacy strategy as well as such as open letters, statements, press releases, policy briefs and web material.
• Develop and maintain relationships with state authorities, intergovernmental organisations, NGOs, think tanks, academic institutions and other stakeholders, and actively participate in various national and European networks, in implementation of SN’s advocacy strategies. In particular, participate in the Legal Aid Working Group(s), The Racist Violence Recording Network, and other networks such as the Network for Children on the Move.
• Collaborate closely with the Communications department for the dissemination of advocacy related activities and act as spokesperson, representing SN to the media, in agreement with the General Manager.

Required qualifications and skills

Essential

University Degree Master’s equivalent in law, human rights or other relevant field of studies

Five (5) years of experience with the sectors of human rights / international and European law / humanitarian service provision out of which at least are specifically focused on advancing a policy agenda related to issues of public policy, social inclusion, migrant integration

Experience in project and people’s management

Established networks with groups that promote social inclusion and migrant integration. Experience in designing and implementing policy and legislative strategies to influence policy change

Knowledge of the functioning of Greek and European Institutions

Strong interpersonal & communication skills

Cross cultural awareness and flexibility

Computer literate

Well-organised and efficient

Fluent in Greek and English

Ability to work under pressure and multitask

Ability to represent the SN publicly