Senior Humanitarian Advocacy Adviser – maternity cover

The Opportunity

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as the Senior Humanitarian Advocacy Adviser – Maternity Cover in Geneva Switzerland Save the Children International office.

Role Purpose:

Geneva is a global humanitarian hub where several key humanitarian coordination bodies (Inter Agency Standing Committee, ICVA, Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response, clusters coordination) and key humanitarian processes (Grand Bargain, Global Refugee Forum…) are located. Many high-level humanitarian events are regularly organised in Geneva. Some of the largest humanitarian organisations have their either their headquarters or a significant presence in Geneva (UNHCR, IFRC, ICRC, IOM, OCHA, UNICEF…). All these organisations and processes have contributed to the creation of an important humanitarian ecosystem in Geneva. With the Human Rights Council and its special procedures and with the Treaty Bodies (including the Committee on the Rights of the Child), Geneva is also a place where the humanitarian agenda and the human rights agenda intersect to ensure accountability for grave violations affecting children in conflict.

The Geneva Advocacy Office of Save the Children has four main functions:

- Influencing: Save the Children engages with and influence the UN and other international bodies and their decision-makiong processes to advance children’s rights and accountability for these rights.

- Networking and relationship building: The Geneva Advocacy Office builds and maintains relations with Permanent Missions of Member States, with UN agencies, with peer organisations and with global networks.

- Connecting: the Geneva Advocacy Office connects Save the Children Country Offices, Regional Offices and offices of Save the Children’s members with the UN and its processes..

- Expertise and profile: The Geneva Advocacy Office presents and promotes Save the Children’s expertise in global forum and mechanisms to position Save the Children’s as a leading child rights organisation.

The Senior Humanitarian Advocacy Adviser will be responsible for influencing the global humanitarian system in Geneva, with an overall aim to promote improved sector-wide response to children’s rights and needs in humanitarian contexts. 

The main focus of the post holder during the six months maternity cover will be to represent Save the Children and position children’s priorities in Geneva in humanitarian agendas like the sector reform (Anticipatory Action/ Grand Bargain, boundary setting), humanitarian diplomacy, Children in Armed Conflict; as well as forced displacement (refugees and IDPs). He/she will advocate for the rights of children in humanitarian contexts so that specific needs of children are met and their rights are protected before, during and after a crisis. Finally, he/she will also play a key role on the agenda of protecting education from attacks.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Significant experience in humanitarian advocacy and policy either within an NGO, UN agency, donor or policy think tank.
• A good understanding of key and current humanitarian processes (Grand Bargain, Nexus, etc…)
• In-depth knowledge of humanitarian principles and standards
• Demonstrable experience of contributing to inter-agency processes/coordinating different agencies in joint processes.
• Experience in leading the creation and implementation of influencing strategies, demonstrating the ability to identify the necessary steps towards an ambitious goal
• A proven ability to network and build relationships with external partners that will add new value
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into coherent narratives that resonate with policy makers and peers.
• Professional fluency in English (both written and verbal).
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation
• A collaborative and solutions orientated approach, with strong analytical and problem solving skills. 
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• A commitment to the mission, vision and values of Save the Children

Desirable

• Prior field level humanitarian experience within a humanitarian organisation, ideally in complex crises

This role will be based in Geneva, Switzerland Save the Children International office location on approval, provided the successful candidate has proof of eligibility to work from the preferred location.

Where we Work - Where We Work | Save the Children International

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your salary expectations. A full copy of the role profile can be found available for download at www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.