Advocacy Adviser, Central & Eastern Europe

Job Title: Advocacy Adviser, Central & Eastern Europe

Department: Programs – Europe

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights around the world. With offices in New York City, New York; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; Geneva, Switzerland; and Washington, D.C., the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $50 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world, with an additional $29 million annually of donated legal services, representing the work of countless lawyers from more than 46 countries.

The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they are today. The Center has a track record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. Additionally, the Center has led the development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights and has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting.

The Role: Reporting to the Associate Director for National Legal Strategies, Europe, the Advocacy Advisor will work closely with other Europe program staff to support and build the work of the Europe program in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Advocacy Advisor for Central and Eastern Europe will be based in Europe, preferably in a Central and Eastern European country.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Advocacy Advisor’s primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Monitor legal and policy developments on sexual and reproductive rights issues in Europe, with particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe.
• Undertake legal and policy research and analysis of national laws and policies and international human rights law and standards.
• Support the design and implementation of advocacy strategies and activities by liaising with and providing technical support to partners.
• Help identify, build and maintain national level partnerships and collaboration with partner networks.
• Contribute to drafting submissions, publications, and other materials on a variety of sexual and reproductive rights issues.
• Support development and implementation of litigation strategies in Central and Eastern Europe in collaboration with local partners.
• Support the development and implementation of communication strategies focusing on Central and Eastern Europe, including drafting press releases, social media and web site content.
• Organize convenings, workshops, and other events and assist with preparation of presentations for conferences and meetings.
• Assist with program administration, and support work planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and other institutional proceses.
• Support fundraising strategies, including through research, and drafting materials, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in law, human rights, political science, public policy or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, human rights, or related social justice field.
• Knowledge of international and European human rights law, standards, and systems.
• Demonstrated experience in national level advocacy and legal or policy reform strategies in Central and Eastern Europe and in collaborating and partnering with NGOs and other civil society actors to achieve social justice goals.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including drafting and editing.
• Strong research and analytical skills and ability to process complex information.
• Strong critical thinking skills and creative approach.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills including ability to self-motivate, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
• Ability to travel for work.
• Ability to work in a multicultural, diverse, and performance-driven environment.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and at least one other European language, ideally a language from Central or Eastern Europe.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At the Center, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Behavioral Competencies:

• Develop & Manage Self & Others: Takes ownership of individual growth in order to achieve full potential; recognizes the value of direct reports and helps them develop their full potential while also achieving set objectives.
• Collaboration (People First): Works intra- and/or cross-departmentally to support the goals and overarching strategies of the Center and its strategic plan.
• Feedback (Improve & Innovate): Actively engaged in feedback cycles: Gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports about work products, behaviors, values, style, and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals, and teams.
• Accountability: Follow-through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way.

Work Competencies:

• Project Management: Works effectively on project teams in order to achieve long-term project goal and objectives.
• Problem Solve & Make Decisions: Identifies, analyzes and resolves existing and anticipated problems, using common sense to make timely decisions in order to reach the best solutions for the organization.
• Internal/External Focus: Anticipates internal and external partner’s needs; assesses requirements and identifies new solutions that align with overall goals and objectives of the organization.
• Communication & Influence: Communicates with and influences others to gain agreement and commitment to the strategic goals of the organization.

Compensation: The Center offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits program.

Benefits:

• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical and community well-being. The Center offers generous leave including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are also closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend time with their loved ones.
• Growth: You will be working with and learning from some of the top legal and operational minds, all passionate about the mission of advancing reproductive rights around the world. You will also be eligible for a stipend to use towards professional growth.
• Global: You will get a front-row seat to update on the fight for reproductive rights in the global space. You will also have access to Employee Resource Groups to connect to colleagues that share similar interests/backgrounds/views.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role and unsure about whether your past experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Our hiring processes and our work culture offer support and flexibility for staff with a variety of needs. Should you face an accessibility barrier in the application and interview process please let us know by contacting [email protected]. We will work with you to provide the accommodation that works best for you.

To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights

Learn more about the Center for Reproductive Rights, go to www.reproductiverights.org

How to Apply: Please complete the application below to apply. A cover letter and resume must be included in your application. Please include these application materials as attachments.

Please note that all genuine Center openings must be applied through the Center website. The Center does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process (application, interviews, or selection). Nor does it request any medical examinations or bank account information as part of this process. If someone contacts, you on behalf of the Center requesting payment for your application please notify [email protected] before taking any further action.

Our hiring processes and our work culture offer support and flexibility for staff with a variety of needs. Should you face an accessibility barrier in the application and interview process please let us know by contacting [email protected]. We will work with you to provide the accommodation that works best for you.

Deadline for applications: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.