Policy Advisor job in Washington, D.C.

Position description

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC also endeavors to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.

Policy Team: The Policy Department aims to raise awareness of the ICRC’s main field operations, further the ICRC’s global humanitarian diplomacy priorities in Washington, D.C., and create opportunities for collaboration in support of the ICRC’s humanitarian goals. Further, this department advises Delegation management as well as senior leaders of the organization, including in the field, on U.S. policy affecting ICRC’s mission and programming. The position is in the Washington, D.C. office; there may be some domestic and international travel.

PURPOSE

The Policy Advisor (internally known as Humanitarian Affairs Adviser 3) enables the delegation to understand and influence the wider humanitarian environment in the U.S. and Canada. They design and deliver effective diplomatic and policy strategies, shape the delegation's engagement with key government and non-government stakeholders in the U.S. and Canada, and contribute to the thinking and strategies of other policy/diplomacy hubs.

RELATIONSHIPS

Internally, interacts with the Head of Policy, Head of Operations and Head of Delegation, other Heads of Delegation/Deputy Heads of Delegation in the Africa region and other regions as needed, counterparts at ICRC Geneva Headquarters, plus the Humanitarian Affairs Advisors network globally.
Externally, independently interacts with government officials, including Congressional staff, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations and think-tanks.

FUNCTION DESCRIPTION:

The Policy Advisor will be an integral member of the ICRC’s policy team in Washington, D.C. They will be expected to do the following:

Represent the ICRC with the U.S. government and other important stakeholders in the United States and Canada.
Lead the policy team’s work on Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and provide support as needed to the Head of Policy on other contexts. Coordinate with other teams and internal stakeholders as relevant to strengthen ICRC’s impact.
Support the external engagement of the Delegation’s Congressional Advisors with substantive expertise, providing in-person briefings or written briefing material for Congressional staff and members upon request.
Support planning and organization of Congressional staff trips to ICRC field operations, coordinating with field staff to design and implement effective engagement and influencing.
Develop and/or maintain an active network of contacts in and outside of the U.S. government to enable the Delegation’s influencing objectives.
Provide strategic support to the Delegation and ICRC global policy file holders of relevance; and contribute to briefing packages and speaking points for ICRC principals.
Plan, organize, and execute working visits to Washington by senior ICRC representatives to further the ICRC’s influencing goals.
Support the Head of Policy in the annual planning and budgeting process, setting objectives for their files and monitoring impact and outcomes.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1.Strategy Development and Positioning: The Policy Advisor will be responsible for developing the delegation’s influencing strategies and positioning of the ICRC on humanitarian policy issues related to Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and other contexts as requested by Delegation management. The portfolio may change over time. This is done in coordination with respective managers, global policy file holders, the ICRC’s management in country operations, and other internal stakeholders.

2.Monitoring and Reporting on U.S. Policy: The Policy Advisor will be responsible for proactively monitoring and reporting on U.S. foreign policy issues within their portfolio to respective file holders in headquarters, policy capitals and delegation management as appropriate. The policy advisor will also be expected to support the policy team’s management in analyzing and reporting on significant U.S. foreign policy and national security developments.

3.Networking: The Policy Advisor will be expected to develop and maintain a network relevant to their contacts inside the U.S. government and other important non-government stakeholders. They will be expected to communicate institutional messages and materials to their network as relevant to their files, and regularly arrange visits and high-level engagement opportunities for ICRC principals to advance institutional priorities.

4.Institutional Coordination: Continuously build relationships internally across the ICRC's global Humanitarian Affairs Advisors (HAA) network. Share, contribute, and coordinate with HAA counterparts on key messages, operational updates and humanitarian diplomacy reporting.

GENERAL DUTIES

Understand and adhere to the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Understand and adhere to the ICRC Code of Conduct.
Understand the roles of the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Respect and observe staff regulations and security rules at all times.
Represent the ICRC in a professional manner at all times.
Develop and maintain a pleasant and conducive working environment with colleagues and line managers.
Perform all duties with the highest level of confidentiality in the interest of the employees and the ICRC.
May be asked to perform tasks not covered in this job description and to provide support to other departments when necessary.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

Follow up on all work-related messages and correspondence with the relevant contacts and departments.
Collect and share information to improve the ICRC’s understanding of the environment and humanitarian trends and responses.
Represent the ICRC in an appropriate way during activities, in meetings and in the field, and avoid any activity that may reflect negatively on the ICRC’s image.
Take responsibility for their own professional learning and development.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Political Science or a related field; Master’s degree or JD preferred.
At least 10 years of professional experience in humanitarian affairs, foreign policy, or a related field.
Strategic understanding of national/regional/global relations and their interplay with humanitarian affairs.
Background in humanitarian/development policy and/or operations preferred.
Experience advocating on foreign policy issues in the U.S. government, including Congress, a plus.
Policy experience covering Africa desired.
Working proficiency in French a plus.
Strong analytical, writing, presentation and interpersonal skills.

Our Values. At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values.

Application instructions

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