Job Description

Job Title:Programme and Advocacy Manager

To whom responsible:Non-Executive Board of Directors

To act in representation of:CAFOD, Christian Aid UKI, Oxfam GB, SCIAF and Trócaire

Date last amended:November 2009

Overall Purpose of the Job

The ABColombia Group is a project of a coalition of five leading development agencies, CAFOD, Christian Aid UKI, Oxfam GB, SCIAF and Trócaire[1], which engages decision-makers in the UK and Irish governments, the European Union and United Nations to advance the protection of the civilian population in Colombia, support the voice of civil society, obtain lasting solutions to the humanitarian crisis, and promote a negotiated settlement to the armed conflict in country that includes viable proposals for equitable and sustainable development.

We are looking for an experienced network manager and lobbyist, with proven experience of applied policy analysis, a record of achievement in advocacy with UK and European policymakers and in-depth understanding of the human rights situation and development challenges in Colombia. The role will have overall responsibility for managing and co-ordinating the work of the programme, pro-actively shaping the future development of the project in consultation with the five member agencies and other stakeholders, and leading on designing and implementing joint lobbying strategies to influence policymakers at the highest levels. The Programme and Advocacy Manager will report to the Non-Executive Board of Directors, maintain a positive relationship with a broad network of stakeholders in the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA and Latin America, and will manage and support one member of staff, and possible interns and consultants.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Management

  • Working with the Non-Executive Directors to establish and agree annual work plans to implement strategic objectives agreed in 3 year plan, and regularly report on progress to Non-Executive Directors, seeking support and guidance where necessary
  • Manage the Information and Advocacy Officer and interns, including formulating their work plans and providing appropriate supervision and support
  • Supervise and support the work of consultants hired to provide a service for the organisation
  • Maintain appropriate financial reporting systems, including producing budgets and financial reports
  • Lead the monitoring and evaluation of organisational work where appropriate
  • Effectively manage any security and political implications of staff travelling in Colombia

Co-ordination and support of members

  • Lead the implementation of advocacy plans with members, devising strategies to optimise impact and opportunities, through regular meetings, telephone and email contact with members, ensuring their input at all stages in the process
  • Establish and maintain appropriate mechanisms and culture to ensure regular consultation with members on advocacy plans and developments, providing appropriate opportunities for discussion, negotiation, persuasion and feedback
  • Liaise with, advise and participate where appropriate in members’ Colombia-focused initiatives
  • Keep member agencies informed of external Colombia related international relations developments, including producing sophisticated but succinct verbal and written summaries of analysis as necessary

Networked working

  • Co-ordinate with and participate in other networks working on policy with regard to Colombia in Europe and Colombia such as Oficina Internacional de Derechos Humanos – Acción Colombia (OIDH-ACO), Diálogo Inter-agencial (Dial), Coordinación Colombiana Europa-Estados Unidos (CCEEUU)
  • Co-ordinate with and work alongside other organisations working on policy with regard to Colombia in the United States, such as the US Office on Colombia (USOC)
  • Maintain constructive and positive relationship with a broad network of stakeholders in the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA and Latin America, organising joint initiatives where appropriate and leading strategies to optimise impact and opportunities

Lobbying

  • Propose and develop lobbying initiatives for the organisation, with specific reference to the UK and Irish governments, the European Union, and relevant United Nations bodies as well as the parliaments of the UK, Scotland and Ireland
  • Represent the organisation in private and public meetings, seminars and conferences as necessary, including with senior policymakers in line with the agreed 3 year strategic aims
  • Plan visits to UK and Ireland by representatives of Colombian civil society to assist and support lobbying initiatives where necessary

Policy analysis

  • Maintain an up-to-date analysis of the conflict in Colombia and its implications for civil society, democracy, human rights, and forced displacement, as well as UK and Irish governments and parliaments
  • Write, edit, publish and disseminate advocacy and policy briefs concomitant with strategic aims
  • Develop policy work and activities according to priorities identified in the three strategic plan and annual work plans

Fundraising

  • Develop a fundraising strategy which will include making approaches to Trusts and other external funding bodies, in order to achieve one grant to support ABC’s work.
  • Ensure the financial sustainability of ABC, through maintaining and nurturing grants of Members, and through seeking one new full paying Member organisation.

Person Specification

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Essential
  • Substantial experience of lobbying and advocacy work in public policy or similar environment
  • substantial experience of working in, leading and managing networks
  • Experience of planning, managing and implementing advocacy projects
  • Demonstrable track record of achieving results in policy development, authoring advocacy briefs and reports and building successful relations with decision-makers
  • Practical experience of personnel and budgetary management
  • Extensive research and/or work experience in a Latin America country
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills
  • Ability to communicate complex issues in both written and spoken English and Spanish
  • Diplomacy, tact and excellent team working
  • Computer literacy, including use of internet
  • Experience of working to deadlines and demonstrable ability to use initiative and prioritise work effectively under pressure
Desirable
  • Extensive research and/or work experience in Colombia
  • A sophisticated understanding of how to constructively work across different cultural and political contexts.
  • Demonstrable track record of public speaking
  • Experience of working with people who have suffered trauma related to violence and/or of working in complex emergencies
  • Experience of working in teams at distance, understanding the opportunities and challenges that this may create
  • Experience of fundraising through trusts and external funders
KNOWLEDGE
Essential
  • Demonstrable understanding of the human rights and development challenges facing Colombia
  • Demonstrable understanding of government and international relations agenda and civil, political and economic trends
  • Must be in sympathy with the aims of the ABColombia Group
Desirable
  • Knowledge of the practical functioning of UK, Scottish and Irish political institutions as well as EU, UN and US governmental bodies
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
  • Educated to degree level
Desirable
  • Graduate qualifications ideally in management, international relations, development studies or related areas, or equivalent experience

This job description is not prescriptive; it merely outlines the key tasks and responsibilities of the post. These key tasks and responsibilities are subject to change. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post-holder.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Contract:This is a full time fixed term role for 30 months working 35 hours per week. There is strong possibility of renewal.

Salary: £31,259 being gradeP2, with up to 5 annual increments of£600 up to £33,059

Pension: 5% employers pension contribution

Hours: 9.30 to 5.30 with one hour for lunch. Some evening or weekend work may be required for which time off in lieu is available.

Holidays:20 working days per annum, pro rata, plus statutory holidays plus 6 days determined by CAFOD at Christmas/Easter.

Notice period:Three months either way after completion of probationary period.

Probation Period: 6 months

Other Benefits: Life Assurance and Permanent Health Insurance cover

Disabilities: We are committed to making every reasonable adjustment to the workplace or working arrangements so as to accommodate people with disabilities.

Location: The job is based inLondonBridge

Travel: Frequent travel, primarily to Colombia, Ireland and Brussels, is required for this post. The post-holder will be expected to be available to travel for a minimum of 4 weeks per annum.

Permission to work in the UK: Applicants must have permission to work in the UK.

Criminal record: Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, you have the right not to disclose details of 'spent' convictions. However, because of the nature of the work, this post is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975), and all convictions, both spent and unspent, must be disclosed. Having a conviction will not necessarily be a bar to employment with ABC; it will depend on the circumstances and the relevance to the post.
Please notify us in your covering letter if you have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence, cautioned, reprimanded or given a final warning by the police, or if you have any court cases pending.

Application Process: This is an inter-agency post, administered by Cafod. Please note that you do not need to fill in the Cafod application form.

Please email your CV and covering letter to by Midday Friday 11 December.

Interviews will be held at the ABC offices on 17 December 2009.

Background to the Post

ABColombia Group

British and Irish Agencies working in Colombia

Context

The ABColombia Group was formed in 1997 as a response to the deteriorating situation in Colombia in which forced internal displacement had become a humanitarian and human rights emergency. The majority of victims are unarmed civilians, largely the rural poor, who are targeted by paramilitary forces, guerrilla groups, and at times government troops, in an armed conflict that has lasted four decades. They are threatened, tortured, killed or violently evicted from their homes. Many of those who flee swell the belts of poverty around the big cities. Others cross international borders into Ecuador, Panamá, and Venezuela.

ABColombia’s purpose is to influence decision makers in the UK and Ireland and, through them, European level decision making with a view to resolving the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Colombia and achieve a lasting peace and equitable and sustainable development.

Our position

  • We believe that the civilian population has the right not to be involved in the armed conflict.
  • We believe that full implementation of recommendations made by the UN system with regard to internal displacement and human rights will help to improve conditions for the majority of Colombians
  • We support lasting solutions to the humanitarian crisis - dignified and voluntary returns to places of origin, or voluntary resettlement with guarantees
  • We support the work of human rights defenders and organisations working with those forcibly displaced
  • We support a negotiated end to the armed conflict, one that includes the voice of Colombian civil society

Membership

CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)

CHRISTIAN AID UK/I

OXFAM GB

SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund)

TRÕCAIRE

Observers

Amnesty International

Peace Brigades International Colombia Project

ABColombia

Mezzanine 2 - Downstream

1, LondonBridge

London SE1 1GB

Tel: (00 44) 20 7 7856595

Email:

For more information please visit

[1]Amnesty International and Peace Brigades International are observers on the group.