Senior Policy and Advocacy officer

Erbil With Frequent Travel To Field Locations

Publishing date:          – 07 April 2024

Closing date:               – 21 April 224, Midnight

Vacancy reference:    – INT10330 Senior Policy and Advocacy officer

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty.

About Oxfam

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of the international confederation Oxfam.

 Our Team

The function of the Policy, Advocacy and Communications (PAC) team is to support and promote our program portfolio and advocacy objectives in Iraq.

Working closely with our local and national partners as well as the global Oxfam Confederation, the PAC team works with colleagues across the field offices in Iraq to develop advocacy, communications, and policy initiatives that support the core areas of our work.

To develop and promote policy and research for Oxfam in Iraq and its national NGO partners to support advocacy, fundraising and programs. Adapt and develop policy positions to support advocacy and influence a wide range of local, national and international audiences. And to follow the policy and advocacy activities implementation under different projects in the different field locations.

Key Responsibilities 

Technical:

• To produce, commission, and manage high-quality policy and research content to support Oxfam advocacy, fundraising, and programmes.
• Work closely with local, regional and international colleagues in the Oxfam Confederation to develop and influence policy dialogue around priority issues.
• Develop regular policy/position papers relevant to Oxfam’s work in Iraq for various audiences. 
• Work with Oxfam’s national NGO partners to support their policy and advocacy work or to involve them in developing Oxfam’s work.
• Support content development for communications and media for Oxfam in Iraq and under ongoing projects.
• Identify opportunities to promote Oxfam policy, research, and comms content to relevant local, national, and international stakeholders. For example, policymakers, parliamentarians, think tanks, media, and other influencers in Iraq and globally.
• Support the development of policy work that connects with Oxfam’s regional and global priorities, in line with Oxfam’s Global Strategic Framework and other strategies.
• In coordination with the PAC team in Erbil and the Area Managers, develop a strategy and detailed workplan for the policy and advocacy components of the different ongoing projects.
• Ensure the timely implementation of the project activity through close coordination with the field team in each governorate to support the ongoing activities of the different policy and advocacy activities. 
• Support the Oxfam team, partners, and other stakeholders in developing policy and advocacy strategies, campaign strategies, context analysis, power mapping, stakeholders’ analysis, and advocacy action plans as needed. 
• Support and lead, as needed, the capacity building of Oxfam team members, partners, governmental actors, community members, and other stakeholders in the field of policy and advocacy as needed. 
• Follow up on the advocacy and campaign plans and activities implemented by the field offices and the project partners to ensure that local advocacy bolsters these actions where relevant and in line with Oxfam’s national and global campaigns.
• Capture learning under the different projects and stand-alone activities to ensure impact reporting and development of learning modules and knowledge to be shared internally and externally. 
• Lead in designing and implementing different events with identified stakeholders as needed. This includes learning events, advocacy round table discussions, dialogue events, etc.
• Work closely with the technical leads to support the implementation of relevant activities under the ongoing project and the stand-alone activities. In addition, support the designing and developing activities for future proposals as needed.
• Frequent travel to the field locations is required for this position. The travel frequency will be as needed to ensure the timely implementation of the project activities and as required by the PAC manager and the projects’ leading teams. 
• You are required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values, including the promotion of gender justice. 
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles of equality of all people, protection of vulnerable groups, and wellbeing.

Reporting and project support

• Together with staff in the project team, prepare weekly updates and monthly progress and financial reports for the Oxfam team, the donor, and other external uses as needed.
• Support the development of work plans with the field team at the Erbil office level for the different ongoing projects.
• Engage in continuous review and flag any challenges in following project work plans. Proactively suggest solutions for improvement to the relevant managers to address identified challenges.
• Continuously document key success stories of the project and develop communication materials relevant to the project.

Leadership

• Support the policy and research development for the Oxfam country programme.
• Attend and represent Oxfam at relevant policy (and other) forums and directly to relevant stakeholders in coordination with the PAC manager.
• Build relationships with policy and communications colleagues in other organizations (e.g. NGOs, UN agencies, civil society, donors) to coordinate and collaborate on initiatives.
• Support the representation of Oxfam’s programmes, activities and research within the Oxfam Confederation.
• Proactively identify relevant policy positions/ issues that Oxfam should lead/support.
• Promote and live Oxfam values within your work, the team, and the Oxfam country office.

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree with years of experience in social sciences, development studies, media and communication, or other relevant fields
• At least 3-5 years of experience working with NGOs /INGOs, of which a minimum of 3 years in policy and advocacy.
• Significant and relevant experience in developing and producing policy-oriented content.
• Strong experience in working with community members and representatives and engagement with governmental actors.
• Track record in similar positions and leading the design and implementation of activities relevant to the job description, including developing policy briefs and reports, campaign strategies, advocacy and influencing actions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.
• Strong writing and research skills, preferably with a history of writing policy, communications and research materials and the ability to produce high-quality work within tight deadlines.
• Management of significant processes and relationships, particularly with colleagues in field offices and other teams, as well as external contacts and representation in external forums.
• The ability to analyze and communicate complex information to a wide range of audiences.
• Sound political judgement on issues of extreme sensitivity. Make decisions and solve problems on complex issues, requiring creative thinking to find the best solutions and drawing on information from various sources to inform decision-making.
• Excellent teamwork skills and experience working closely with programme teams, technical experts, partners, and management to provide sound policy inputs/guidance.
• Strong organizational and personal management skills, with the ability to prioritize work issues to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in complex global networks of multi-national, multi-cultural teams and to develop good working relationships.
• Ability to model Oxfam’s values (empowerment, accountability and inclusiveness) with staff, partners, allies and other stakeholders.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and stay in field locations for sustained periods is a must.
• The post holder needs to be fluent in English and Arabic. Knowledge of the Kurdish language is an added value.

Key Attributes

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Willingness to support Oxfam’s partners in developing policy and research work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Application Link: https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/20886/description