Job Title: Senior Global Advocacy Adviser (Geneva)

Department: Global Advocacy

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 Global Advocacy (Geneva), the Senior Global Advocacy Adviser will play an important role in supporting the work of the Global Advocacy team at the UN in Geneva and across key global initiatives of the department. Working closely with the Associate Director and a second Senior Global Advocacy Adviser, the Senior Global Advocacy Adviser will support the implementation of advocacy strategies to advance sexual and reproductive rights at the United Nations and on UN-related issues in Geneva, and help position the Center as a key technical expert on SRHR in these spaces. The Senior Global Advocacy Adviser will also collaborate closely with colleagues in New York and the Center’s regional offices to implement cross-departmental and institutional priorities.     

This is a two-year fixed-term position, with possibility of extension. The role will be based in the Center’s Geneva office, with international travel required. This role is in a hybrid model, working 3 days in the office and 2 days from home.

Primary Responsibilities:

Advocacy and Technical Support

• Support the implementation of Geneva-focused aspects of the Center’s UN strategy, as well as global advocacy strategies and initiatives, as requested;
• In coordination with the Associate Director and the second Senior Global Advocacy Adviser, build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders at the UN in Geneva, including permanent missions, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), in order to promote collaboration on reproductive rights and related issues;
• Provide strategic input and support the implementation of global advocacy projects across Geneva and New York, in capitals, and at the global level as requested;
• In collaboration with the Associate Director, work with the Center’s Programs Divisions to identify opportunities for advocacy in collaboration with partner organizations, support the development and implementation of annual joint workplans, and provide guidance and support on their engagement in UN processes and other events;
• Contribute to the development of research and written materials on key and emerging reproductive rights issues, including publications and advocacy and communications materials, as requested;
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as requested.

Government and External Relations 

• Support the Associate Director to develop and strengthen the Center’s relationships with key governmental delegations in Geneva and as requested in capitals, and support the Center’s advocacy for the inclusion of SRHR within initiatives at the international level;
• Support the planning, logistics, and implementation of events and gatherings in Geneva organized by the Center;
• Represent the Center at meetings and events as requested, including those requiring international travel.

Institutional Alignment

• Prepare internal and external updates and other written analyses of key documents, developments, or processes relevant to the Center’s UN advocacy and global advocacy strategies and priorities;
• Contribute timely and effectively to internal Center processes, such as financial reporting, programmatic updates, and others as requested;
• Assist with the supervision of fellows, interns, volunteers and pro bono lawyers, as requested.

Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values.
• JD, LLB, or LLM required.
• 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience undertaking advocacy efforts at the international level, including at the UN or other multilateral bodies; advocacy experience to advance SRHR, strongly preferred.
• Experience in working or building coalitions in support of social justice, women’s rights and/or human rights movements, strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of and commitment to international human rights, women’s rights, and UN processes; experience in SRHR is a plus.
• Effective and persuasive communications and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Sound judgment and strong analytical skills, including legal/policy analysis.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and time management skills.
• Willing to be flexible in the role as needed to meet the needs of the team and the Center.
• Experience working in a Global South context, preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain close, collegial, effective working relationships with colleagues and partners of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Ability to travel (10%).
• English fluency required; French proficiency preferred.

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 team members 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: This position's annual salary is CHF 128,000. 

Benefits:

• Flexibility: The Center currently operates in a hybrid model, allowing staff to work 3 days in the office and work 2 days from home
• 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. 

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