Protection Officer - Local Policy and Advocacy

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Under the supervision of Protection Senior Officer - Local Policy and Advocacy (Rule of Law), the Protection Officer - Local Policy and Advocacy (Rule of Law) plays a key role in supporting the implementation of human rights and advocacy activities within the Protection and Rule of Law program. This position combines legal aid provision with research, analytical, and advocacy functions. The primary responsibilities include analyzing legal barriers affecting individuals impacted by war (such as internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, veterans, etc.), contributing to the development of policies and advocacy initiatives, advocacy materials, and legal products, as well as monitoring the legal and regulatory context. The role involves regular engagement with partners, governmental authorities, and civil society representatives. The Protection Officer - Local Policy and Advocacy (Rule of Law) will also participate in the development and implementation of local advocacy strategies, building an evidence base for advocacy efforts, and preparing legal materials, including analytical briefs and policy briefs. The Protection Officer - Local Policy and Advocacy (Rule of Law) will perform duties at the respective IRC office with regular work-related travel within the area of responsibility (AoR). The role involves fieldwork and collaboration with IRC protection units and external providers of legal and advocacy services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities below describe the main duties of the position and are not exhaustive:

• Monitor and analyze legislative, regulatory, policy, and rule of law developments affecting conflict-affected populations, identify barriers to the realization of rights and access to protection, justice, legal aid, civil documentation, housing, land and property rights, administrative procedures, and essential services, and contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based advocacy initiatives to address identified challenges.

• Prepare advocacy materials, analytical notes, and policy briefs to support advocacy campaigns and programmatic efforts.

• Maintain regular contact and collaboration with government authorities, local administrations, partner organizations, and civil society actors

• Facilitating dialogue with formal and informal local community structures to support implementation of IRC Advocacy Strategy

• Advocating with local authorities to ensure that information on legal procedures — including IDP registration and civil documentation and housing, land and property (HLP) rights— is inclusive, clear, and widely accessible

• Collaborating with local administrative bodies and IDP councils to co-develop systems for identifying, funding, and evaluating the impact of community-driven protection and advocacy initiatives in collaboration with Protection Officer – Community Based Protection.

• Participating at meetings, working groups, and coordination platforms on local and regional levels

• Engage with the Legal Protection Working Group (LPWG) and other relevant coordination mechanisms to advocate for improved legal response and protection as delegated by Protection Manager – Legal Aid (Rule of Law)

• Draft reports on activities carried out, including analytical documents and recommendations for internal and external use

• Conduct regular field visits within the area of responsibility to coordinate advocacy activities and monitor the situation on the ground.

• Participate in internal team meetings, training, and strategic planning processes.

• Support advocacy initiatives by providing examples of individual cases and data on systemic legal challenges affecting displaced persons and conflict-affected individuals.

• Organizing and facilitating roundtables, workshops, and other events regarding rule of law, local policy and advocacy, engaging representatives of government authorities, local self-government bodies, partner organizations, humanitarian actors, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Support capacity strengthening of lawyers, partners, social workers, and other professionals engaged in the protection of vulnerable populations, including through the delivery of workshops, trainings, and seminars for IRC staff, partner organizations, and government institutions on rule of law, advocacy, and protection monitoring.

• Facilitate the collection and integration of implementing partners' field-level perspectives into IRC's advocacy priorities and initiatives.

• Maintain and regularly update a stakeholder map of key partner organizations, local authorities, and policy actors at the local and regional level.

• Participate in the weekly planning of field visits to activity locations in line with program schedules.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor's degree in Law required. Advanced studies or additional qualifications in human rights, public policy, advocacy, or related fields, or Attorney’s license are considered an asset.

Experience:

• Previous experience in conducting local or national-level advocacy.
• Experience engaging with government authorities, local self-government bodies, civil society organizations, or coordination mechanisms.
• Experience in legal analysis, policy research, drafting analytical reports, advocacy products, or policy briefs preferred.
• Experience in organizing group events, training, workshops, or roundtable discussions.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Language: Fluency in Ukrainian and Russian required. Good verbal and writing skills in English
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries
• Positive and professional attitude, including the ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and build constructive relationships with stakeholders.
• High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and online collaboration tools.
• Strong analytical and research skills, including the ability to review legal and policy documents and translate findings into practical advocacy recommendations.

REPORTING STRUCTURE AND TEAM COLLABORATION

Internal IRC Collaboration: Protection Manager - Legal Aid (Rule of Law), Protection Senior Officer - Local Policy and Advocacy (Rule of Law), Protection Legal Officer (Rule of Law), Protection Supervisor - Case Management (Rule of Law), Protection Officer - Case Management Shadowing and Capacity Building (Rule of Law), Protection Officer - Community Based Protection (Rule of Law), and other IRC departments.

External Collaboration: Legal actors, Legal PWG, Free Legal Aid Center, Protection and information services actors, government and non-government institutions involved in providing assistance to the population.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

• This role requires office work (approximately 40%) and field work (approximately 60%).
• This role may require travel to other locations (sub-offices).
• Exempt from overtime
• Sometimes work on weekends may be required
• Work in the matrix organization
• Fast pace of working, multitasking and stressful work
• The organization cares about staff and provides flexible working options (start early-finish early, start later-finish later, remote work)

Staff can ask for accommodation in the workplace. Specific requests can be discussed with HR.

IRC employees are eligible to the following benefits:

• Competitive salary

• Purposeful job and development opportunities

• English classes and unlimited online training courses

• Life Insurance

• Medical insurance for staff and family members

• Free psychological support to employees and their family members

• 30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements

• Up to 10 days of paid medical leave

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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