Advocacy officer

HEKS-EPER is the Swiss Reformed Churches’ Aid Agency.
HEKS regional program in the Middle East supports local organizations in the occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. HEKS OPT and Israel Programme focuses on strengthening the conflict transformation capacities of civil society so they can effectively work to change the structures, systems, attitudes and ideologies which perpetuate the conflict situation and the human rights violations linked to it. The programme thus consists of awareness raising and advocacy components which target Israeli, Palestinian and International Publics and decision makers as well as efforts to strengthen communities to address especially situation of denied or unequal access to land, housing and public space. For more information about HEKS-EPER please visit our website: www.HEKS.ch

For our office in Jerusalem, we are looking for a qualified and highly motivated candidate to fill in the following position:

Advocacy officer (70%)
Contract duration: 12 months, renewable
Starting date: June 2014

Your mission:
The Advocacy Officer is part of the HEKS office in Jerusalem, in charge of the advocacy tasks of the office.
HEKS PalestineIsrael program contains advocacy interventions that are linked to the strategic objectives of the program. HEKS's theory of change is that public relation/advocacy practiced both from the inside as well as the outside (of PalestineIsrael) would enable change of the structures that are perpetrating the conflict. Therefore, the advocacy actions and interventions are taking place both in PalestineIsrael (through PO and relevant networks that HEKS is part of) and also in Switzerland and on international level. The Advocacy Officer’s responsibilities thus include strengthening the local advocacy, representing the interests of HEKS Palestine/Israel program in relevant local and international networks and coalitions as well as creating synergies with the advocacy work in Switzerland and on international level.

Main responsibilities include:
-Further refinement of HEKS’s strategies of intervention regarding advocacy: Contribute towards developing and implementing a coherent, strategic, holistic advocacy plan, prioritization of advocacy activities, monitoring and evaluation of advocacy activities and contribute to the unique positioning of HEKS advocacy interventions and language of advocacy used by HEKS.
-Advocacy work of Partners and capacity building: Follow up and document advocacy initiatives led by PO, providede capacity building for PO in the field of advocacy and communications according to identified needs and design special trainings for CBOs on social media and new techniques.
-Civil society advocacy Networks in PalestineIsrael: Strategize and link inputs from different networks and Presence in relevant networks such as Aida advocacy subcommittee, displacement working group while representing HEKS program objectives and strategies and link HEKS program advocacy actions with the networks and vice versa.
-Communications: Create communication tools including flyer for describing HEKS program and produce social media tools for supporting the communication processes within the program. The advocacy officer is responsible for dealing with media upon need and in close coordination with the CD.
-Study and research: Ensure that partners are able to deliver professional and reliable data, follow up on INGO's relevant reports and researches and conduct research when needed about specific topics or areas in order to be used through advocacy and communication or for program development
-Visits/delegations from Switzerland to PalestineIsrael: Design a detailed plan for the delegation’s visit to the program and to other relevant stakeholders according to the profile and objectives of the delegation, coordinate the delegation’s programme and accompany the delegation during the visit according to needs
-Support the Advocacy in Switzerland: Provide information and advice about developments and events relevant for the  advocacy work in Switzerland, provide follow-up information for delegations when they are back in Switzerland and support advocacy efforts of Swiss EA’s when needed.

Your profile:
-University degree or equivalent diploma in relevant field such as communications, law, public relations, journalism or political sciences
-Min. 3 years experience in advocacy work through civil society local andor international NGO , preferably  in the fields of human rights and/or conflict transformation
-Expertise and practical experience in leading advocacy initiatives and production of relevant materials and reports.
-Flexibility and ability to travel independently through Israel and OPT
-Innovative and creative character in addition to the ability to lead processes
-Ability to produce effective reports and policy papers based on HEKS programs and presence at networks.
-Team work spirit and ability to cooperate
-Aptitude for negotiation and for supporting partner associations in fulfilling HEKS- EPER strategic objectives (including providing capacity building)
-Excellent written and spoken English skills, Arabic skills. Hebrew, German or French is an asset.
-Excellent computer skills, in particular MS Office software
-Commitment to pacific and democratic values and convictions, as well as no leading position in a civil, political or religious party

HEKS-EPER offers you the opportunity to work in a motivating and challenging context in the field of civil society conflict resolution. You will work in close cooperation with the Country Director, the Finance Officer and a program assistant in a small team.

If you are interested and correspond to the profile, please send your application (Curriculum Vitae, application letter, sample of your advocacy work and three references) via e-mail before May 1st 2014 to: [email protected]

Short-listed candidates will be contacted during the first two weeks of May 2014. Interviews will be held in Jerusalem between the 19th-23th of May 2014.

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