Associate Policy

and the job listing Expires on September 9, 2026

We are looking for a motivated and proactive new colleague to join our Brussels-based team. The main focus of the role will lie in policy and advocacy around conflict and peacebuilding, with a specific focus on the Sahel region and on Youth, Peace and Security.

The role sits within the Global Policy and Outreach team, which focuses on building the case for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. We do this by working collaboratively with Search’s teams and partners around the world and leveraging their analysis, data, and expertise to inform the policies of emerging and established actors relevant to Search’s work. We provide operational and locally-rooted policy analysis and recommendations to policy makers to increase political backing and financial support for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. This includes advocating for more supportive institutional norms and structures, more and healthier funding to implementers, and more peace responsive policies.

This position will support Search’s policy efforts related to various thematics, with a particular focus on the Sahel (70%), and on Youth, Peace and Security at EU level (30%), with strong connections to colleagues at the global and regional levels. She/he will work at EU and EU member state level, with civil society allies, researchers and policy makers who are active in fragile settings. The role involves supporting the development and execution of global policy and outreach campaigns, strategies and events, external representation, producing written content, building and maintaining relationships with allies and policymakers, and monitoring policy and outreach results.
She/he will report to the Senior Policy and Outreach Manager and will be an integral part of the Global Policy and Outreach team, but will interact with a wide range of Search staff and partners, with a particular focus on Sahel, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Benin.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the drafting of advocacy strategies, policy briefings and analysis and other policy tools;
• Monitoring political, policy and research developments;
• Reaching out to policymakers at EU level and selected EU member states;
  Attending meetings and events on behalf of Search for Common Ground;
• Supporting the organisation of events and meetings in Europe;
• Supporting communications work on the Sahel and on Youth, Peace and Security;
• Contributes to planning, reporting and monitoring and evaluation of the global policy team;
• Supporting country-based colleagues on policy and advocacy.
• Engages and communicates effectively across functions and across teams.
• Participates in external meetings.
• Builds relationships and engages effectively with collaborators.
  Uses resiliency and exhibits flexibility and adaptability to changing tasks and team priorities.
• With oversight by the supervisor, writes technical sections for team documents, briefing materials, and presentations.
• Works across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
• Sensitively recognizes ethical situations;
• Focuses on the key objectives of a task or project;
• Creates accurate, organised, and timely work;
• Is resourceful with time management and technology to prioritise tasks with limited supervision.

This is a Belgium-based position. Some travel, including to the Sahel region, will occur.

Qualifications

• Has a minimum of three years of relevant work experience (or masters degree with 1 year of relevant experience);
• Has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, European studies, climate studies, development studies or related area;
• Has a good understanding of EU decision-making procedures and how to advance an advocacy agenda in a politically sensitive environment; knowledge of particular member states (eg. Belgium or the Netherlands) institutions and legislative processes would be an asset;
• Previous advocacy experience is a definitive advantage;
• Previous experiences working on policy issues related to conflict or peacebuilding would be highly valued, a keen interest in them is required;
• Has outstanding written and spoken English and French; Dutch is an asset;

Contract duration and Salary Range

We offer a 1-year contract (“contrat à durée déterminée”, CDD).

• The salary range for this position would be between 3.450 – 3.800 EUR gross per month, based on relevant experience,
• 22 days of annual leave
• end-of-year office closure
• double vacation pay
• meal vouchers (Eur 7,- per worked day)
• life insuran