Advocacy Director

ILGA-Europe is recruiting an Advocacy Director to lead our policy, advocacy and strategic litigation work at a decisive moment for rights and democracy in Europe and Central Asia.

Deadline: Thursday, 17 September at 23:59 CEST

About this position

We are looking for an Advocacy Director to join ILGA-Europe on an open-ended contract to lead our policy, advocacy and strategic litigation work.

This role is for someone who is a political strategist, and able to lead a strong team through both seizing emerging opportunities and delivering on long-term goals. We’re looking for a candidate who can shape ILGA-Europe’s advocacy priorities and strategy at a moment when democracy and rights for everyone are under pressure, this role is about shaping the future of societies.

The Advocacy Director will lead ILGA-Europe’s work to protect and advance the rights of LGBTI people on regional and national level in a shifting political landscape, build durable relationships with decision-makers, institutions and civil society –threading the line of navigating opposing positions while staying true to what ILGA-Europe stands for, and guide the team deciding on strategies, including mobilisation or pressure and steady, persistent engagement with institutions, governments, and policy-makers. The successful candidate will connect and embed our work firmly within the broader goal to protect democracy and rule of law, connect with other movements, and ensure policy work is approached through an intersectional lens that contributes to the respect for the human rights of other marginalised communities. The postholder will also bring a strong sense of how social change happens, how laws and policies can best contribute to LGBTI equality, and how to effectively represent the interests of a broad and diverse membership.

The position leads and manages the Policy and Advocacy Team, and reports directly to the Executive Director, working closely with colleagues working on programmes and movement building, communications, and individual giving, to ensure alignment and connection across different areas of work.

About ILGA-Europe

ILGA-Europe is a driving force for political, legal and social change at European and Central Asian level. Our vision is of a world where dignity, freedoms and full enjoyment of human rights are protected and ensured to everyone regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.

ILGA-Europe are comprised of over 700 member organisations throughout Europe and Central Asia. From Iceland to Turkey and Kyrgyzstan to Malta, we work together with extraordinary organisations and activists to bring about real change for LGBTI people.

A core part of our work is advancing protections for LGBTI people across the region and supporting the development of strong, skilled and connected movements. This includes policy and advocacy work on regional and national level, strategic litigation, grant-making, convening, shaping narratives and strategic support to LGBTI organisations and activists.

The Advocacy Director will contribute directly to this work, with particular responsibility for our policy and advocacy strategy and our public affairs.

ILGA-Europe staff are based in Brussels and work closely with activists and organisations across the region. We value collaboration, shared learning, and creative approaches to supporting social change.

The movement and our work are only as strong as our people. We support our staff and we value the knowledge, experience and commitment they bring to the organisation.
ILGA-Europe offers a competitive employment package, including insurance, pension contributions, training opportunities and other benefits. Details are provided at the end of this advertisement.

What are the main job functions of the Advocacy Director?

As the postholder, you will set the strategic direction of ILGA-Europe’s policy, advocacy and strategic litigation work, and lead the team that delivers it – shaping how we advance the human rights of LGBTI people across Europe and Central Asia at a decisive moment for democracy and rights in the region.

You will:

Set the direction for our advocacy and policy work

• Read political developments across European and Central Asian institutions, national governments and parliaments – in a context of rising polarisation and backlash against the rights of LGBTI people (particularly trans people) and other marginalised groups – and judge, together with the priorities of communities and movements, what is realistic and strategic at a given moment; advise the Executive Director accordingly.
• Set ILGA-Europe’s advocacy strategy and policy positions at regional level and in support of national-level advocacy, connecting LGBTI equality to the protection of democracy and the rule of law and applyi