Reporting Line: Co-Director Communications & Advocacy – CARE Deutschland
Duty Station: Brussels, Belgium
Contract type: Fixed-term International Employment Contract under CARE Deutschland
Contract duration: End of contract as of 28 February 2027.
Start date: 01 September 2025
Working Hours/week: 70 % (26.6 hours per week or calculated per calendar month)
Annual leave allowance: 17.5 Days per year as per the 70% working hours/week

Backround & Overview 

CARE International (CI) is among the world’s largest international non-governmental humanitarian relief and development Confederations. Drawing on its 75 years of experience, through its 20 Members, Candidates and Affiliate, CI’s work reaches over 100 countries worldwide to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice.

The impact we want to achieve will only be possible if we continue to transform how we organize ourselves, become more diverse, networked, agile and accountable. Therefore, the central part of CARE’s 2030 Vision is to strengthen the diversity and legitimacy of CARE’s global presence and membership, as well as to support effective membership engagement and accountability. While our network has grown because of expanding our membership, affiliations, and partnerships, we will continue to evolve and innovate different collaborative models and structures, with a portfolio of country offices, transitioned presences, new members and affiliates, effective equitable partnerships with local actors, social enterprises, and more.

Position Summary

The EU Advocacy Officer will be employed by CARE Deutschland e.V. but will work from CARE International AISBL’s office in Brussels, Belgium. Under the technical leadership of CARE International’s Senior EU Advocacy Advisor and the line-management of the Co-Director Communications & Advocacy, they will contribute to the advocacy work at the European Union level in order to build relations with the EU institutions, strengthen CARE’s representation to the EU, and influence EU policies that have an impact on CARE International’s programmatic objectives, particularly with regards to gender equality, including gender-based violence.

Main Responsibilities – specifically but not limited to

The EU Advocacy Officer will implement CARE’s advocacy work at the European level, particularly with regards to gender equality, including on ending gender-based violence.

The Officer will also contribute to supporting CARE’s effective coordination, facilitation, and delivery of EU advocacy, and will provide limited support in other related priority policy areas under Vision 2030 strategy, and in other issues related to development and humanitarian aid policies impacting on CARE’s work.

• Implement activities of a Consortium based project on addressing gender-based violence in refugees reception centres and support with project management and reporting.
• Monitor and influence policy developments at the EU level;
• Undertake research and analysis on relevant EU policies and identifying opportunities;
• Draft updates, briefing notes, policy positions and talking points on relevant EU processes;
• Support the organisation of advocacy meetings and events;
• Maintain and further develop a network of contacts within EU institutions and Civil Society Organisations in Brussels;
• Contribute to the coordination of CARE’s European members on EU advocacy issues and share relevant information with them;
• Support as required CARE’s advocacy work

Key Working Relationships

Internal:

• Co-Director Communications & Advocacy, CARE Deutschland e.V.
• Director and EU Representative, CARE International AISBL
• Senior EU Advocacy Advisor, CARE International AISBL
• EU Advocacy Assistant, CARE International AISBL
• Advocacy staff of all CI members, particularly European members

External:

• Advocacy staff in peer organizations
• Contacts in EU Institutions

Qualifications (key selection criteria)

Education or work experience:

• At least 2 years of working experience in advocacy with an NGO or relevant international organisations towards EU Institutions in the areas of development and/or humanitarian policy.
• Master’s degree (or a combination of a Bachelor degree and/or relevant experience) in social sciences, such as political sciences, international relations, development studies, economics or law.

Essential technical competencies for the role:

• Proven experience in CARE priority thematic areas including development, humanitarian issues or gender equality. Experience on gender-based violence is an advantage.
• Proven experience in project implementation and project management.
• Knowledge of the decision-making and policy processes of the European Union and how to influence them.
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently within a small team and flexibility to respond to rapidly evolving work priorities within a complex organisational setting.
• Excellent inter-personal, organisational and communication skills.

Other essential competencies for the role:

• Committed to CARE’s vision and mission and to achieving gender equality.
• Diversity: A global citizen that seeks inspiration through working with diverse individuals and teams.
• Inclusion: Committed to a just world where all people live in dignity and security and equality is a reality.

Languages:

• As a global organisation we celebrate those that can bring different languages to the workplace.
• The official working language for this position is English. However, fluency in our other working languages such as French, or German are also an advantage.

CARE puts gender equality and social justice at the front of our work. We seek to ensure that who we are as an organisation reflects our vision of a world where ALL people can live in dignity and security. Our diversity is our strength. We encourage people from all backgrounds, nationalities, abilities, beliefs, genders, and experiences to apply.

How to apply:

Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following documents to application@care.de by no later than 23 July 2025 including:

• their CV
• a brief covering letter of interest in English explaining their experience, motivation, and responses to the following questions (maximum 200 words per question):
  • What is your specific experience and expertise on development and/or humanitarian work?
  • What is your specific experience and expertise on Gender?
  • Please, share an example of a project you have implemented and/or managed.

Please note, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Only candidates with the relevant work authorization will be considered.