CONCORD is seeking a highly-motivated individual to join the Policy and Advocacy Team as a Senior Adviser to facilitate, steer and shape our advocacy work on gender equality and strengthen our engagement on EU feminist foreign policy.

ABOUT CONCORD

CONCORD is the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development
and international cooperation. We are made up of member organisations: 26 national platforms, 25 international networks and 7 associate members that represent over 2,600 NGOs, supported by millions of people across Europe.

We work together to ensure that European policies promote equal, just and inclusive societies in a sustainable world.

You will join a team of committed professionals who seek to accelerate transformation towards a more equal and sustainable society. It is important for CONCORD that any new member of the team adheres to our values of solidarity, non-discrimination, collaboration, integrity and respect and for whom this motivation is a reason for choosing CONCORD. You will join an organisation that is well-established and highly respected as a key interlocutor of the EU and its institutions on international cooperation; we have a successful track-record in influencing the EU’s Gender Action Plan.

CONCORD is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring diversity, equality and inclusion within our organisation. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply and will consider all applicants for all positions without regard to race, colour, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

CONCORD is not, however, able to sponsor a work visa, so please only apply if you have a valid work permit for Belgium.

ROLE SPECIFICATION 

The purpose of this role is to provide input and to support CONCORD members to shape CONCORD’s advocacy work on gender equality, in alignment with our vision and values. As set out in CONCORD’s new multi-annual strategy 2023-2026 a crucial aspect of our work is to promote gender equality and meaningful partnerships between the EU and other regions and to reframe existing narratives. This is particularly important in light of the increasingly turbulent period we are currently living through. You will support the Confederation and its members to strengthen our engagement on EU external affairs, inspired by the principles of Intersectional Feminist Foreign policy-making. You will also contribute to the work of our other Advocacy Advisers within the Secretariat to achieve our joint aim of transformational change in EU policy. Similarly, you will support the communications team in contributing to the visibility of CONCORD’s work and in amplifying our messages to a broad audience.

Key areas of responsibility 

• Coordinating, and facilitating CONCORD’s Gender Equality group with members, including planning and reporting
• Promoting gender equality in the EU’s relations with other regions of the world, specifically implementation of Gender Action Plan III and advocating for an ambitious GAPIV.
• Promote inclusive political dialogue and build relationships with the EU institutions with a special focus on the European External Action Service
• Analyse, inform about and respond to EU and international policy processes and trends that are relevant to gender equality and EU foreign policy
• Contribute to overall policy and advocacy work, especially supporting our understanding of trends and changes in the EU’s external relations linked to security and foreign policy
• Contribute to strengthening internal coordination and collaboration for gender mainstreaming
• Represent the Confederation in relevant governance, planning, intelligence and advocacy meetings
• Support the peer-to-peer capacity-building of members to better engage in advocacy initiatives

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The successful candidate will understand and be committed to CONCORD’s vision and goals and be able to contribute to CONCORD’s ambition to pursue a transformational agenda at EU level.

Knowledge

• Academic background or professional experience in foreign policy, trade, security, international development and/or human rights sector
• Strong understanding of gender equality
• Good understanding of EU policy-making and influencing processes and strategies

Experience

• At least 5 years of professional experience (excluding unpaid internships) in policy and advocacy work
• Experience in advocacy towards the EU with proven track record of policy and advocacy successes
• Experience of writing briefings and/or reports on foreign policy, trade, security or international cooperation, especially with a gender lens
• Experience of coordinating different organisations and building capacity
• Experience of working on women’s rights and gender equality, experience of working with women’s rights organisations outside the EU would be a significant asset
• Experience of working outside the EU desirable

Skills

• Politically astute, with well-honed policy analysis skills, including an ability to analyse political and policy trends and to develop strategic advocacy positions that imply transformative change;
• Excellent interpersonal, cross-cultural and communication skills and collegial approach, including tactful but effective facilitation to build consensus;
• Strong planning and organisational skills, particularly the ability to plan and execute research or think-pieces that contribute to advocacy positions
• Capable of working independently and as part of a team;
• Capable networker, able to coordinate and operate effectively in coalitions;
• Confidence and fluency in communicating to external audiences on CONCORD’s work in your areas of focus;
• Fluent level written and spoken English;
• Working knowledge of French is very desirable

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Contract: Permanent contract, 70-80%, tbd

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Gross salary: from €4363.33 (pro-rata) per month, depending on experience

Other benefits: ‘thirteenth month’; holiday allowance; hospitalisation insurance; affiliation to pension scheme; meal vouchers, teleworking allowance and a monthly commuting allowance on local public transport or by bicycle.

The position reports to the Head of Advocacy.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested, please upload as one document the following information, in the portal below:

• Your CV (max 2 pages, no photo)
• Your cover letter (max 2 pages) responding to the following questions:
  • Why do you want to work for CONCORD? (100 words max.)
  • What interests you about this role in particular? (100 words max.)
  • What inspires you about intersectional feminist foreign policy making? (250 words max.)

Only applications and CVs written in English will be accepted.

The closing date for applications is close of business on 16 March 2025. Unfortunately, owing to internal resource issues, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. First round interviews will take place in the week of 17 March 2025. A second round of interviews will follow.

Ideal start date: early April 2025, as soon as possible.