Advocacy Manager

Job Purpose:

This role is responsible to lead and manage both external and internal advocacy, policy development, media and communications, while implementing the influencing strategy for Oxfam in Syria.

The role leads on the implementation of a coherent and contextually relevant policy and influencing agenda, grounded in programming and cognizant of risk factors.

The post holder will define and represent Oxfam Syria’s positions on key national and regional issues in collaboration with relevant team members, while integrating all aspects of influencing (advocacy, policy work, media and communications) – into a unified strategic framework. The position also holds accountability for managing risks associated with the execution of Oxfam’s influencing strategy and related action plans.

Furthermore, the role actively contributes to strategic decision-making forums concerning campaign management within Syria, across the MENA region, and within the wider Oxfam confederation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical

• Provide strategic advice and direction to Oxfam in Syria on advocacy, media and communications work ensuring a good and productive collaboration within the Influencing team and with Programme teams.
• Lead, manage and implement the Oxfam in Syria’s Influencing Strategy, encompassing advocacy, media & communications, and policy. Ensure alignment with the Country Strategy and the Regional and Global influencing strategies for Oxfam.
• Ensure the integration of feminist and decolonial principles across all influencing work, including advocacy, campaigning, and policy development, promoting intersectionality, challenging power imbalances, and centering the voices and leadership of affected communities, especially marginalized groups in Syria.
• Contribute to Oxfam’s contingency planning from an advocacy and media perspective. In emergency situations, coordinate the Oxfam advocacy response.
• Oversee the production of quality media and communications products - in collaboration with the media and communications coordinator.
• Oversee the production of policy products and positions – in coordination with the policy coordinator and the Deputy Country Director Programmes.
• Support the Country Director and others in building consensus among Oxfam affiliates on policies and coordinating the internal sign-off process on all Syria policy issues.
• Ensure the development of media and communications plan, in accordance with the influencing strategy.
• Ensure the development of evidence-based advocacy work that amplifies the voices of local actors and Syria communications in key national, regional and global decision-making spaces.
• Provide and share regular analysis on political and programme developments, in Syria.
• Advise and brief Oxfam spokespeople ahead of external meetings, including support in the development of respective talking points.
• Ensure the integration of feminist and decolonial principles across all influencing work, including advocacy, campaigning, and policy development, promoting intersectionality, challenging power imbalances, and centering the voices and leadership of affected communities, especially marginalized groups in Syria.

Internal and external coordination

• Coordinate with the wider Oxfam Confederation on global campaigns as relevant, feeding in Syria information to global advocacy as needed.
• Collaborate closely with the Country Director, programme managers, technical advisors, partners, NGOs, Oxfam’s regional and global advocacy and policy teams to lead on influencing work. This includes identifying opportunities to drive positive change for communities across Syria in the short and long term.
• Proactively engage with the policy and advocacy working group of the Syria NGO forum.
• Support the Policy Coordinator in the representation and participation in policy spaces (i.e., sector working groups, workstream, etc).
• Build and maintain relationships with key actors inside Syria, including staff working for UN agencies, INGOs, the donor community, government, research institutes, journalists, media, think tanks, local NGOs and CSOs.

Advancing Programme Quality

• Integrate programme learnings into advocacy strategies and policy work.
• Embed advocacy components into programme and proposal design processes.
• Implement regular monitoring and evaluation practices for advocacy initiatives, supporting continuous learning and strategic refinement, in collaboration with the MEAL and influencing team.
• Contribute to the formulation of Oxfam Syria's country strategy and programme design.
• Strengthen internal capacity around advocacy, media and communications.
• Work with Oxfam programme teams to engage communities in identifying structural challenges that advocacy and programming must address.
• Build advocacy capabilities among local partner organizations.
• Support localization efforts, ensuring the voices of local actors are amplified across different spaces Oxfam has presence in.

Leadership and Management

• Lead and manage the influencing team, to deliver an effective and responsive influencing strategy in Syria. Including support to capacity building and development. This includes direct and indirect management of three team members on a day-to-day basis, performing HR tasks and performance reviews.
• Manage country-level influencing resources and oversee cross-regional and global collaboration aimed at amplifying advocacy related to Syria or broader regional issues.
• Represent Oxfam in strategic lobbying and engagement efforts at national, regional, and international levels.
• Ensure Oxfam's presence in key spaces and forums located in Syria, the region and on a global level.
• Actively participate in and contribute to the Syria Senior Management Team, guiding strategic decision-making and coordination.
• As a member of the Senior Management Team, align Syria's influencing strategy with Oxfam’s Country Strategy.

General

• Eager and required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and action.
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.

Essential criteria

• At least 5 years of proven work experience, including advocacy, policy, networking and alliance building in humanitarian crisis context.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification, preferably, in social sciences but other major could be considered if accompanied by relevant work experience. Post-graduate and other training qualifications an advantage.
• Strong proficiency in both spoken and written English and Arabic
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills and ability to think/operate innovatively and strategically.
• Ability to influence and liaise effectively with key stakeholders and representation in high profile environments.
• Proven ability in developing, implementing, and monitoring of program-based campaign and advocacy strategies (including producing and managing advocacy products).
• Excellent representational and lobbying skills, and experience of advocacy with senior decision-makers.
• Proven evidence of leadership skills including the ability to challenge, motivate and develop direct reports and teams.
• Ability to work with significant levels of autonomy and make prompt and sound decisions.
• Flexibility, stamina and ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, to work unsociable hours as necessary.
• Knowledge and experience of promoting gender equity, and an active commitment to promoting the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of program work.
• Experience of managing staff: challenging, motivating, developing, and inspiring team members.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work collaboratively in a wide variety of cultural contexts.
• Very high-level of self-awareness, interpersonal and communications skills.
• Arabic is required.

Desirable criteria

• Advocacy, policy and communications/media experience in Syria or within a similar humanitarian context.
• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of Syrian and broader regional context.
• Ability to travel internationally on short notice.

كيفية التقديم

Please visit Oxfam website: https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/24666/description