Job Description: Advocacy Strategy Director

Position TitleAdvocacy Strategy Director
Reports ToExecutive Director
Position ClassificationFull-time
LocationGeneva, Switzerland

About the Disability Rights Fund and the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund

The Disability Rights Fund (DRF) is a multimillion-dollar grantmaking collaboration between a diversity of donors and the global disability rights community that resources organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to advocate for equal rights and full participation in society. The Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF) is DRF’s sister organization, supporting advocacy for legislative change. DRF/DRAF currently work across Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean. The Funds – which are based on a participatory grantmaking model – annually make 200-300 grants, mainly ranging from USD $10,000-$50,000 each for OPDs to advance the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), including in implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Disability Summit commitments.

Position Summary

DRF/DRAF are in a period of significant organizational growth during which we are pursuing new opportunities to advance advocacy for disability rights from an intersectional perspective, including through strategic partnership development. The Advocacy Strategy Director is a new role, designed to help us implement our vision for engagement of all persons with disabilities in all regions, in particular those belonging to especially marginalized groups, and our commitment to the values of “nothing about us without us”. The Director will finalize the DRF/DRAF Advocacy Strategy and lead the team on its implementation. The position will also support growth in our understanding of the emerging gaps that challenge the full implementation of the standards introduced in the CRPD, by gathering knowledge from our work with grassroots organizations and building strategic partnerships to amplify the work of OPDs advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. This position will report to the Executive Director, partner with the Program Director and work closely with others on the Management Team to identify and prioritize opportunities for external engagement, supporting staff and leadership to ensure that DRF/DRAF’s involvement with these activities is well-executed and evaluated. The position will also involve close collaboration with the Associate Director of Bilateral Relations, Program Director and others to expand our involvement in networks such as the Global Action on Disability (GLAD) network and UN Conference of States Parties (COSP) Civil Society Coordination Mechanism, other advocacy processes and events such as the Global Disability Summit. The Director will build, nurture, and monitor working relationships with key partners to optimize the innovation and impact of advocacy initiatives. Where those partnerships intersect with our grantmaking, the Director will work closely with the Program Director and Senior Program Officer to design and execute aligned funding.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work closely with the Program Director and Associate Director of Bilateral Relations to recommend, shape, and carry out a shared vision for strategic partnerships and advocacy that will amplify DRF/DRAF’s mission, vision, and values, with particular focus on intersectionality.
  • Support DRF/DRAF in building and nurturing existing advocacy-oriented strategic partnerships at global and regional levels.
  • Finalize the DRF/DRAF Advocacy Strategy and lead relevant team members on its implementation.
  • Develop ideas for new strategic partnership efforts and provide leadership to implement them, including through work with the Program Director to ensure the alignment of our grantmaking strategy.
  • Lead the DRF/DRAF Advocacy Coordination Team.
  • Lead on preparation of position papers on key thematic areas to showcase DRF/DRAF thought leadership in the sector.
  • Maintain a high level of knowledge of current thinking about the disability rights and social justice fields.
  • Partner with Communications, Development, and Technical Assistance staff to align advocacy activities with the priorities of the movement, grantees and DRF/DRAF.
  • Support staff, grantees, and strategic partners in identifying and fostering strategic advocacy efforts to increase the effectiveness and pertinence of DRF/DRAF  efforts.
  • Work with the Evaluation and Learning Manager to monitor contributions of the Advocacy Strategy and partnerships toward logframe outputs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CAPABILITIES

The ideal candidate will possess exceptional knowledge on Human Rights standards, in particular on the CRPD, strong relational skills and a keen understanding of best practices on partnership-building and human rights advocacy. They will be a professional of the highest integrity, committed to advancing the mission of DRF/DRAF and to bringing out the best in other members of the team.

Essential

  • Demonstrated skills in influencing and advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, and especially marginalized groups, at global and regional levels.
  • A track record of success in managing partnerships, working with both mainstream and grassroots organizations, and developing collaborative relationships to advance the implementation of the CRPD Standards.
  • A minimum of 10 years’ experience working in the field of disability, with a focus on human rights and/or international development.
  • Experience supporting diverse team members to engage in regional and global advocacy..
  • Skilled in working across cultures and geographies, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and across countries in an e-office environment.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills..
  • The flexibility, accountability, and team-orientation needed to succeed in a small organization, which involves both partnering with others and working independently without close oversight.
  • Highly organized and detail-oriented, and able to effectively manage multiple projects and competing demands.
  • Ability to be nimble and pivot in response to opportunities.
  • Commitment to the human rights of persons with disabilities and the DRF/DRAF mission, with advanced understanding of marginalized and intersectional identities.
  • Demonstrated experience collaborating in inclusive and accessible ways to support diverse persons, including persons with disabilities, to engage in advocacy.
  • Fluency in English, with other languages desired.
  • Knowledge of international disability rights and, specifically, the CRPD. Experience working with OPDs and/or building cross-movement collaboration.

Preferred

  • Grantmaking experience.
  • Knowledge of international development and human rights frameworks, and specifically, the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.); willingness to learn additional applications and accessible technology as necessary.
  • Master’s degree in a relevant field of expertise.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position; salary will be commensurate with experience.

LOCATION

This position may be based out of Geneva given the nature of the work.

HOW TO APPLY
Please email a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references(including a supervisor, and a partner organization you’ve worked with) to: jobs@disabilityrightsfund.org (please, no phone calls)

The Disability Rights Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to build a diverse team. Applicants shall not be discriminated against on any basis. Individuals from historically marginalized identities including Black, Indigenous, and people of color and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Please contact drfinclusion@disabilityrightsfund.org for reasonable accommodations requests.

DEADLINE

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Click here to download the Advocacy Strategy Director position in Word.