Protection Officer - Local Policy and Advocacy

The Protection Officer - Local Policy and Advocacy (Rule of Law) supports implementation of human rights and advocacy activities within the Protection and Rule of Law program. The role involves legal aid provision, research, analysis, advocacy, and engagement with partners, authorities, and civil society to address legal barriers affecting conflict-affected populations.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze legislative, regulatory, policy, and rule of law developments affecting conflict-affected populations, identify barriers to the realization of rights and access to protection, justice, legal aid, civil documentation, housing, land and property rights, administrative procedures, and essential services, and contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based advocacy initiatives to address identified challenges.
• Prepare advocacy materials, analytical notes, and policy briefs to support advocacy campaigns and programmatic efforts.
• Maintain regular contact and collaboration with government authorities, local administrations, partner organizations, and civil society actors.
• Facilitate dialogue with formal and informal local community structures to support implementation of IRC Advocacy Strategy.
• Advocate with local authorities to ensure that information on legal procedures — including IDP registration and civil documentation and housing, land and property (HLP) rights— is inclusive, clear, and widely accessible.
• Collaborate with local administrative bodies and IDP councils to co-develop systems for identifying, funding, and evaluating the impact of community-driven protection and advocacy initiatives in collaboration with Protection Officer – Community Based Protection.
• Participate at meetings, working groups, and coordination platforms on local and regional levels.
• Engage with the Legal Protection Working Group (LPWG) and other relevant coordination mechanisms to advocate for improved legal response and protection as delegated by Protection Manager – Legal Aid (Rule of Law).
• Draft reports on activities carried out, including analytical documents and recommendations for internal and external use.
• Conduct regular field visits within the area of responsibility to coordinate advocacy activities and monitor the situation on the ground.
• Participate in internal team meetings, training, and strategic planning processes.
• Support advocacy initiatives by providing examples of individual cases and data on systemic legal challenges affecting displaced persons and conflict-affected individuals.
• Organize and facilitate roundtables, workshops, and other events regarding rule of law, local policy and advocacy, engaging representatives of government authorities, local self-government bodies, partner organizations, humanitarian actors, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support capacity strengthening of lawyers, partners, social workers, and other professionals engaged in the protection of vulnerable populations, including through the delivery of workshops, trainings, and seminars for IRC staff, partner organizations, and government institutions on rule of law, advocacy, and protection monitoring.
• Facilitate the collection and integration of implementing partners' field-level perspectives into IRC's advocacy priorities and initiatives.
• Maintain and regularly update a stakeholder map of key partner organizations, local authorities, and policy actors at the local and regional level.
• Participate in the weekly planning of field visits to activity locations in line with program schedules.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Law required.
• Advanced studies or additional qualifications in human rights, public policy, advocacy, or related fields, or Attorney’s license are considered an asset.
• Previous experience in conducting local or national-level advocacy.
• Experience engaging with government authorities, local self-government bodies, civil society organizations, or coordination mechanisms.
• Experience in legal analysis, policy research, drafting analytical reports, advocacy products, or policy briefs preferred.
• Experience in organizing group events, training, workshops, or roundtable discussions.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and Russian required.
• Good verbal and writing skills in English.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries.
• Positive and professional attitude, including the ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and build constructive relationships with stakeholders.
• High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and online collaboration tools.
• Strong analytical and research skills, including the ability to review legal and policy documents and translate findings into practical advocacy recommendations.

Skills

• Legal Analysis
• Policy Research
• Advocacy
• Legal Aid Provision
• Drafting Analytical Reports
• Policy Brief Writing
• Community Advocacy
• National Advocacy
• Engagement with Government Officials
• Civil Society Engagement
• Organizing Training Workshops
• Organizing Group Events
• Report Writing
• Confidentiality Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• MS PowerPoint
• Collaboration Tools
• Research Skills

Languages

Ukrainian, Russian, English