Position Title: Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Lead
Team: Policy and Advocacy
Location: Canberra Secretariat
Employment Status: Ongoing, 0.8 – 1.0 FTE
Reports to position holder: Chief of Policy and Advocacy
Position Classification: Senior Officer (Grade 3‐4)
View the position description
The Role
The role engages ACFID Members to influence Australian Government policy on key humanitarian issues, including through the coordination of ACFID’s Humanitarian Reference Group to DFAT. It is an exciting time to join, with a new Humanitarian Strategy currently being designed by the Australian Government.
The Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Lead will develop and lead ACFID’s policy and advocacy on humanitarian issues, including addressing root causes of crises, promoting a global and needs based approach, and ensuring humanitarian responses are effective and inclusive. The role is the focal point for engagement and collaboration with ACFID members and external stakeholders on these issues – including the Australian Parliament, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Australian Civil-Military Centre (ACMC), and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA).
The Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Lead will support and implement the creation of policy positions on humanitarian, fragility, peace and security issues for ACFID. The position will work within the Policy and Advocacy Team to ensure that ACFID is positioned to engage in current policy debates, as well as to foresee and predict new areas of policy that meet ACFID’s strategic aims and those of our members. This will require the role-holder to: engage ACFID Members and strategic partners on humanitarian policy and practice issues; position ACFID to engage in current policy debates on humanitarian issues, as well as to foresee and predict new areas of policy and act as the focal point for communication on member responses to sudden onset emergencies. Knowledge of DFAT programs and policies will be an asset.
About ACFID
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) is the peak body for Australian non-government organisations (NGOs) involved in international development and humanitarian action. Our vision is of a world where all people are free from extreme poverty, injustice and inequality and where the earth’s finite resources are managed sustainably. Our purpose is to lead and unite our members in action for a just, equitable and sustainable world.
Founded in 1965, ACFID currently has 126 full members and 22 affiliate members operating in more than 65 developing countries. The total revenue raised by ACFID’s membership from all sources amounts to $1.83 billion (2020 – 21), $721 million of which is raised from over 996,000 thousand Australians. ACFID’s members range between large Australian multi-sectoral organisations that are linked to international federations of NGOs, to agencies with specialised thematic expertise, and smaller community-based groups, with a mix of secular and faith-based organisations.
ACFID members must comply with the ACFID Code of Conduct, a voluntary, self-regulatory sector code of good practice that aims to improve international development and humanitarian action outcomes and increase stakeholder trust by enhancing the transparency, accountability and effectiveness of signatory organisations. Covering 9 Quality Principles, 33 Commitments and 92 compliance indicators, the Code sets good standards for program effectiveness, fundraising, governance and financial reporting. Compliance includes annual reporting and checks. The Code has an independent complaint handling process.
ACFID is a Public Benevolent Institution and has salary packaging which allows employees to use a proportion of the salary using tax-free dollars. The end result is an increase in your take-home pay. Employees have a total of approximately $15,899* per Fringe Benefit Tax year to salary package. In addition, ACFID’s PBI status enables you to salary package a further approximate $2,650 per year for personal meals and accommodation on top of the normal salary packaging amount. *You can find more information about Salary Packaging here: https://www.cbb.com.au/discover-salary-packaging/
We value diversity in the workplace and model our commitment to the values outlined in our strategic plan. ACFID is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability status or national origin. Applicants will be considered based on qualifications, merit, and business need. Individuals of diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Taking into account ACFID’s core competencies and the required functional competencies of the role as detailed in the position description please send a covering letter and your Resume by filling in this online Application for Employment form. The covering letter, including your response to the selection criteria, should be no longer than two A4 pages.
Applications will close 5pm (AEDT) Sunday 19 November 2023.