About InterAction:

InterAction is the largest U.S. based coalition of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with nearly 190 members working around the world in low- and middle-income countries, fragile and post-conflict states, and emerging/growth economies. Member organizations are large and small, secular and faith-based, with a focus on people living in the world’s most poor and vulnerable places. The U.S. public, foundations, and governments support the work of our member NGOs that collectively invest and manage more than $15.4 billion a year. InterAction revenues come from dues, government grants, private foundation and corporate grants, and a growing fee-for-service program portfolio. Using its collective voice and convening power, InterAction seeks to shape important policy decisions and actions across a wide range of issues – including foreign assistance, humanitarian relief, development, economic equity, food security, and climate change – that advance human dignity, human potential, and self-determination.

Position Description

Position Title: Policy Coordinator – Protection

Position Type: Full‐time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting to: Senior Manager – Protection of Civilians

The Policy Coordinator - Protection is part of InterAction’s Protection Team, within the wider Humanitarian Policy and Practice (HPP) Team. The Coordinator’s primary focus is on promoting good policy and practice to enhance the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The Coordinator will particularly engage in the development, implementation and monitoring of initiatives aimed at influencing U.S. government policy. This is carried out in close collaboration with the Senior Manager – Protection of Civilians, the Director of Protection, as well as other HPP team members, InterAction members, and key allies.

The Policy Coordinator will also contribute to the broader Protection and HPP work streams, taking a lead role where needed, and actively participate in the broader work and activities of InterAction.

Essential functions

· Develop, implement, and monitor projects that fall under InterAction’s Protection of Civilian (PoC) workstream in line with the workstream’s strategic objectives in close collaboration with Senior Manager and Director of Protection, other team members, and in consultation with other stakeholders.

· Provide direction, administrative support, and monitoring of the work of InterAction’s Protection of Civilians Working Group (PoC WG) alongside the co-chairs; facilitating the convening of all internal and external PoC WG meetings and activities; assisting the collective development of strategic direction and documents; and identifying and bringing in relevant field and technical expertise as required to strengthen the work.

· Draft written analysis, recommendations, and public pieces (blogs, editorials etc.) on civilian harm mitigation and response in collaboration with InterAction members.

· Seek opportunities to raise awareness of PoC issues amongst InterAction members, policy targets, and the wider DC policy community, and find innovative ways to build bridges between DC public advocacy and field level advocacy.

· Organize meetings, briefings, and roundtable events, in collaboration and/or coordination with other team members, InterAction members and other stakeholders ensuring field level perspectives and participation and the preparation of outcome reports through a collaborative process.

· Manage, undertake, and coordinate desk and field research and writing projects to address key protection of civilians concerns, with a view to informing advocacy efforts, press statements, the development of policy briefs and recommendations, the design of policy discussions / roundtables, field missions, and other field support.

· Coordinate and undertake field visits - including the preparation of ToRs, pre-visit research and liaison logistical arrangements, and drafting findings and recommendations post visit.

· Contribute actively to the work of the wider Protection team. Facilitate the ongoing tracking of analysis, reports, and significant events in current and developing crises which enables timely public and private action by InterAction and its members. Work with others, leading where needed, to develop policy briefs, articles, statements and other written materials in support of this effort.

· Actively contribute to strategy development, monitoring, and evaluation efforts for the Protection of Civilians workstream and related portfolios.

· Contribute to donor research, grant proposals, budget development, project and budget monitoring, and donor reporting for workstream programs.

· Manage project associates, interns, and consultants as needed.

· Actively contribute to HPP workstreams and activities, including through strategic planning, the shaping of new initiatives, and new teams formed in pursuit of HPP work streams. This may involve taking a lead role to advance work streams on behalf of HPP.

· Represent InterAction’s HPP Team internally and externally, as requested.

· Actively participate in InterAction initiatives and contribute to the activities of other InterAction teams.

Requirements

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills (including active listening, empathy, teamwork, and flexibility), as well as the ability to work in collaboration with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

· Experience working, living, and/or travelling abroad, ideally to a conflict-affected country.

· Excellent proven research and writing skills, with an ability to synthesize large amounts of information quickly and write clearly and succinctly about complex ideas for a wide range of audiences;

· Strong conceptual and analytical thinking with an ability to identify issues which warrant attention, identify action to be taken, and distill and communicate complex ideas;

· Ability to pro-actively pursue objectives and activities through inter-personal and inter-agency collaboration;

· Strong organizing, coordination, and project cycle management skills. Ability to multi-task, prioritize, adapt, and manage time and competing demands effectively while working under pressure with tight deadlines;

· Able to balance the need to work independently while collaborating closely with other team members;

· Familiarity with critical topics in international humanitarian law, humanitarian action, protection of civilians in armed conflict, and related policy, ideally with some operational level experience in humanitarian crises;

· Familiarity with United States foreign policy, defense issues, and multilateral affairs is highly desirable;

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Interns, Program Associate, others on an as-needed basis

Compensation:

InterAction provides competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

Travel:

Up to 10% (domestic / international – project and funding dependent)

Expected Start Date: September 15, 2022

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

InterAction is committed to diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities in employment. We embrace diversity based on gender, age, education, national origin, ethnic origin, race, disability, sexual orientation, and religion. We encourage women, Afro-descendants and persons of indigenous origins to apply.

There are no extraordinary physical requirements for the performance of the essential functions of this position. InterAction will make reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

To Apply: Please e-mail your resume and cover letter to jobs@interaction.org with subject line containing title Policy Coordinator - Protection.

The position will remain open until filled. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered for this position.

All applicants must be able to provide documentation that they are legally eligible to work in the United States for an extended period.

Due to the volume of applications, only finalists will be notified. No phone calls please