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The Women’s Refugee Commission cannot acknowledge unsolicited applications for employment or internships. No calls, please.

The Women’s Refugee Commission considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. The Women’s Refugee Commission is an equal opportunity employer.

Background

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) works to improve the lives and defend the rights of women, children, and young people displaced by conflict and crisis. As a research and advocacy organization, WRC is dedicated to securing systemic changes in policy and practice that ensure uprooted women, children, and young people can fully exercise their rights to protection, services, and self-sufficiency.

The Migrant Rights and Justice (MRJ) program at WRC is based in our DC office and is one of WRC’s largest and longest-running programs. Our work is grounded in our longstanding monitoring of US policy and practice, in collaboration with partners and organizations across the US. The program advocates for thoughtful, forward-thinking, and rights-respecting policy solutions which focuses on access to protection for women, children, and families seeking safety in the US. WRC hosts the national #WelcomeWithDignity campaign for asylum rights, with the campaign manager part of the MRJ team.

Read more about the groundbreaking work of WRC’s MRJ program.

Scope of Work

The director of the Migrant Rights and Justice program will lead a team of colleagues to engage in monitoring, research, coalition and partnership engagement, and US government advocacy to strengthen US reception of and protection of displaced women, families, and children. The director, MRJ is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the program, tracking outcomes, and maintaining a wide breadth of subject matter expertise and advocacy and media engagement. The director, MRJ is also responsible for fundraising and external development efforts for the program, and for internal contributions to WRC’s Operating Team.

Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Thought Leadership

  • Develop a strategic vision for the MRJ program, including the development of multi-year goals, strategies, and work plans that align with the strategic goals and priorities that are set forth by WRC, ensuring compliance with all grant objectives, timelines, and budgets.
  • In coordination with the senior director of external communications and the vice president of advocacy and external relations, lead the development and implementation of a media and advocacy strategy to support the goals and objectives of the MRJ program.
  • Serve as the WRC’s lead spokesperson and advocate on MRJ issues.
  • Represent the WRC at high-level meetings, conferences, and briefings on MRJ issues in multiple locales.
  • Contribute to the development and execution of activities of coalitions and partners that WRC leads and/or engages with, including the #WelcomeWithDignity campaign.
  • While subject areas may change, engage in particular on WRC’s advocacy related to reception of people seeking asylum in the interior of the United States, including case management and related practices.

Research and Advocacy

  • Conduct and oversee, together with the MRJ team, field and desk research on asylum and related protection policies and practices.
  • Direct and manage MRJ published outputs, including reports, fact sheets, backgrounders, and other materials on US policies and practices and their impacts on the lives and protection of people seeking asylum.
  • Advocate with the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the Department of Homeland Security for rights-based legislation in line with US international human rights obligations. Develop relationships within the administration, Congress, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Draft legislation. Testify at Congressional hearings and conduct Congressional briefings.

Fundraising and Finance

  • Manage the MRJ staff, including the DC-based program assistant, who supports the DC office overall.
  • Serve on WRC’s Operating Team, contributing to the organization’s overall strategic direction and work plan.

Management and Internal Responsibilities

  • Manage the MRJ staff, including the DC-based program assistant, who supports the DC office overall.
  • Serve on WRC’s Operating Team, contributing to the organization’s overall strategic direction and work plan.

What We’re Looking For

  • Extensive advocacy experience at legislative and administrative government levels, with a strong understanding of US Congressional and federal administrative policies, including the legislative process and administrative (including regulatory) policy development. Proven track record in implementing and achieving advocacy goals.
  • In-depth understanding of international and US human rights, refugee, and immigration law and related foreign policy. Recognized in immigration or asylum/refugee community as a subject matter leader and expert with extensive knowledge of the functioning of key agencies, including DHS, ICE, CBP, DOJ EOIR, HHS/ORR, State Department (incl. PRM), and the White House (DPC/NSC).
  • Significant professional experience in MRJ issue areas and a master’s degree or JD.
  • Ability to think strategically to develop and execute a strategic vision in a research and advocacy setting.
  • Experience with print, television, and other forms of media engagement.
  • Strong management skills. Demonstrated experience leading diverse teams.
  • Ability to build and nurture a positive working environment, even in times of rapid response analysis and advocacy.
  • Fundraising skills, including proposal development and donor cultivation.
  • Experience with budget management.
  • Strong analytical, writing, and communications skills in a wide variety of settings and to a wide range of audiences. Demonstrated public speaking skills with the ability to engage in rapid response communications work.
  • Research and human rights monitoring experience, including demonstrated experience interviewing directly impacted individuals, including women and families.
  • Ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment and balance and prioritize multiple responsibilities within WRC and externally.
  • Additional languages strongly preferred, Spanish proficiency a plus.

Reports to: Vice President for Advocacy and External Relations

Position: Regular, full-time

Salary Band: Salary Band 3 — $123,165-$185,220* (commensurate with experience)

Work Schedule: Hybrid — 2 days in the office, 3 days remote

Location: Washington, D.C.

Posting Date: March 11, 2024

Closing Date: April 1, 2024

How to Apply

Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume via this link.

APPLY NOW

*The salary range as depicted represents the low and top-tier values for the given salary band. It is important to note that while what is depicted represents the total range of the band depicted, this role is budgeted with a salary that begins closer to the starting salary for this band. The actual salary of someone hired into the position will be based on numerous factors that will include but may not be limited to professional and academic experience, training, and other business and organizational needs. Individual salary decisions remain dependent on the circumstances of each individual hire and may be adjusted to meet the demands of the role.

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we are an equal opportunity employer. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose.

It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, veteran status or disability. All qualified people, including those with lived experience relating to a particular role, are encouraged to apply. The Women’s Refugee Commission is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Background

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is a research and advocacy organization that seeks to improve the lives and protect the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crises. We research their needs, identify solutions, and advocate for programs and policies to strengthen their resilience and drive change in humanitarian practice. The Women’s Refugee Commission is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

About WRC’s Cash and Livelihoods Work

WRC’s current work in this area includes research, advocacy, coordination, technical assistance, and development of field guidance, tools, and trainings on cash and voucher assistance (CVA) and market-based programming (MBP) in humanitarian settings. Issues include CVA targeted to diverse displaced and marginalized individuals and households, group cash transfers (GCT) to support community-driven solutions, and protection mainstreaming within CVA and CVA for gender, livelihoods, protection, and sexual and reproductive health outcomes. WRC also works for safe, gender-transformative, market-based livelihoods programming with the aim of restoring the dignity, opportunities, and existing capacities of those displaced by conflict, crisis, and climate change and reducing their dependence on external humanitarian aid. The senior advisor will continue to develop the linkages between the aforementioned areas to bring vision and strategy to further develop WRC’s Economic Empowerment and Self-Reliance Program, as well as promote deeper integration of this and WRC’s other landmark program areas to expand WRC’s reach and impact.

Responsibilities

  • Define and address global gaps in economic programming in crisis- and climate-affected settings and across the humanitarian-development nexus.
  • Strengthen policies, funding, programming, and local leadership and ownership for economic recovery in humanitarian settings and across the humanitarian-development nexus.
  • Provide vision and leadership on cash and livelihoods technical or related issue areas, ensuring alignment with broader WRC organizational initiatives and strategic priorities.
  • Fundraise to support the program’s strategic priorities—cultivate donors and lead on relevant proposal writing.
  • Provide leadership on the Economic Empowerment and Self-Reliance Team and hire and supervise program staff, fellows, and interns.
  • Lead (co-lead with partners), plan, and support implementation and monitoring of projects, including research, advocacy, and pilot projects, with WRC staff and local, national, and international partners.
  • Provide training (virtual and/or in-person) for local stakeholders on relevant technical areas.
  • Document and share findings and recommendations in participant, summary, and comprehensive reports, advocacy and policy briefs, journal articles, webinars, and in-person conferences and events.
  • Provide technical expertise and policy advice internally (WRC staff and board) and externally (policymakers in governments, UN agencies, NGOs) on economic issues affecting displaced women and youth.
  • Represent WRC on refugee livelihood issues to a variety of audiences, including with policymakers, government and UN officials, at public events, meetings, conferences, with media, and other venues as appropriate.
  • Identify and coordinate partnerships with (I)NGOs implementing CVA and livelihood programs in emergencies.
  • Lead and drive global thinking and learning on CVA and livelihoods in emergencies.

Requirements

  • Demonstrated experience in humanitarian management, development management, economic development, economics, or related field (master’s degree preferred)
  • 5+ years’ work experience on cash and/or livelihoods in humanitarian emergencies
  • 3+ years’ field experience in humanitarian settings
  • Technical expertise in cash and voucher assistance and market-based programming
  • Proven track record of technical input into successful fundraising
  • Experience in monitoring and evaluation and data management
  • Experience conducting qualitative, including with participatory methods, and quantitative data collection and analysis
  • Proven track record writing reports and policy papers for varied audiences with publication in peer-reviewed journal articles desired
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Solid diplomatic skills
  • Ability to work independently
  • Ability to work across multiple projects
  • Solid organizational skills with excellent attention to detail
  • Good computer skills: facility with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Languages: English, with preferred working knowledge of French, Arabic, or Spanish

Reports to: Vice President, Programs
Position: Regular, full-time
Salary Band: Level 5: $85,470 – $134,113 (commensurate with experience)
Location: New York (hybrid) – 2 days in the office, 3 days remote
Posting Date: February 29, 2024
Closing Date: March 15, 2024

How to Apply

Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume via this link.

APPLY NOW

*The actual salary of someone hired into the position will be based on numerous factors that will include but may not be limited to professional and academic experience, training, and other business and organizational needs. Individual salary decisions remain dependent on the circumstances of each individual hire and may be adjusted to meet the demands of the role.

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we are an equal opportunity employer. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose.

It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, veteran status or disability. All qualified people, including those with lived experience relating to a particular role, are encouraged to apply. The Women’s Refugee Commission is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Background

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) works to improve the lives and defend the rights of refugee and internally displaced women, children, and young people. As a research and advocacy organization, WRC is dedicated to securing systemic changes in policy and practice that ensure uprooted women, children, and young people can fully exercise their rights to protection, services, and self-sufficiency.

The #WelcomeWithDignity (WWD) campaign is a national campaign for asylum rights in the United States. It is composed of more than 100 organizations committed to transforming the way the United States receives and protects people forced to flee their homes to ensure they are treated humanely and fairly. WWD and its core staff are housed at WRC.

Scope of Work

The campaign communications strategist is responsible for developing and executing all communications aspects of the WWD campaign. This position will report directly to WRC’s senior director of external communications and will work closely with WWD’s campaign manager, communications working group, and advisory committee, and coalition partners, including the Migrant Rights and Justice (MRJ) team at WRC, to develop strategic and effective communication strategies and tactics to advance WWD’s mission. The campaign communications strategist will serve as the primary point of contact on communications and messaging for the campaign’s member organizations.

Essential Job Functions

  • Design comprehensive communication strategies, including messaging, media engagement, digital content, earned media, and advocacy to educate and influence target audiences.
  • Ensure coordination across a diverse coalition of partners to ensure message discipline, press coordination, and research-informed persuasion.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key reporters, editors, and producers to increase coverage of WWD issues and messages.
  • Serve as primary point of contact with coalition members communications staff, public relations firms, and other external vendors.
  • Facilitate weekly calls with campaign partners to identify communications challenges and opportunities and develop responsive materials, including talking points, op-eds, and letters to the editor.
  • Identify needs for digital content and written materials and work with coalition partners to have them produced in line with agreed strategies.
  • Manage the campaign’s editorial calendar.
  • In rapid response and crisis moments, direct member organizations and external partners in coordinated communications response.
  • Represent WWD in coalition and movement spaces as needed.

What We’re Looking For

  • A minimum of five to seven years’ experience in political or advocacy campaign communications required, experience in rapid response efforts preferred.
  • Excellent press contacts.
  • Knowledge of US asylum and/or refugee and/or international humanitarian and human rights work, with personal or lived experience preferred.
  • Outstanding verbal and written communications skills and the ability to grasp and communicate asylum policies to target audiences via traditional and social media.
  • Excellent organizational skills, including ability to conduct and coordinate multiple tasks under pressure to ensure rapid response deadlines are met.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Proven experience working with large coalitions.
  • Strong commitment to the mission and goals of WRC and the WWD campaign.
  • Spanish proficiency a plus.

Reports to: Senior Director of External Communications

Position: Regular, full-time for 12-month period (with possibility of extension)

Salary: Up to $89,844* (commensurate with experience)

Work Schedule: Hybrid – two (2) days in the office, three (3) days remote

Location: Washington, DC

Closing Date: April 1, 2024

How to Apply

Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume via this link.

APPLY NOW

* The actual salary of someone hired into the position will be based on numerous factors that will include but may not be limited to professional and academic experience, training, and other business and organizational needs. Individual salary decisions remain dependent on the circumstances of each individual hire and may be adjusted to meet the demands of the role.

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we are an equal opportunity employer. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose.

It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, veteran status or disability. All qualified people, including those with lived experience relating to a particular role, are encouraged to apply. The Women’s Refugee Commission is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.