Advocacy Specialist

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and implements emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a highly-qulified Advocacy Specialist to join our team in Kyiv (with regular travels to field offices within Ukraine).

About the job

As the Advocacy Specialist, you will support the implementation of DRC Ukraine's advocacy strategy and delivery of existing commitments by contributing to evidence-based advocacy, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the development of advocacy products. Working closely with programme, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) and communications colleagues, you will help ensure that the voices and needs of displaced- and conflict-affected populations inform DRC's advocacy and external engagement. You will report to the Country Director with a technical reporting line to the Advocacy Coordinator.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Advocacy and Policy Support

• Support development and implementation of DRC Ukraine's advocacy strategy and annual advocacy workplan.
• Monitor political, humanitarian and policy developments relevant to DRC's operations and identify emerging advocacy opportunities and risks.
• Conduct policy and context analysis to inform advocacy priorities and messaging.
• Draft advocacy materials including briefing notes, talking points, policy briefs, factsheets, reports, key messages and presentations.
• Support the development of advocacy positions and recommendations based on programme evidence and protection monitoring.
• Contribute to the preparation of advocacy inputs for internal and external meetings, donor engagements and senior management briefings.
• Maintain an overview of relevant national legislation, policies and humanitarian coordination discussions affecting displaced and conflict-affected populations.
• Support the development of advocacy indicators and contribute to monitoring the implementation and impact of advocacy initiatives.
• Support in developing advocacy training materials to colleagues in DRC in Ukraine as well as relevant local partners and support the Advocacy Coordinator in delivering trainings for field colleagues.

Coordination and Representation

• Coordinate with technical and field team members to deliver advocacy efforts and outputs that are informed by DRC's programme work and field operations, ensuring it is evidence-based and in line with the advocacy strategy and workplan.
• Liaise with the communications team to ensure advocacy messaging is aligned across external communication products.
• Participate in relevant humanitarian coordination mechanisms, advocacy working groups and policy discussions as delegated by the Advocacy Coordinator.
• Build and maintain constructive working relationships with humanitarian partners, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support the meaningful and safe inclusion of affected populations' perspectives in advocacy activities.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least 3 years of professional experience in advocacy, humanitarian policy, protection, human rights, research, or related fields. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Master's degree in political science, international relations, law, human rights, public policy, humanitarian studies or another relevant field.
• Experience supporting advocacy, policy, research or humanitarian programming in complex humanitarian or development contexts.
• Strong analytical skills with demonstrated experience conducting policy, legal or context analysis.
• Excellent drafting skills with the ability to produce rapid, clear, concise and evidence-based advocacy and policy documents in English.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles, protection, international humanitarian law, human rights and displacement issues.
• Familiarity with Ukraine's humanitarian and political context.
• Ability to analyse information from multiple sources and translate technical information into accessible and impactful advocacy messages.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Full professional proficiency in spoken and written English and Ukrainian.

Desirable

• Experience engaging with humanitarian coordination mechanisms, government institutions or civil society networks.
• Knowledge of donor policies and the humanitarian architecture in Ukraine.
• Experience contributing to advocacy campaigns, public policy initiatives or joint NGO advocacy products.
• Experience working with an INGO or civil society organisation is highly desirable.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC' five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: 12 months with the possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of funding after successful completion of a 3-month probationary period.
• Band: G.2 - non-managerial
• Designation of Duty Station: Kyiv, with regular travels to field offices within Ukraine
• Start date: ASAP

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council's Terms of Employment for employees on national contracts; starting from EUR 2,574 gross per month (depending on experience and qualifications).

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English.

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: September 27th, 2026

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.