Lead, African Union Liaison Office

This job vacancy is only available to internal applicants of Save the Children International. Unfortunately, external candidates will not be considered for this opportunity. Please check our job listings page for other vacancies that are open to external applicants.

• Job Title: Lead, African Union Liaison Office
• Team: Global Policy and Influencing
• Reports To: Deputy Director, Global Diplomacy & Engagement
• Contract Length: Permanent
• Grade: P5
• Location: Addis, Ethiopia
• Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Addis Ababa

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment. 

• Language Requirements: English, French Desirable 
• International Travel Requirements: Yes up to 40% 
• Budget Responsibility: TBC

Team and Job Purpose

This is a high profile, externally facing team, with responsibility for the global influencing agenda, which will actively engage in global politically linked engagements on development, humanitarian and global issues.  This team will coordinate and lead the development of a proactive global policy and advocacy agenda in order to unify and amplify our strategic voice and influence across all thematic areas and contexts, while ensuring consistent and coherent external representation. By fostering collaboration within the organisation and engaging effectively with international bodies and influencing spaces including UN, Gulf and African Union, we aim to establish Save The Children as a key partner in shaping international norms and influencing national policies. Our work supports and enhances the movement's local to global advocacy efforts, ensuring our message and tactics are consistently applied, and our high-level external engagements reflect a unified stance.

Role Purpose

The Lead, African Union (AU) Liaison Office, will support the development and coordinate the delivery of Save the Children’s AU advocacy as part of our Global Advocacy Strategy. The role coordinates engagement with the AU Commission, AU member delegations, and civil society organizations to advance organizational priorities. Working closely with Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns colleagues, the postholder will ensure AU-focused influencing is effectively delivered and contributes to broader local-to-global efforts to achieve change for children.

Principal Accountabilities

• Support the development and implementation of an African Union Liaison Strategy.
• Advocate for change with key African Union policy makers and decision makers in line with Save the Children’s ambition.
• Ensure that AU engagement is influencing AU members and bodies in alignment with national country and global strategic plans and priorities.
• Facilitate and strengthen advocacy networks and partnerships with high level and influential allies, within the African Union.  Work in collaboration with child focused networks, key partners including civil society, media, donor community, and the private sector working towards the African Union. 
• Produce contextual and business intelligence which will inform the broader organisation in its support of the African Union agenda. 
• Contribute to building Save the Children’s profile and credibility in the AU space, particularly in priority areas, by representing the organization in relevant external forums and supporting internal awareness of the AU liaison work and its value in advancing our global strategy. 

Experience And Skills

Essential

1. This requires a strong substantive grasp of Save the Children priorities, strategic vision and mandate. 
2. Strong and relevant experience in international work environments and intercultural communication, including a strong understanding of NGO structures.
3. The post holder will need to be an excellent spoken and written communicator, and able to tailor messages to a variety of different audiences. He/she will need an excellent ability to manage and distil large amounts of information, make informed judgements quickly, prioritise among competing demands and opportunities, and have a clear understanding of how AU-based influencing fits into wider global, regional, and national level advocacy plans. and personal experience in a fast-paced environment. 
4. Experience of building networks, partnerships and collaborations to achieve change, and an ability to manage diverse relationships to secure new opportunities.
5. Excellent judgement, and ability to manage disagreement and build consensus.
6. Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, and knowledge and understanding of key issues
7. Demonstrated understanding of development, child rights, and humanitarian issues.
8. Experience of successfully operating in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
9. Commitment to Save the Children’s mission, values and approach (includes child focus and equal opportunities).
10. Ability to work in English, capacity of French desirable

Key Relationships

Internal (excluding direct team and manager)

• Member Policy and Advocacy Lead
• Child Rights, Advocacy and Campaign Team – CO facing
• Regional Directors in ESA and WCA and relevant county directors

External

• African Union and relevant related external stakeholders
• Civil Society Organisation, International NGOs and Advocacy Groups relevant to Global Policy and Advocacy
• Relevant Government Agencies and Policy Makers: 
• Academic and Research Institutions

Education And Qualifications

Essential

• A bachelor’s degree with significant relevant experience, or a master’s degree in areas like human rights, humanitarian operations, political science, international development, or another specific field relevant to Save the Children’s work.

Competencies

• Cluster: Leading
• Competency: Leading and inspiring others
• Level: Leading Edge

Behavioural Indicator: Creates and engages others in a shared vision and strategy that will deliver more for children.

• Competency: Delivering results
• Level: Leading Edge
• Behavioural Indicator: Holds others accountable for achieving results and challenges underperformance.
• Cluster: Thinking
• Competency: Problem solving and decision making
• Level: Accomplished

Behavioural Indicator: Makes informed strategic decisions based on full evaluation of the opportunities and risks of each idea and solution.

• Competency: Innovating and adapting
• Level: Accomplished
• Behavioural Indicator: Drives innovation and breakthrough solutions to improve outcomes for children.
• Cluster: Engaging
• Competency: Working effectively with others
• Level: Leading Edge

Behavioural Indicator: Offers organisation-wide support and collaboration to leaders working across the whole movement to deliver change for children.

Competency: Communicating with impact

Level: Accomplished

Behavioural Indicator: Delivers influential advice and briefings to internal and external audiences to build the call for action.