Advocacy Officer - Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre - Hong Kong

HKRAC is creating the new post of Advocacy Officer at an exciting time in the organisation’s development. The Advocacy Officer will work closely with law firm partners, NGOs, and regional and international refugee rights networks to undertake landscape-changing research and develop advocacy strategies aimed at improving the lives of refugees & asylum seekers in Hong Kong.

Reporting relationships:

The Advocacy Officer is managed by and reports to the Director of Development.

Duration of the position:

• 12 month contract, with review after this date.

Responsibilities:

• Develop an advocacy strategy aimed at ensuring fulfillment of refugee rights in Hong Kong, including education, health, employment, social security, access to a fair refugee status determination system and others.
• Creatively engage refugees and asylum seekers in HKRAC’s advocacy agenda.
• Work in close collaboration with HKRAC staff, local NGOs, government departments, and regional and global refugee rights networks to advocate on matters of refugee rights and access to a fair asylum application system.
• Implement advocacy and awareness raising campaigns.
• Conduct research and policy analysis to produce briefings and reports on current policies and practices, proposals for change, and documents for submission to relevant decision-making bodies.
• Represent HKRAC at various advocacy meetings both locally and internationally, and report on such meetings.
• Build strategic relationships with relevant civil society organisations and government departments on refugee rights in order to identify advocacy opportunities and strategies for engagement.
• Contribute to HKRAC’s fundraising & community outreach efforts.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Social Science, Law, Human Rights or a related field, or equivalent professional      experience.
• Experience of working on human rights from a policy perspective.
• Experience in developing advocacy and lobbying strategies to bring about social change.
• Experience in building strategic relationships with key stakeholders to achieve change.
• Confident presentation, influencing & networking skills.
• Excellent English writing & communication skills.
• Experience working with and empowering vulnerable client groups.
• A passion for promoting human rights.
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and travel internationally.

Desirable requirements:

• Some understanding of Refugee Law, preferably as it applies to Hong Kong
• Demonstrable experience working with refugees and asylum seekers
• Experience undertaking research that contributes to advocacy for social change
• Fluency in Cantonese.
• Fluency in one or more core refugee languages (eg French, Arabic, Urdu, Tamil, Somali, Sinhalese).

Salary:

HK$19,000 per month plus insurance and pension benefits.

To apply:

Please send your CV with letter of interest and writing sample (preferably advocacy related) to info@hkrac.org with the subject header ‘Advocacy Officer’ by 9 November 2012. Interviews will be conducted mid-November 2012, with overseas candidates being interviewed via Skype. The selected candidate will commence employment in early 2013.