ADVOCACY OFFICER – Job Description

(Muslim Women’s Network UK)

 

 

Summary

·         Salary: £23, 324 – 35 hours / week

·         Location: Birmingham

·         Reporting to: Executive Director

About Us

Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK) is a small charity (no.1155092) that works to improve social justice and equality for Muslim women and girls. We find out about the experiences of Muslim women and girls through research and helpline enquiries. We identify policy and practice gaps and use this information to inform decision makers in government and to inform our community campaigns. We also develop resources and train women so they are better aware of their rights. 

 

Purpose of Role

The purpose of the role is to support MWNUK’s advocacy work to advance social justice and equality for Muslim women and girls so that policy and practice better meet their needs. The Advocacy Officer will therefore play a critical role in carrying out research and supporting the Executive Director and trustees with lobbying and policy work.  The Officer will also work closely with the Executive Assistant and the MWN Hub Officer.

 

Responsibilities

 

Stakeholders and Partnerships

·         Identify activists from different sectors who are knowledgeable on problems, issues and inequalities experienced by Muslim women and girls and set up an Advisory Group

·         Facilitate the Advisory Group and regularly seeking their views for consultations and to guide research including decisions on which issues to prioritise

·         Provide secretariat support for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Muslim Women

·         Build relationships with stakeholders through regular communications

·         Work with other civil society organisations to co-ordinate advocacy e.g. engaging with other stakeholders to support their advocacy campaigns and to inform them about our influencing work including seeking their support

·         Manage relationships with decision makers such as politicians, senior government officials and other public servants

 

Research

·         Map stakeholders e.g. those we need to influence, those who can help us influence decision makers and those who will be supportive of our advocacy work including those who can contribute with knowledge, expertise and evidence

·         Engage MWNUK members via online research surveys and collect responses

·         Co-ordinate the collection of responses to policy consultations from Advisory Group members and other stakeholders as directed by the Executive Director

·         Organise focus groups and APPG meetings to gather, discuss and disseminate evidence 

 

Monitoring

 

·         Monitor government website to identify consultation inquiries relevant to MWNUK work that we should be responding to

·         Monitor media for issues relevant to MWNUK research and advocacy work and alerting management

·         Identify advocacy opportunities to promote our research and campaigns

 

Communications

 

·         Support the Executive Director to develop an advocacy strategy

·         Help to develop policy positions based on evidence / research

·         Be able to put consultation responses in a report format

·         Ensure our advocacy and relationships always remain non-partisan and cross party, in line with our charitable aims and objectives.

·         Represent MWNUK at external meetings including delivering presentations at workshops and events when required

·         Help to plan and deliver campaigns

·         Identify opportunities for partnerships and for influencing

·         Work closely with the Executive Director, Executive Assistant and MWN Hub Officer

Management

·         Supervise and support Interns or volunteers (in the office) who can assist with advocacy work (as required).

 

Personal Specification

 

Essential

·         Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of issues faced by Muslim women in Britain

·         Demonstrable knowledge and experience of the UK parliamentary system

·         Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing advocacy strategies on issues particularly impacting women

·         Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering campaign work on issues particularly impacting women

·         Demonstrable knowledge and experience using research and case studies to influence policy 

·         Excellent IT competency (Word, Excel, Internet, Outlook, Powerpoint)

 

Desirable

·         Educated to degree level

·         Knowledge and experience of supporting local and national advocacy initiatives of others.

·         Experience of delivering public presentations to influence, inform and challenge a variety of stakeholders

·         Be organised, be able to prioritise and meet deadlines and work under pressure

 

 

Skills and Abilities

·         Strong project planning skills with proven ability to organise and prioritise tasks and to manage own time efficiently and use initiative

·         Excellent analytical, research and problem solving skills

·         Excellent written report writing skills

·         Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills; including facilitation, public speaking and presentation delivery

·         Be able to work collaboratively both internally and externally with an energetic, solution-orientated approach to work

·         Ability to represent the organisation in a variety of fora in the UK

·         Willing and able to work flexibly and be willing to travel outside of Birmingham when required to attend meetings and events

Please email your CV & cover letter to contact@mwnuk.co.uk at midday on Thursday 29th April 2021.