Foundation The London Story is looking for a Senior Advocacy and Communications Officer

Location: Brussels, Belgium
Ideal starting date: 1 August 2024
The candidate must have the right to work in Belgium. TLS can unfortunately not facilitate relocation or a work visa.

About us:

Foundation The London Story (TLS) is a non-profit organisation led by Indian diaspora, and a leading voice promoting human rights and democratic values in EU-India relations. TLS’ objectives are to investigate human rights violations and abuses, analyse and document governmental and non-governmental action that perpetuates or ignores human rights abuses and violations, and advocate for justice, peace, and collective action against grave human rights violations. TLS specifically focuses on misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and online propaganda that lead to violations of core human rights to life, liberty and health, especially in India and among diaspora communities.

TLS is looking for a seasoned and proactive senior advocacy officer with a deep and demonstrated interest in human rights in India to lead the foundation’s advocacy presence in the European capital. The work will entail an exciting combination of advocacy on human rights, digital policy, foreign policy and related topics in EU-India relations. The successful candidate will work in a decentralised team working to promote accountability for human rights violations by governments and social media corporations. The line manager is the Executive Director, and the successful candidate will lead the small advocacy team (a group of volunteers, interns and an advocacy officer focusing on the Netherlands).

The tasks of the senior advocacy and communications officer will include:

Lead advocacy:

• Research, plan and execute advocacy goals, and strategies to accomplish them, for engaging on human rights in India and digital policy with EU institutions;

• Ensure the daily functioning and supervision of the advocacy and communications team, including by creating work plans and providing input and guidance on written documents;

• Identify opportunities to enhance the reputation of the foundation, its network and public knowledge of its key issues;

• Map relevant stakeholders in the new legislative cycle of the EU institutions;

• Engage in bilateral and multilateral communication and build relationships with stakeholders, including political leaders and their advisors, ministries, bureaucrats to advance human rights in EU-India relations;

• Coordinate the organisation of summits, plan strategic online and offline roundtables, webinars and events, and execute them;

• Support human rights defenders in their advocacy with European institutions;

Lead the foundation’s communications:

• Write, edit, and distribute content, including fact sheets, dossiers, stakeholder submissions, publications, press releases, joint statements, newsletters, mailing lists, website and social media content, annual reports, speeches, and other material that communicates the foundation's activities and its key positions;

• Represent the foundation at public-facing events, including conferences, events and meetings;

• Build and maintain relationships with media outlets and independent journalists with the purpose to advocate on key issues on behalf of the foundation;

• Track metrics, document public discussion about the foundation, and administer the website;

Coordinate civil society work:

• Plan and convene regular roundtables and consultations with human rights defenders and civil society organisations working on topics related to human rights and hate speech in India;

• Represent the foundation in coalition networks it is part of, such as People vs Big Tech, the Global Alliance against Digital Hate and Extremism, and the Global Coalition for Tech Justice;

• Maintain a good working relationship and engage in regular communication with human rights defenders and Indian diaspora groups with a view to supporting them in their advocacy, including at the United Nations and EU member states;

Perform any other tasks that the Executive Director may require support in.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have at least 4 years of work experience in policy, advocacy and communications with EU institutions (desirable: also with the United Nations);

• Have demonstrable experience in leading new initiatives and managing a (decentralised) team;

• Have a Master’s degree in international relations, law, or human rights;

• Have deep and demonstrable knowledge of human rights and democratic challenges in India (desirable: on digital policy and tech harms, trade policy, foreign policy and related topics);

• Have experience working with Indian diaspora or willingness to engage with the diaspora;

• Be fluent in English, and ideally another EU working language;

• Demonstrate the ability to balance assertiveness and diplomacy and to navigate complex political landscapes with tact and cultural sensitivity, have a well-developed antenna for political advocacy in the EU;

• Have excellent skills working in and leading an intercultural and decentralised team and with a diverse range of partners;

• Have a well-developed antenna for security and safety of partners;

• Have previous experience using Canva, Mailchimp, Wordpress and Outlook;

• Be able to work independently, take initiatives and respond quickly to rapidly changing circumstances and feel comfortable in unknown situations;

• Be able to communicate clearly and effectively;

• Have ability and willingness to travel;

• Non-EU candidates must have a valid work permit for Belgium.

What we offer:

• A full-time employment from 32-40 hours per week, with a temporary contract of 1 year, with possibility to extend;

• Working from home in Brussels, Belgium;

• 3200-3900 Euros gross salary per month depending on experience, for a 40h week, excluding the 13th month salary;

• Meal vouchers and ecocheques.

How to apply:

• Please send your CV (max 2 pages) and cover letter explaining how you meet the requirements to advocacy@thelondonstory.org by Sunday, 7 July 2024, 23:59.

• Please understand that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• We anticipate that interviews will be held in calendar week 29.

Foundation The London Story is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer. TLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in any of its activities or operations. We believe that a diverse staff enables us to do better and more impactful work. Women, people of colour, and members of low-income, disadvantaged, and LGBTQI communities are strongly encouraged to apply.