Advocacy Specialist, Philippines

Hammerjack Pty Ltd; Philippines; On-site; PHP 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

International Justice Mission (IJM) is seeking an Advocacy Specialist, Philippines, to lead policy and advocacy efforts under the National System Enhancement Strategy. You will build strategic partnerships with key government actors, map stakeholders, and drive policy recommendations while aligning with IJM's reform objectives and programs.

The role is based in Manila, Philippines, reporting to the Advocacy Senior Advisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in law is a minimum requirement.
• At least 5 years of advocacy, policy, programs and systems building with national/local government or closely related work.
• Advanced knowledge of Philippine criminal law, procedures and related justice-sector mandates.
• Strong legal research and policy writing skills; ability to translate issues into actionable decisions.
• Experience coordinating across law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary and government policy units.
• Excellent negotiation, facilitation and executive communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: craft and implement advocacy framework to achieve system reform objectives.
• Stakeholder mapping, priority setting, and developing advocacy strategies focused on law enforcement and prosecution.
• Support trainings for law enforcement and prosecution development under the strategy.
• Organize judicial roundtables and focus group discussions.

Education

Bachelor's degree in law

5 years of experience in advocacy policy programs and systems building

Advanced knowledge of Philippine criminal law and procedure

Legal research, statutory and jurisprudential analysis

Policy design and regulatory drafting

Excellent written and verbal communication

Job description

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM's Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50% and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty.

As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking an Advocacy Specialist, Philippines who will contribute to achieving IJM's key system reform objectives under National System Enhancement Strategy of the OSEC Program Strategy FYE 26-2030 particularly the priority system reform objectives in law enforcement, prosecution/judiciary including interventions to address critical gaps in the public justice system, and complement and bolster a strong local response and community engagement to scale protection of 6 million Filipino children faster and better towards an effective public justice system that will ultimately protect the poor from violence. Towards this end the Specialist for Policy will cultivate strategic partnerships with key power actors in the national government, identify and participate in networks, coalitions, movements and other associations that have the potential to support or complement IJM's strategic objectives.

This position is based in Manila, Philippines and reports to the Advocacy Senior Advisor, Philippines.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Program Implementation

• Assist the National Advocacy team in crafting and implementing a responsive and strategic advocacy framework that will achieve the system reform objectives under the National System Enhancement Strategy;
• Assist the National Advocacy team in mapping and assessing stakeholders, define advocacy priorities and develop subject-specific advocacy strategies, goals, and plans of action with particular focus on law enforcement and prosecution advocacy priorities;
• Support the delivery and implementation of the trainings particularly for law enforcement development and prosecution development under the National System Enhancement Strategy by the Capacity Development team;
• Support the judicial roundtable discussions and focus group discussion under the National System Enhancement Strategy.

Government Relations And Networking

• Support the National Advocacy team in developing a close working relationship with target stakeholders particularly in Law Enforcement and Prosecution/Judiciary;
• Support the National Advocacy team in identifying and building a network of relationships with power actors in the national government who have the potential to effectively advance the National System Enhancement Strategy;
• Identify and participate in networks, coalitions, movements and other associations that have the potential to support or complement IJM's strategic national advocacy objectives;
• Support the National Advocacy team in developing and maintaining relationships with power actors in the national government.

Policy And Advocacy

• Lead in the research and development of policy recommendations, such as but not limited to, draft legislative bills, draft proposed amendments in rules and procedure that will directly support the system reform objectives under the National System Enhancement Strategy to complement IJM's sub national system response enhancement in the Philippines;
• Lead in the tracking of developments in law, policy and procedure which impact the IJM Philippines Justice System Enhancement model and provide timely insights;
• Lead in the preparation of Opinions, Memos and Policy briefs, on legislative changes and their impact on the public justice system for use in lobbying for key legal and policy reforms;
• Represent IJM in stakeholder meetings to build networks, represent other IJM leaders, advance policy positions or otherwise support IJM's strategic objectives;
• Draft and deliver presentations to small and large groups on behalf of IJM as necessary to advance defined advocacy priorities;
• Draft, edit and distribute reports memoranda and other written materials as necessary to advance defined advocacy priorities;
• Plan, coordinate and execute advocacy events that support IJM's strategic objectives.

Collaborative Casework Support

• Assist in the monitoring IJM casework and identifying opportunities to challenge impactful cases to enrich jurisprudence;
• Assist in collaborating with prosecution development partners in challenging identified cases for impact and enrich jurisprudence.

Documentation And Data Management

• Prepare documentation of all activities and events Law Enforcement and Prosecution advocacy activities
• Ensure timely data entries and updates in the JDS for Law Enforcement and Prosecution advocacy activities and other monitoring tools;
• Prepare relevant reports and ensure timely submission.

Miscellaneous

• Participate as Resource Person/SME in Trainings if available;
• Provide casework support to the collaborative casework team if available;
• Participate in IJM's spiritual formation and professional development programs;
• Perform other related duties and tasks assigned by the Director National Advocacy.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in law is a minimum requirement.
• At least 5 years of experience in advocacy, policy, programs and systems building work with national and local government or closely related work required.
• Advanced knowledge of Philippine criminal law and procedure, child-protective investigation and prosecution, trafficking and OSAEC laws, cybercrime and digital-evidence issues, victim and witness rights, data privacy, and relevant justice-sector mandates and procedures.
• Strong legal research, statutory and jurisprudential analysis, policy design, regulatory drafting, problem diagnosis, and advocacy strategy skills.
• Excellent legal and policy writing, facilitation, negotiation, presentation, and executive communication skills, with the ability to translate technical issues into actionable decisions.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating across law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary, government policy units, and multidisciplinary partners to advance institutional change.
• Ability to move reforms from recommendation to adoption and implementation, including stakeholder mapping, government ownership, transition planning, sustainable financing, implementation monitoring, and accountability.
• Sound judgment in handling confidential case information, survivor-sensitive issues, institutional relationships, and legal or reputational risk.

Critical Qualities

• Mature orthodox Christian faith as defined by the Apostles Creed;
• Strong service ethic and passion to help people suffering injustice;
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment;
• Bridge builder;
• Works collaboratively with the team;
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Other Duties

This job de ion is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required for the position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. The position may be required to perform additional tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Application Process

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes. IJM requires a background check, police clearance and thorough review of references with an employment offer and/or employment contract.