United Nations Public Affairs and Policy Advisor, U.S.

Location: New York City

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is seeking a talented and passionate individual to join our team as we seek to increase our existing engagement with the United Nations. If you’re up for this exciting new challenge, then please get in touch.

THE POSITION   

The UN Public Affairs and Policy Advisor will act as the WSPA chief lobbyist at the UN in New York, and is responsible for implementing and contributing to WSPA’s strategy for mainstreaming animal welfare in relation to United Nations organizations and processes. 

RESPONSIBILITIES   

Strategy Development

• Stay abreast of, follow and/or actively participate in all key UN debates/processes/events where animal welfare issues are or could be relevant, and where opportunities exist for mainstreaming animal welfare principles. At the current time, the following issues are of particular interest to WSPA: Rio+20 follow-up / sustainable development; the Post-2015 Development Framework; climate change; and food security.
• Provide in-depth assessments of the UN debates in the above areas, identify the key participants and their positions vis-à-vis animal welfare and assess how this should or could impact on the overall WSPA UN engagement strategy.
• Identify threats to the inclusion of animal welfare principles as part of UN debates/processes, as well as new opportunities for sensitizing stakeholders in the various UN processes to animal welfare and its potential benefits.
• Working closely with the UN Senior Public Affairs Manager, contribute to the development of the overall WSPA UN engagement strategy and make recommendations for adaptation or change when appropriate. 

• Develop a network of contacts within UN organizations (particularly DESA, UNDG, UNDP, FAO, IFAD, UNEP, OCHA, WFP, WMO and World Bank), Permanent Missions to the UN, Civil society and NGOs, as well as all other stakeholders in the key UN processes/debates. 
• Develop a network of contacts within the national UN missions.
• Act as the WSPA chief lobbyist at the UN in New York and engage all stakeholders on animal welfare issues as per the approach as outlined in the WSPA UN engagement strategy. 
• Maintain WSPA’s central timeline database of meetings/conferences/events at which animal welfare issues will, can or should be raised. 
• Maintain regular contact with the various regional WSPA UN engagement staff to coordinate WSPA presence and interventions at UN, and UN related meetings/events in the various regions; liaise with regional staff with regard to lobbying efforts with representatives from countries in their respective regions. 
• Identify opportunities for WSPA interventions or events in pursuit of the overall animal welfare mainstreaming and/or specific campaign goals

• Provide a monthly activity report and take part in bi-weekly global update conference calls.
• Support the development and maintenance of an online UN engagement campaign presence (blog) from New York.
• Organization of logistics for campaign events held in New York and for senior WSPA staff visits to New York.
• Identify need for and recruitment of interns to support UN engagement work in New York. 
• Keep WSPA UN admin up to date with regard to reporting obligations for WSPA in relation to its accreditation to the UN (ECOSOC).
  

• University Degree
• Minimum of 8-10 years UN lobbying, public affairs or government relations experience
• Strong understanding of the United Nations, Civil Society and non-governmental organizations
• Able to build and maintain collaborative relationships
• Knowledge of sustainable development issues
• Excellent communication skills – written, oral and presentation
• Demonstrated ability to strategize, organize and articulate the mission and vision of an organization
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomacy skills; the ability to interact effectively with people of diverse cultural and professional backgrounds
• Ability to negotiate
• Competent at computing and Web-based skills relevant to the job