Senior Humanitarian Affairs Advisor (Geneva)

About CIVIC 

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) Center is an international nonprofit and nongovernmental organization with offices around the world working to improve protection for civilians in conflict zones. Our mission is to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and strengthen the resolve and capacity of armed actors and relevant institutions to prevent and respond to civilian harm. We are advocates who believe that no civilian caught in conflict should be ignored, and advisors who provide practical solutions to preventing and responding to civilian harm. Learn more at civiliansinconflict.org.  

Organizational context 

Under its 2026–2030 Institutional Strategy, CIVIC is strengthening its humanitarian diplomacy and policy engagement across key global hubs to better connect field programs with global policy processes. Geneva is a critical center of gravity for humanitarian diplomacy, hosting: 

• Permanent Missions and key donor governments 

• UN agencies and multilateral bodies 

• I/NGOs and academic institutions 

• Major Protection of Civilians (PoC) stakeholders 

Switzerland, as host state and a global champion of international humanitarian law and civilian protection, is a longstanding and strategic partner to CIVIC. Since 2016, CIVIC has partnered with Switzerland through the Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 2026 represents a critical year to rebuild and strengthen this relationship while diversifying funding streams and partnerships in an increasingly competitive environment. 

International Geneva also provides space for multilateral dialogue at a time when civic space is contracting elsewhere. CIVIC must consolidate its credibility, deepen alliances, and strategically expand its influence among states, UN actors, and NGOs.

About the Position

The Humanitarian Affairs Advisor will serve as a primary representative between CIVIC and the Geneva-based diplomatic and humanitarian community. Operating within the organization's global humanitarian diplomacy hub architecture, the Advisor will drive influence strategies targeting multilateral forums and missions to ensure protection of civilians remains a core priority in humanitarian, human rights, and security discourses. 

Location: Geneva, Switzerland (Hybrid)

Reports to: Director, UN and Humanitarian Diplomacy 

Duration: Full-time; 7 months (June-December 2026; renewable subject to funding and performance)

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Diplomacy and Stakeholder Engagement

• Cultivate and manage high-level relationships with Permanent Missions, UN agencies, ICRC, OHCHR, and other multilateral actors. 

• Serve as focal point for CIVIC’s relationship with Swiss MoFA counterparts (FDFA/PHRD, Mediation Unit, SDC), and support preparation and follow-up of Swiss-funded initiatives (e.g., Geneva PoC Dialogue 2026). 

• Strengthen engagement with DFAT, the Australian Mission in Geneva, and relevant Canberra-based stakeholders; and coordinate with Development colleagues on proposal preparation as opportunities arise. 

• Position CIVIC as a trusted advisor on PoC issues by leveraging field data, thematic expertise, and policy analysis. 

• Map and monitor the Geneva influence ecosystem to identify strategic entry points for advocacy and coalition-building.
  

2. Advocacy Strategy Development and Execution

• Lead the design and implementation of tailored advocacy strategies aligned with CIVIC’s global priorities and Geneva’s multilateral agenda. 

• Develop and deliver persuasive policy messages, briefings, and statements targeting key actors (e.g., UNHRC, ECOSOC, IASC). 

• Advance thematic initiatives (e.g., humanitarian access, misinformation, weapons) in partnership with HQ and other HD hubs. 

3. Policy Analysis and Influence

• Track global and regional policy trends, resolutions, and negotiations relevant to civilian protection. 

• Co-develop high-quality policy outputs—briefs, submissions, talking points—grounded in field evidence and aligned with Geneva discussions. 

• Advise CIVIC leadership and field teams on multilateral developments and influence opportunities. 

4. Multilateral Representation and Coalition Building

• Represent CIVIC in formal multilateral processes (e.g., HRC sessions, policy roundtables) and informal diplomatic convenings. 

• Strengthen alliances with like-minded NGOs, think tanks, and humanitarian partners to amplify CIVIC’s voice. 

• Identify opportunities for joint initiatives and shared advocacy campaigns. 

5. Internal Coordination and Knowledge Integration

• Act as a Geneva focal point for integrating field-level priorities with global advocacy efforts. 

• Contribute to cross-hub learning, harmonized messaging, and joint campaigns coordinated by the Director, UN and Humanitarian Diplomacy. 

• Support internal alignment by liaising with program, research, and policy colleagues to ensure coherence. 

6. Monitoring, Learning and Fundraising Support

• Track and report on engagement outcomes, influence metrics, and lessons learned. 

• Provide input into donor proposals, grant reports, and fundraising strategies for Geneva-based advocacy work. 

Required Qualifications 

• Education:
  
  • Advanced degree in international relations, political science, humanitarian affairs, law, or related fields. 
• Experience: 
  • Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in diplomacy, humanitarian policy, or multilateral engagement. 

• • Demonstrated track record influencing multilateral institutions (e.g., UNSC, UNHRC) on humanitarian or protection issues. 

• • Strong familiarity with civilian protection, IHL, humanitarian access, and conflict dynamics. 

• • Experience working with or in field-based humanitarian operations is a strong asset. 

• Eligibility
  • Valid authorization to work in the Switzerland without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.

Skills and Attributes: 

• • Deep understanding of Geneva’s policy and diplomatic architecture. 
  • Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, and representational skills. 
  • Strong strategic thinking and ability to convert analysis into actionable influence plans. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication in English; proficiency in French is highly desirable. 
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively across remote, global teams. 
  • Commitment to CIVIC’s values and mission. 

Key Deliverables 

• • Geneva-specific advocacy strategy and influence map 
  • Regular diplomatic engagements with missions and agencies 
  • Policy briefs and submissions aligned with multilateral agendas 
  • Reports on engagement impact and contribution to CIVIC’s global priorities
     

Additional Details 

Application Deadline: May 28, 2026 

Due to the high volume of applications, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will receive an email invitation from TestGorilla to submit their resume. Please complete this step promptly to ensure your candidacy is fully considered.

CIVIC is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. 

Note to Recruiters and Placement Agencies: CIVIC does not accept unsolicited agency resumes and does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by agencies other than its approved partners.