By Daniele Paletta on Mon, 18/08/2025 – 16:35
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Summary: ILGA World is hiring an Advocacy Senior Manager – a leadership role ensuring that our advocacy work remains intersectional, impactful, evidence-based, and aligned with the organisation’s strategic p … Read more
with dedication to – and experience in regard to – the human rights of persons with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC)
who meets the requirements set out below
is welcome to apply.
Overview The Advocacy Senior Manager leads the newly-formed Advocacy Programme, which integrates ILGA World’s former UN Programme and GIESC Programme into one dynamic and strategic advocacy hub.
The Advocacy Senior Manager is a leadership role within ILGA World, advancing the rights of people and communities of diverse SOGIESC globally. The role ensures ILGA World’s advocacy programme, ensuring that our advocacy work remains intersectional, impactful, evidence-based, and aligned with the organisation’s strategic plan (2025-2029), supporting the human rights of LGBTI people globally.
The Advocacy Senior Manager oversees and strategically guides ILGA World’s advocacy work, ensuring coherence and impact across all advocacy priorities, including engagements at the United Nations and with multilateral institutions. Working closely with ILGA World’s Director of Programmes, advocacy program staff and consultants, ILGA regions, and member organisations, this role also plays a key part in linking advocacy work with knowledge production and movement strengthening efforts, in collaboration with other ILGA World programmes.
In 2025, ILGA World formally merged its UN and GIESC (Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics) programmes into a unified Advocacy Programme. This integrated approach reflects ILGA World’s commitment to intersectional, inclusive, and movement-informed advocacy at global, regional, and national levels.
The Advocacy Programme champions the rights of people with diverse SOGIESC by engaging with multilateral institutions, supporting national and regional efforts, and co-leading coalition-based campaigns.
The aims of the Advocacy Programme are to:
advance legal, economic, social, and political inclusion of people and communities of diverse SOGIESC, promoting non-discrimination, equality, protection, and recognition of rights;
support and amplify grassroots, national, and regional movements, enabling them to influence and benefit from international human rights mechanisms;
counter anti-rights and anti-gender movements through feminist, decolonial, and intersectional approaches rooted in solidarity and collective resistance;
strengthen state and institutional accountability, including through strategic litigation, follow-up on recommendations, and technical policy support;
build and consolidate partnerships with states, UN bodies, donors, and allied organisations, promoting more inclusive, responsive, and well-resourced global frameworks;
ground advocacy in knowledge and data, using ILGA World’s research tools and reports to inform strategy, influence policy, and make visible the lived realities of LGBTI communities.
In response to escalating backlash against LGBTI rights, the Advocacy Programme has deepened its engagement with feminist and cross-movement spaces. It actively supports human rights defenders and facilitates their participation in advocacy spaces.
ILGA World’s advocacy is increasingly grounded in research and data : the team uses ILGA World’s knowledge products, including the ILGA World Database, Laws on Us, and Our Identities Under Arrest, to generate evidence-based arguments that shape global norms and inform national reforms.
The programme also ensures that LGBTI grassroots and frontline activists are equipped to participate in and influence decision-making spaces. In recent years, ILGA World has supported dozens of national organisations through technical guidance on UN submissions, strategic litigation support, and policy implementation follow-up. Its advocacy extends to influencing the allocation and quality of funding for SOGIESC movements, with initiatives like LGBTI Pathways playing a vital role.
With a presence in Geneva and strong regional coordination, the Advocacy Programme is positioned to be an effective and trusted partner in international human rights work. It continues to build solidarity across movements, amplify the voices of the most marginalised, and create systemic change by ensuring that global policies and mechanisms reflect the lived realities of LGBTI people everywhere.
The Advocacy Senior Manager supports and reports to the Director of Programmes, in the implementation of the Advocacy Programme, and is part of the organisation’s managers team. Specific to this position, this includes to:
support the implementation of ILGA World’s advocacy strategy, directing the design and execution of comprehensive advocacy projects, employing rigorous methodologies and maintaining ethical standards
develop and implement an annual advocacy operational plan and project plans, manage budgets, and monitor progress across multiple advocacy projects whilst ensuring alignment with ILGA World’s strategy and organisational goals and contributing to shared outputs and timely delivery of impactful results
build ILGA World’s advocacy capacity by establishing efficient processes, resources, and best practices
oversee ILGA World’s engagement with the United Nations system, including the Human Rights Council, Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, CSW, and the High-Level Political Forum on the SDGs
build and maintain strategic relationships with states, UN officials, donors, civil society allies and multilateral institutions
serve as ILGA World’s lead on the Human Rights Council
coordinate ILGA World’s participation in and co-leadership of major international advocacy initiatives (e.g., UPR Advocacy Week, Trans Advocacy Week, intersex advocacy at the UN)
oversee engagement with regional human rights mechanisms and intergovernmental bodies
ensure strategic leadership and visibility on intersectional related human rights issues, including bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive rights, legal gender recognition, and anti-discrimination frameworks
oversee and ensure coherence across all areas of the Advocacy Programme: multilateral, thematic, and national advocacy support
integrate feminist, decolonial, intersectional, and anti-oppressive approaches into all aspects of ILGA World’s advocacy work
ensure that all advocacy activities comply with ILGA’s ethical standards, data protection policies, and best practices, upholding ILGA’s mission and values in all activities
ensure that advocacy efforts are grounded in the lived realities of people and communities of diverse SOGIESC and informed by ILGA World’s research and monitoring tools
conceptualise and develop advocacy funding proposals to support ILGA’s advocacy objectives
collaborate with colleagues to develop evidence-based materials and briefings for stakeholders, policymakers, and allies
prepare narrative reports for donors and ILGA’s operational needs, documenting and promoting ILGA’s research contributions
work closely with the communications team to translate complex advocacy messages into clear, engaging narratives for public dissemination
serve as a spokesperson for ILGA World’s advocacy programme, providing expert commentary and analysis to media outlets and other stakeholders
lead and manage the Advocacy Team by setting goals, supervising work plans, and fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture
provide strategic direction, professional development, and support to staff and consultants to ensure delivery of high-quality outputs
actively represent ILGA World at conferences, coalitions, and key events, presenting research findings and fostering alliances within the global LGBTI and human rights sectors.
General Actively contribute to promoting and achieving the organisation’s objectives
Engage and collaborate with the management team to strengthen a shared organisational culture and management ethos that reflects ILGA World’s values, balancing organisational priorities with individual and movement needs
Ensure that all activities are carried out with full regard to ILGA World policies
Work as a part of the ILGA World staff team
Perform other duties as required
Relationships with colleagues ILGA values creative and inclusive approaches to work and management that have been achieved through cross-service area working and the participation of staff at all levels in the organisation. Staff have line management arrangements and specific key relationships, which are detailed in their job descriptions, but they will also need to work collaboratively with their colleagues in order to achieve their agreed targets and outcomes to the required standards.
This position requires relocation to Geneva, Switzerland
The position is advertised at 100% of a full-time position
ILGA World remunerates under a three-tiered salary matrix structure. The annual salary being offered for the post is 106,000 CHF for the 100% position.
In addition, ILGA World offers 35 days between legal holidays (“bank holidays”) and annual leave and contributions to health care costs
ILGA World operates under a flexible working system that – among others – includes flexible working hours
The weekly working time is 37.5 hours on a 100% position.
A master’s university degree or equivalent in international human rights law or a related field, combined with 12 years of relevant work experience
A first-level university degree, in combination with 15 years of relevant and qualifying experience
17 years of relevant and qualifying experience, instead of a master’s or first-level degree
Experience A minimum of 12 years relevant and appropriate experience in advocacy management — preferably within an international multilateral, non-governmental organisation, and/or government
At least 7 years or more of managing global teams, with a demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and support the work environment in a virtual/online space
Proven track record in leading advocacy teams, programmes and projects, including experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
Experience in leading and engaging in UN Human Rights Council resolutions, and familiarity with ECOSOC procedures
Experience in synthesising and presenting advocacy strategies, results, etc. in accessible formats for diverse audiences — such as policymakers, advocacy groups, and community stakeholders
Demonstrated experience working in multicultural and international programmes
Managing large budgets and grants partnerships
Working with a wide range of stakeholders, including human rights organisations and governments
Drafting successful funding proposals for advocacy projects
Developing and coordinating advocacy coalitions.
Technical requirements Advanced skills in legal and policy analysis, including knowledge of legislative and policy analysis across different jurisdictions
Demonstrated knowledge of multilateral institutions, including the United Nations human rights mechanisms
Practical knowledge of the UN system and its specialised agencies, including ESOSOC procedures
Working and building partnerships with member organisations, stakeholders, governments, multilateral institutions, and allied civil society movements
Demonstrate rooted connections with international non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, and think tanks
Knowledge of advocacy funding landscape and well networked with funders.
Other requirements Strong communication skills, able to communicate clearly and effectively
Tailoring language, tone, style, and format to the audience
Ability to work in proficient English (mandatory) and ideally Spanish. Other UN languages — more specifically, French, Arabic, Russian or Mandarin — are also welcome
ILGA World strongly encourages applicants from and living in the Global South, particularly candidates who identify as women in all their diversity.
Should there be well-found reasons why this was not possible, you may submit the application form as well by e-mail to recruitment (a) ilga (dot) org. Rename this file SURNAME_Name_Advocacy_senior_manager.docx (for instance: SMITH_John_Advocacy_senior_manager.docx) before you submit it.
Should you have questions in regard to this call, please reach out to recruitment (a) ilga (dot) org.
Key dates 18 August 2025: Call for candidates
19 September 2025, 23:59 CEST: Deadline for applications
29 September – 17 October 2025: Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews
22 October 2025: Offer is made
1 November / 1 December 2025: Successful candidate takes up position (if notice period allows)
ILGA World equal opportunities policy ILGA World is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
ILGA World is committed to social justice, regardless of any individual or group characteristics — including gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, race, age, disability, ability, economic status, national origin, religion, ethnicity, and historical, cultural and geographic experiences, nonetheless recognising the unique challenges faced by individuals with each of these characteristics and by those with intersecting identities.
We offer fair treatment to allcurrent and potentialemployees, interns and contractors and aim to ensurethat allsuchindividuals receive equal treatment (including access to employment, training and opportunities for promotion, as relevant) regardless of anypersonal attribute as listed above.
ILGA World promotes gender and equality mainstreaming, and it actively promotes equality in all policies and actions. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Lesbian and bisexual women, intersex persons, trans and non-binary persons, and persons from the Global South are especially encouraged to apply. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.
If more than one applicant is considered to be equally qualified for the position, priority will be given to applicants coming from marginalised and/or underrepresented groups.
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