Director, UN and Humanitarian Diplomacy (New York)

About CIVIC

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international nonprofit organization working to improve protection for civilians caught in conflict. CIVIC collaborates with armed actors, governments, multilateral bodies, and affected communities to develop and implement practical solutions to prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian harm. Learn more at civiliansinconflict.org.

CIVIC’s New York Office plays a central role in advancing the organization’s humanitarian diplomacy and global policy influence. Strategically positioned at the heart of the United Nations system, the office engages directly with key UN bodies—including the Security Council, OCHA, DPO, and other relevant UN agencies—as well as with Member States’ diplomatic missions. Its primary function is to elevate field-based civilian protection priorities into global policy conversations, ensuring that the lived realities of conflict-affected communities inform multilateral decision-making. The office advocates for stronger Protection of Civilians (PoC) language in UN resolutions and mandates, contributes to high-level strategic dialogues with UN leadership, member states and civil society actors, and facilitates access to key platforms for field staff and local partners. Through this work, the New York Office ensures that CIVIC remains an influential voice in shaping international norms, policy frameworks, and operational mandates related to protection.

About the Position

The Director for UN and Humanitarian Diplomacy is CIVIC’s principal representative in New York, responsible for spearheading the organization’s diplomatic engagement with the United Nations, Member States, and multilateral stakeholders, including liaising with other international organizations based in New York. The Director will lead high-level advocacy to promote the protection of civilians and related thematic issues across peace operations, peacebuilding, disarmament, and defense dialogues. The position also contributes towards the implementation of CIVIC’s global strategy as part of the organization's extended senior leadership and leads cross-organizational coordination of global engagement priorities through a networked approach with other CIVIC humanitarian diplomacy hubs.

Key Functions

1. Strategic Advocacy and Representation

• Lead CIVIC’s engagement with UN bodies (Security Council, General Assembly, DPO, DPPA, and OCHA) and Permanent Missions to ensure PoC remains a strategic priority.

• Represent CIVIC in multilateral forums, thematic briefings, and UN consultations.

• Build and sustain strategic relationships with diplomatic actors, policy-makers, and key influencers in New York.
  
  

2. Policy Leadership and Influence

• In collaboration with CIVIC’s senior management and relevant technical colleagues, develop and lead implementation of CIVIC’s global engagement and humanitarian diplomacy strategy.

• Design and execute targeted advocacy strategies on peace operations, civilian harm mitigation, and defense engagement in collaboration with the Peace Operations and Defense Advisor, and the Global Military Advisor.

• Provide policy advice to senior management and contribute to institutional responses to key multilateral developments, including UN reform and peacekeeping performance.

• Develop and deliver CIVIC’s policy recommendations for reports, resolutions, briefings, and strategic communications targeting the UN and Member States.

• Ensure New York advocacy efforts reinforce program objectives and operational realities and serve as a strategic resource to country teams, supporting their diplomatic engagement with host governments, militaries, and regional bodies.

3. Multilateral Coordination and Coalition Building

• Cultivate and lead partnerships with INGOs (including the informal NGO Working Group on PoC), coalitions, think tanks, and humanitarian actors to amplify CIVIC’s messages and build collective influence.

• Participate in working groups, expert roundtables, and civil society mechanisms related to UN peace and security.

4. Cross-organizational Coordination and Development

• Ensure strategic alignment with CIVIC’s advocacy and diplomatic hubs in Addis Ababa, Amman, Brussels, DC, Geneva, London and field offices through regular coordination on thematic priorities and geographic focus areas. The Director UN and Humanitarian Diplomacy shall lead this coordination effort, working with Regional and Country Directors, Director of Institutional Partnerships, humanitarian diplomacy advisors and other relevant thematic and technical advisors.

• Provide input into the development of global advocacy tools and shared campaigns across hubs.

• Support the recruitment and mentorship of humanitarian diplomacy advisors in the various diplomatic hubs, who will have a functional reporting line to the Director UN and Humanitarian Diplomacy.

• Directly supervise the New York and Geneva-based advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy advisors and interns.

5. Communications and Visibility

• Contribute to CIVIC’s public voice through op-eds, blogs, talking points, and media engagement.

• Organize high-level events, private briefings, and multilateral convenings to elevate CIVIC’s advocacy and thought leadership.
  

Experience/Qualifications

Education

• Advanced degree (MA, MS, JD, or equivalent) in international relations, political science, law, or related field.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian, human rights, peace and security, or multilateral affairs.

• At least 3 years of direct experience engaging with the UN system and Permanent Missions in New York.

• Proven expertise in peacekeeping, protection of civilians, international humanitarian law, and related policy areas.

• Demonstrated track record in multilateral advocacy, strategic influence, and coalition leadership.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong diplomatic and representational skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; fluency in English required (French or other UN languages an asset).

• Strategic thinker with strong policy analysis capabilities.

• Team player with a collaborative mindset and experience working across complex, decentralized teams.

• Demonstrated leadership and management skills that effectively motivate staff and support team building; demonstrated ability to manage a professional team in a multi-cultural environment.

• Demonstrated capacity to mobilize program funding for policy/advocacy work, including donor cultivation and program development.

• High level of integrity, discretion, and political judgment.

Key Deliverables

• CIVIC’s global engagement and humanitarian diplomacy strategy

• Annual engagement strategy for UN and Member States.

• Measurable contributions to Security Council debates, peace operations mandates, and thematic resolutions.

• Policy products (briefs, statements, reports) and communications outputs.

• Regular reporting on influence outcomes and strategic impact.

Additional Details

Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2025.

Resumes are reviewed on a rolling basis so please apply early. Currently, all job interviews are being held virtually.

CIVIC seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool in the belief that this is critical to achieving our goals. We strongly encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Candidates must be fully authorized to work in the US without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

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