EU Partnership Advisor (Brussels)

The overall purpose of the Danish Red Cross’ (DRC) international engagement is to increase and strengthen the humanitarian impact, inspire, act for human dignity, and enhance resilience and social cohesion in fragile contexts of poverty, conflict, and disaster. 

As Partnership Advisor you will be part of the Global Partnership Unit, which is responsible for the global resource mobilization and for coordinating the strategic direction of the Danish Red Cross’ organizational partnerships, external and within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (RCRC). The position will be extended to our Red Cross EU office in Brussels and half of your time will be dedicated to the office. 

The Red Cross EU Office is a partnership between the 27-member National Societies of the EU as well as Norway and Iceland and the IFRC. Founded in 1983 the office ensures the representation of the EUNS and the IFRC to the EU Institutions, Brussels based international and partner organizations, and NGO networks. The Partnership Advisor will provide support for the Disaster Management and Development (DM/DEVE) unit to monitor EU policies and engage with relevant EU international cooperation actors to engage them to act in the interest of the most vulnerable people, and in full respect for the Fundamental Principles. 

You will be strengthening DRC’s and the RCRC partnership with the EU institutions, position DRC as a key humanitarian/development actor vis-à-vis the EU and within the wider RCRC movement and successfully liaise / link DRC and Red Cross partners to Brussels based relevant stakeholders.

You will strategically strengthen DRC’s and the RCRC partnership with EU institutions, positioning DRC as a key humanitarian–development actor within EU external action frameworks, including Global Gateway, Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs), and blended finance mechanisms. You will act as a central connector between DRC, the wider RCRC Movement, and Brussels-based stakeholders, ensuring DRC/RC movement is visible, influential, and well-positioned in EU policy, funding, and strategic partnerships.

More specifically you will: 

• Strategically enhance DRC’s and RCEU’s engagement with EU institutions, with a particular focus on DG INTPA (including MENA and ENEST), DG ECHO, relevant EU development finance actors, and EU Member State representations in Brussels—particularly the Danish representation—to increase both humanitarian and development funding, including through Team Europe Initiatives and blended finance instruments.
• Proactively liaise with the DRC field and HQ when potential funding opportunities arise
• Actively participate in relevant policy development processes with the EU and Brussels stakeholders
• Proactively promote DRC’s and the RCRC’s positions on key humanitarian–development nexus issues, influencing EU policy, funding priorities, and partnership modalities.
• Draft and contribute to policy briefs, position papers, and strategic inputs, as relevant, reflecting DRC’s and/or RCEU’s positions on priority humanitarian, development, Team Europe, and blended finance issues.
• Increase DRC’s visibility vis-à-vis the EU e.g. organize or support visibility/technical events in Brussels showcasing DRC’s international work

We are looking for a candidate with the following competencies: 

• Hold an academic degree at master’s level in international development, international politics or similar
• Have minimum 5 years of documented experience from working in humanitarian settings or developing countries
• Have a good general understanding of the European Union and its institutions
• Working experience in terms of strong engagement with EU institutions in general and EU INTPA/MENA/ENEST/ECHO in particular as well as familiarity with the Team Europe approach 
• Experience in analysis & advocacy
• Knowledge of Innovative/blended finance and advantage
• Experience with writing briefs/policy papers
• Experience from the Red Cross Movement an advantage

Furthermore, you are:

• Strong networking and influencing skills
• Be a pronounced team player with strong cooperation skills 
• Be flexible and able to work with people who differ in culture and capacities 
• Excellent English language skills, French language skills an advantage
• Be able to travel approximately 6 weeks a year

We offer:

A full-time position in an international environment in the Red Cross EU office located in Brussels in a busy and inspiring workplace showing flexibility and caring about staff welfare. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to work in a motivated team and be part of Danish Red Cross’ large global humanitarian action and contribute to impact. You will refer to the Head of Global Partnerships in Copenhagen as well as to the Head of DEVE/DM in the RC office in Brussels. 

Salary and employment conditions will comply with Danish Red Cross’s collective bargain agreement with HK and AC. The length of the contract is 12 months with possibility of extension.

Application and further information

We look forward to receiving your application via the Red Cross home page www.rodekors.dk/job

In case you might need more information please contact Head of Global Partnerships, Marie-Chantal Legendre Dahl mcd@rodekors.dk

The application deadline is February 1st. Interviews will take place in the following weeks; the expected start date is 15th of March or soon thereafter.