EAPPI and Advocacy Lead

About Act for Peace

Act for Peace works towards a world of peace with justice by standing with and supporting locally led partners and communities to tackle the root causes of conflict and displacement.

The Movement Mobilisation Team builds and strengthens a movement for peace with justice by engaging, equipping and empowering faith communities to take collective action for systemic change. Through relationship-based organising, leadership development, advocacy and campaigning, the team supports and equips church leaders, congregations and allies to mobilise their communities and contribute to a growing movement for peace. The team develops and sustains a network of engaged supporters capable of influencing public discourse, policy, fundraising and collective action, grounded in the values of faith, justice and peace.

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) is a global accompaniment and advocacy program coordinated by the World Council of Churches. In Australia, Act for Peace implements EAPPI to support protective presence, human rights monitoring, leadership development and faith-based advocacy for peace with justice. An Australian-based Steering Committee supports the delivery of the program and the integration of EAPPI participant experience into Act for Peace’s broader mobilisation, advocacy and movement-building work.  

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced and passionate candidate to join us in a full-time or part-time capacity, based in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, with a preference for Sydney.

The EAPPI and Advocacy Lead coordinates and oversees the effective delivery of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) in Australia. The role is responsible for ensuring safe, effective and compliant program delivery, while leveraging the experience, networks and leadership of EAPPI participants to strengthen Act for Peace’s advocacy, mobilisation and movement-building objectives in Australia. Working across church, ecumenical and civil society networks, the role contributes to building informed faith-based action for peace with justice.

Key Accountabilities & Performance Expectations

EAPPI Risk management

• Coordinate risk, safeguarding and security practices and processes across all aspects of EAPPI Australia.
• Maintain effective systems for risk identification, mitigation, incident management and escalation.
• Coordinate participant welfare, wellbeing and safety throughout the deployment lifecycle.
• Coordinate risk monitoring, incident escalation and security response activities, working closely with the WCC, National Coordinators and internal leaders to manage emerging threats and implement contingency or evacuation arrangements where required.
• Ensure organisational compliance with safeguarding, security and duty-of-care requirements.
• Monitor emerging contextual, operational and reputational risks and escalate issues as required.

EAPPI Program Coordination

• Lead the planning, implementation and continuous improvement of EAPPI Australia.
• Ensure program systems, policies and procedures support effective and compliant delivery.
• Provide recommendations regarding program delivery, priorities and emerging issues
• Manage reporting, governance and accountability requirements.
• Identify opportunities for program growth, innovation and partnership development.
• Maintain awareness of contextual developments affecting program delivery and participant deployment.

EAPPI Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Management

• Act as the principal relationship manager for EAPPI Australia.
• Maintain effective communication and coordination with domestic and international stakeholders, adapting work patterns where required to support collaboration across multiple time zones.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with WCC, the EAPPI Steering Committee, church networks and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate collaboration across stakeholders to support program delivery and participant outcomes.
• Represent Act for Peace and EAPPI in relevant forums, consultations and networks.
• Coordinate responses to operational objectives, participant support and advocacy matters across stakeholders internationally and in Australia.

EAPPI Recruitment, Training and Participant Lifecycle Management

• Lead the recruitment, selection and preparation of Ecumenical Accompaniers.
• Ensure participants are well supported throughout recruitment, deployment and post-deployment engagement.
• Coordinate and deliver high-quality training and learning experiences.
• Monitor participant compliance, wellbeing and readiness for deployment.
• Support participants to maximise their contribution to fundraising, advocacy and movement-building objectives.

Policy, Movement Mobilisation and Advocacy

• Contribute to the development and implementation of EAPPI-related advocacy, campaign and mobilisation priorities and plans.
• Contribute information and research into the development of organisational policy positions relating to conflict, displacement, human rights and peacebuilding.
• Coordinate participation of EAPPI participants and alumni to contribute to advocacy, campaigning and public engagement activities.
• Strengthen faith-based advocacy networks by identifying and developing movement leaders within churches and communities.
• Coordinate integration of WCC advocacy initiatives into Act for Peace mobilisation strategies.
• Identify opportunities to influence public discourse, church engagement and policy outcomes. Support the Mobilisation Strategist to build a relational infrastructure of faith-based supporters capable of campaigning, fundraising and shifting the public discourse and policy as part of a movement for peace.
• Act as the liaison between the Mobilisation Strategist and the WCC-Jerusalem team to integrate WCC advocacy campaigns into the broader Act for Peace peace movement strategy.
• Collaborate with the Mobilisation Strategist to develop and distribute resources & training materials to support advocacy efforts and campaigns.
• Identify leaders in the EAPPI program to support lobbying engagements and campaign participation within the mobilisation team.
• Identify opportunities and networks for advocacy and engagement to deliver coordinated advocacy initiatives and campaigns.

The Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for a skilled candidate to join us in a full-time or part-time capacity, based in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, with a preference for Sydney. The ideal candidate will have the following skills:

Leadership and Program Management

• Demonstrated experience leading programs, projects or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and operational risk.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgement and lead through complexity, ambiguity and change.

Risk Management, Safety and Safeguarding

• Demonstrated experience in risk management, safety and security, safeguarding, duty of care or incident management within community, humanitarian, advocacy or international programs.
• Ability to identify, assess and respond appropriately to operational, safeguarding, participant welfare and reputational risks.

Recruitment, Training and Participant Management

• Experience recruiting, training, supporting and managing volunteers, participants, delegates or community leaders.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering training, workshops or learning programs for diverse audiences.

Advocacy, Mobilisation and Policy

• Demonstrated experience in advocacy, campaigning, policy development, community organising or movement-building.
• Demonstrated understanding of advocacy, campaigning or community mobilisation approaches in influencing public discourse, institutional decision-making or social change.

Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trust and maintain effective relationships across diverse organisations, cultures and perspectives.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faith-based organisations, community groups, volunteers, governing bodies and strategic partners.

Faith-Based Engagement

• Experience working with or within Christian churches, ecumenical organisations or faith-based networks.
• Understanding of Christian theology and mission, ecumenical engagement and the ability to work respectfully across diverse Christian traditions.

Communication and Influence

• Excellent written, verbal and facilitation skills, including the ability to prepare reports, training resources, policy papers and stakeholder communications.
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organisation confidently in meetings, forums, consultations and public engagement activities.

Financial and Administrative Management

• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, reporting requirements, contracts or grants, with strong organisational and administrative skills.

Contextual Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of the social, political and human rights context of Palestine and Israel, or the demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire and apply such knowledge in a complex and sensitive environment.

Travel and Flexibility

• Willingness and ability to undertake domestic travel and participate in meetings or activities outside standard business hours to support engagement with international stakeholders and partners.

Desirable Criteria

• Qualification in International Development, Public Policy, Human Rights, Peace and Conflict Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Theology, Community Development or a related discipline.
• Experience working in international development, humanitarian, peacebuilding or accompaniment programs.
• Experience as a participant, coordinator or trainer within EAPPI or a comparable international accompaniment program.
• Knowledge of movement-building, relational organising and faith-based advocacy methodologies.

Key Stakeholders and Relationships

• External – World Council of Churches, EAPPI Steering Committee, EAPPI participants and alumni, Consultants and trainers, Church leaders and networks, faith-based partners, key supporters and prospects, ecumenical bodies, and sector collaborators.
• Internal – Chief Executive Officer, Chief of Engagement, Content Lead, Head of Global Solidarity.

Other Requirements

• Eligibility to work in Australia
• Commitment to the values of Act for Peace
• Commitment to abide by the principles, policies, and codes of conduct of Act for Peace
• Establish positive, collaborative relationships with the Act for Peace teams
• Capacity to undertake intermittent travel and work outside standard business hours (reasonably)
• Abide by industry norms – as set out in the Act for Peace accountability framework
• For our full Policies set please see: http://www.actforpeace.org.au/our-policies
• Commitment to Act for Peace requirements, including attendance at staff meetings; completion of all administration, finance and operational reporting requirements as per policy and/or line managers directive, adherence to program, HR and finance policies and procedures
• Respect for a multicultural and multi-talented workforce.

Safeguarding Requirements and Responsibilities

Act for Peace takes the prevention of fraud and of sexual misconduct and harassment, and child protection seriously. As part of our Safeguarding Policies (Child Safeguarding and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment).

Employment is conditional upon the outcome of an Australian Federal Police Background check, as well as an equivalent police background check for any country in which the applicant has lived for more than 12 months during the last five years and for each country of citizenship.

A working with children check may be required.

Strict adherence to our Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding Policy, Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy and the Privacy Policy is mandatory.

Work, Health, and Safety Responsibilities

Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the organisation and take all reasonable care that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of colleagues in the workplace.

What We Can Offer You

• Annual full-time salary of $110,000 to $120,000 depending on experience + 12% superannuation.
• Salary packaging benefits: Access salary packaging options for mortgage/rent/ a debit card for up to $15,900 per FBT year and/or meals and entertainment up to $2,650 per FBT year.
• Work-life balance: Enjoy a 35-hour working week.
• Be part of an inspiring team working towards a more peaceful and just world.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re excited by the opportunity to connect people, faith and advocacy to create meaningful change, we’d love to hear from you. Read the full Position Description and apply.