Policy Officer Germany

AAP Animal Advocacy and Protection (Stichting AAP in Dutch) is recruiting for an experienced Policy Officer to join one of Europe’s most successful teams in the field of exotic animal welfare.

Are you a policy officer with lobbying skills and do you want to make an important contribution to improving animal welfare, then we are looking for you!

Policy Officer Germany
(32-40 hours per week)

AAP is an international animal welfare organization working towards a better future for exotic animals. AAP operates two rescue centers, one in the Netherlands (Almere) and one in Spain (AAP Primadomus in Villena), and is engaged in advocacy and campaigning for better legislation at regional, national and European level. To maximize its impact AAP currently focuses on two programs: the use of exotic animals as pets and the use of wild animals in entertainment. With 50 years of experience, AAP has positioned itself as an important player and is recognized as such by partner organizations and by many authorities throughout Europe.

Public Policy Department

The Public Policy department consists of a growing team (at present 5 positions, partly working remotely) of international professionals employed by AAP and works in close collaboration with a large number of partner organizations within our (European) network. The team is responsible for realizing sustainable solutions for AAPs’ priority programs. Therefore the department operates as the strategic antenna of the organization. With the implementation of decent legislation and enforcement as key solutions, the activities of the department focus on influencing policy and (public) campaigning within Europe. Public Policy utilizes the strength of AAP by connecting the (50 years of) practical rescue work to AAPs’ priority animal welfare programs.

The Policy Officer Germany is responsible for building up and maintaining a network, collecting data and seeking opportunities to lobby, to be influencing and negotiating with relevant national and international stakeholders to ensure a change in behavior, regulation and legislation within AAP’s policy programs. The strategies and projects are primarily carried out within the European context. Frequent travel is required.

What are you going to do?

The position is accountable to the Head of Public Policy. You will be working with, and giving guidance to several external multidisciplinary teams in different parts of Europe with a strong focus on Germany.

Your key responsibilities are:

1. Accessing, initiating and managing a network

Analyzing and linking relevant political force fields to the set organizational goals.
Initiating or maintaining contact with relevant stakeholders and gaining access to their political network in order to actively inform, influence and lobby them in a results-oriented way.
Collecting relevant strategic information and wishes from the networks and communicating them to the organization.

2. Developing strategies and policy

Developing a suitable strategy for policy programs (focus on Germany) of concern according to their specific cultural and political features.
Obtaining commitment to develop or adjust relevant policy, legislation and regulations from the necessary political/technical/professional institutions.
Supporting governments and institutions in the development of relevant policy, legislation and regulations.

3. Implementing strategies

Translating the specific wishes and needs of relevant stakeholders and substantive proposals into policy, legislation and regulations, taking scope, budget and geographic conditions into account and by leading (external) teams in their development and implementation.
Monitoring the activities accurately with regards to time, budget and quality and reporting both internally and externally.
Reacting timely to changes in the landscape and adjusting the selected strategy when / if necessary.

4. Evaluating strategies and policy

Carefully evaluating and reporting results according to the agreed criteria and set organizational goals.
Completing administrative tasks derived from the projects.
Recommending improvements based on factual evaluations.

What is your profile?

Requirements

Work and think at a higher education level.
Expert knowledge of and experience in policy-influencing processes at an international/EU level.
Experience or affinity with animal welfare work.
Strong social and communications skills (written and oral), able to translate the organization’s viewpoints to different target groups.
Fluent command of German and English, written and oral.
Analytical ability and independence in making implementation decisions, also to act on identified problems, within the established organizational framework.
Helicopter view, capable of looking at things objectively and from different points of view.
Social skills in the context of cooperation, persuading others and defending the interests of AAP.
Strong sense of politics and diplomacy.
Sensitivity to cultural/national differences and ability to adapt to the specific requirements of any given context.

Desired

Knowledge of and experience with project management (ideally at an international level).
Experience with working in a knowledge-oriented environment.

What do we offer?

An inspiring workplace in the green heart of Almere, within easy reach of Amsterdam and Utrecht and with the possibility to work partly from home.
Work within ear shot of the animals that AAP rescues.
A position with social relevance in an international working environment.
A professional work place that stimulates and supports dedication, accessibility and vigorousness.
A permanent contract (after 2 twelve month contracts) in the case of mutual satisfaction.
Your salary will be between € 3153 and € 4069 gross per month (excluding holiday allowance and end-of-year payment) based on a 40 hour working week, dependent on relevant work experience, with room for growth within the function. AAP has conservative salaries, but is dedicated to professional development and allows flexibility in working from home for maximum 50% of the working hours.
In addition to the 8% holiday allowance, a variable end of year allowance of maximum 8.33% of your annual gross salary applies.
24 vacation days per year on a full time basis.
A good and sustainable pension arrangement.

Do you need more information or do you like to apply?

For further information please contact David van Gennep, executive director, phone number +31 (0)6 5474 5584.

Check out our website www.aap.eu and follow our stories on social media!

A practical assignment is part of the application process.

Mehr Informationen finden Sie unter http://www.aap.eu