Calling senior advocacy leaders who love to see transformation through their work, driven by purpose and motivated by impact! IJM Australia is seeking a Chief Advocacy Officer to mobilise Australia’s influence to help end violence against 500 million vulnerable people around the world by converting survivor‑centred evidence into legislation, delivering on systems reform, and achieving global impact.

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,300 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The IJM Australia Advancement Office was established in 2014 to fuel IJM’s global mission by mobilising Australians’ resources and influence to protect people living in poverty from violence.

The Need

For almost 30 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. Nine out of nine times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50% and 85% in specific caseworks and jurisdictions. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, the role of Chief Advocacy Officer. This position is critical as it leads and integrates IJM Australia’s advocacy to influence government and key stakeholders, ensuring survivorcentred strategies that translate frontline program experience into real policy and systemic change to end violence against vulnerable people.

This position is based in Sydney - Australia, Hybrid, and reports to the CEO

Job Brief:

Overview:

The Chief Advocacy Officer is accountable for IJM Australia’s advocacy strategy. This strategy is expected to influence government policy and corporate approaches to end violence against vulnerable people, especially in our work on Forced Labour Slavery in South Asia and SE-Asia and to combat the Online Sexual Exploitation of Children in SE-Asia.

This leader needs to shape and drive a coherent advocacy agenda that aligns local, national, and international influence efforts whilst ensuring that we draw on IJM’s considerable program experience and are always survivor-centred in our work.

The role oversees government relations, policy evelopment, media engagement and engagement with other like-minded actors to widen our impact. They will need to build trusted partnerships with policymakers, multilaterals, civil society, and key influencers to help mobilise Australia to make a real-world difference for vulnerable people around the world. The CAO ensures advocacy priorities are contextually grounded, politically astute, and responsive to emerging risks and opportunities, while maintaining alignment with our organisational values.

The Chief Advocacy Officer reports to the Chief Executive Officer, is a member of the Leadership Team and supervises staff in policy, campaign, grant and research roles. The CAO is expected to provide strategic counsel to the CEO and Board on advocacy priorities, regulatory risk, and external influence.

Key Result Areas:

The success of this role is measured by the following KRAs, which the CAO has accountability for:

1. IJM has globally identified “Agents of Change” (AOC) who are significant actors that have the potential to deliver scalable transformational change. IJM Australia has ownership for four of these AOC and is expected to maintain and grow the relationship between IJM and these stakeholders.
2. The Modern Slavery Act and the Online Safety Act are critical to delivering scale protection for our program countries and so achieving ongoing change and improvement in these pieces of legislation is important to IJM Australia’s work.
3. Media engagement is used by IJM Australia for both policy and systems-change objectives, as well as brand reach. Our strategic goal is to increase our media presence year-on-year.
4. IJM Australia funds specific projects in IJM’s program offices and we need to ensure that, as the funder, we oversee the project execution to ensure that it meets our expectations in terms of outcomes and quality.
5. During 2026, IJM Australia is looking to secure ‘base’ accreditation in DFAT’s ANCP program and then apply for ‘full’ accreditation in 2028.
6. IJM Australia has a target to secure other grants each year from government and/or institutional funders.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Strategy development and implementation:

1. Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of IJM Australia’s advocacy strategy. Set relevant and identifiable priorities for each year and then oversee the implementation of the work to deliver on the priorities within the team.
2. Having clear policy positions on relevant matters to our case work and ensuring these policy positions are survivor-informed and leverage evidence from our program offices. The CAO has decision authority over IJM Australia’s advocacy strategy, policy positions, stakeholder engagement priorities, and advocacy‑related grant submissions.
3. Establish, maintain and oversee the delivery of a media strategy for IJM Australia that will achieve our strategic objectives and is based on the core messages we are seeking to communicate on. Noting that delivery of media content is often shared based on who is the ‘most appropriate voice’.
4. Identify, assess, escalate and manage advocacy‑related political, reputational, and regulatory risks.
5. Provide regular strategic briefings to the CEO and Board on advocacy progress, risks, and emerging opportunities.

Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders and decision-makers; build IJM’s profile

1. Ensure there is a well described and effective engagement plan for each stakeholder and oversee the implementation of the engagement plan during the year (noting that there will be some relationships owned by the team, or by the CAO and potentially by other members of IJM Australia such as the CEO or in the Partnerships team).
2. Cultivate effective relationships with Government officials and stakeholders, external policy experts and civil society to progress IJM Australia’s advocacy strategy.
3. Compelling engagement with external stakeholders and counterparties, especially in advocacy activities such as meetings, inquiries and conferences.
4. Develop collaborative relationships with IJM Global staff to identify and analyse issues arising from program casework and share advocacy initiatives and information.

Project delivery and grants

1. Lead the IJM Australia team in grant acquisition and then management of successful grants. This will require alignment with IJM global policies and procedures as well as integration with the oversight of the IJM Australia Board.
2. Ensuring overall clarity in our policies and processes to achieve and then sustain DFAT ANCP accreditation.

Culture Builder

1. Act as an exemplary role model whose conduct reflects IJM’s values (Christian faith, professionalism, and commitment to bridge‑building), both internally and with external partners.
2. Communicate clearly and simply, address complex or difficult issues directly, and make timely, well judged decisions in service of the mission.
3. Participate actively in organisational governance, collaborate constructively across functions, and foster an environment of mutual respect, inclusion, and shared ownership.
4. Question the status quo where it limits impact, and lead thoughtful change to improve how IJM Australia operates, partners, and influences.
5. Contribute to the expression of a community of spiritual formation through participating in IJM’s rhythms of spiritual disciplines, including daily stillness, corporate prayer, staff prayer retreats, and individual annual days of solitude.

People Management:

1. Builds a high-performance team environment where: a) roles are shaped to leverage and develop skills; b) the team is motivated, achieves goals, has high standards for excellence and c) team members are being coached on achieving their career objectives.
2. Holds team members (and others outside the team) accountable for their outcomes and behaviours.
3. Shows concern for others and demonstrates compassion
4. Creates a collaborative and inclusive work environment

Supervisory:

1. This role reports to the Chief Executive Officer.
2. This role oversees a team of three, two of whom work fully remote.

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

1. Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field including politics, law, economics, communications, journalism, public relations, or international development

2. Experience in designing and implementing high-impact advocacy campaigns

3. Experience in dealing with senior politicians, departments and agency heads

4. High level supervisory and organisational management experience

5. Demonstrated ability to translate complex program evidence into policy reform

6. Experience working in a not-for-profit organisation or government role with exposure to the not-for-profit sector or experience engaging with Government stakeholders (e.g. the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).

Technical Competencies:

1. Outstanding strategic policy and planning skills

2. Excellent influencing and networking skills, with the ability to advocate with senior decision makers

3. Proven ability to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including strong consultation skills

4. Excellent writing skills and the ability to distil and effectively communicate complex information to a range of audiences

5. Ability to work effectively with the media.

Non-Technical Competencies:

1. Ability to establish quickly personal credibility, to develop, maintain and negotiate effective working relationships with groups and individuals (including within the Government) with differing perspectives and agendas, and of working with other organisations on joint campaigns and coalitions.

2. Self-starter with strong initiative and an entrepreneurial spirit, with demonstrated leadership capacity.

3. Global and cultural awareness.

4. Commitment to IJM’s Statement of Faith.

5. A servant heart with a desire to serve and advocate on behalf of the poor and oppressed.

6. Personal and professional integrity.

7. Successful completion of Criminal History checks

Travel:

Assuming the role is based in Sydney, there will be regular travel to Canberra (two to four times a year) and potentially other capital cities in Australia depending on the need to engage with other stakeholders (potentially two to four times a year). There will also be a need to visit program countries on an annual or bi-annual basis. There may also be regional leadership conferences to attend.

The below are required for all IJM Australia roles:

1. Commitment to IJM’s Statement of Faith.
2. A servant heart with a desire to advocate on behalf of the poor and oppressed.
3. Personal and professional integrity.
4. Prepared to undergo Criminal History checks.

Other Duties:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities for the position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All positions are required to perform any additional tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Why Join Us?

At IJM Australia, we believe in supporting our team with meaningful benefits that reflect our values and commitment to wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll enjoy:

Generous Leave Entitlements

• Annual Leave – 20 days per year to rest and recharge
• Personal/Carer’s Leave – 10 days annually to care for yourself or loved ones
• Compassionate Leave – 2 days for family bereavements
• Time Off in Lieu – Available when out-of-hours work is required
• Family & Domestic Violence Leave – 10 days paid leave for those in need
• Day of Solitude – 1 day each year for personal reflection and rest
• Gifted Leave – 4.5 additional days over Christmas and New Year
• Long Service Leave – In accordance with the Long Service Leave Act in each state

Salary Packaging Options

IJM Australia offers salary packaging options that allow eligible employees to receive part of their salary as non-cash benefits helping you make the most of your income within statutory caps.

Application Process:

Please apply not later than 15 May 2026.

Remarks: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidate's value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes. IJM values people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to enrich the perspectives it brings to the organisation.