ILGA-Europe Is Hiring an Advocacy Director in Brussels – Salary Up to €7,554 Gross Per Month
ILGA-Europe has opened applications for an Advocacy Director to lead its policy, advocacy and strategic litigation work across Europe and Central Asia. The senior-level opportunity is aimed at an experienced advocacy and policy professional who can provide strategic leadership, build influential relationships and help shape responses to political and legal developments affecting human rights and equality.
The successful candidate will join ILGA-Europe at a significant time for democracy, human rights and equality across the region. The organisation is looking for someone capable of combining long-term strategic thinking with the ability to respond quickly to emerging political opportunities and challenges.
Advocacy Director Position Overview
The position is offered as a full-time, open-ended employment contract under Belgian law.
Key details include:
- Job Title: Advocacy Director
- Organisation: ILGA-Europe
- Location: Brussels, Belgium
- Contract: Full-time, open-ended
- Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week
- Salary: €7,069–€7,554 gross per month
- Deadline: 17 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST
- Work Arrangement: Flexible and partially remote, with Brussels as the main workplace
- Travel: Primarily across Europe and Central Asia
The role requires the successful candidate to relocate to Brussels or Belgium. Although ILGA-Europe supports flexible working and partial home working, candidates cannot begin the position remotely from another country.
About ILGA-Europe
ILGA-Europe is a regional organisation working to advance equality, dignity, freedom and human rights for LGBTI people across Europe and Central Asia.
The organisation brings together more than 700 member organisations across the region and works on policy and advocacy, strategic litigation, movement building, grant-making, communications and support for LGBTI organisations and activists.
The Advocacy Director will play a central role in connecting these areas of work and ensuring that ILGA-Europe’s policy and advocacy priorities contribute to broader efforts to protect democracy and the rule of law.
What Will the Advocacy Director Do?
The successful candidate will lead the organisation’s Policy and Advocacy Team and report directly to the Executive Director.
One of the central responsibilities will be setting the strategic direction for ILGA-Europe’s advocacy and policy work.
The Advocacy Director will monitor political developments across European and Central Asian institutions, governments and parliaments. They will assess emerging opportunities and risks and help determine which advocacy approaches are most effective.
Responsibilities will include:
- Developing advocacy and policy strategies
- Identifying emerging political and policy developments
- Advising organisational leadership on strategic opportunities
- Developing policy positions
- Supporting national-level advocacy
- Building relationships with policymakers and legislators
- Developing coalitions with civil society organisations
- Representing ILGA-Europe with institutions and decision-makers
- Supporting public campaigns and mobilisation
- Working with communications teams on advocacy messaging
The position also involves working closely with member organisations to develop shared positions and strengthen national-level advocacy strategies.
Leadership and Team Management
This is a senior leadership role requiring significant experience managing people and complex projects.
The Advocacy Director will lead and develop the Policy and Advocacy Team, providing strategic direction, coaching, supervision and feedback.
They will also contribute to wider organisational management, strategy development and organisational culture.
The successful candidate may also support activities such as the Annual Conference, Rainbow Map, Annual Review, grant applications, budgeting and organisational reporting.
Skills and Experience Required
ILGA-Europe is seeking a strategic and politically aware professional with a strong understanding of how political and social change happens.
Applicants should ideally demonstrate experience in:
- Leading advocacy and policy strategies
- Working in changing or contested political environments
- Understanding democracy and the rule of law
- Engaging with European or international institutions
- Analysing political, legal and policy developments
- Managing and developing teams
- Building relationships with policymakers
- Working with civil society coalitions
- Communicating complex information clearly
- Applying an intersectional approach to human rights
- Managing multiple priorities and deadlines
Candidates should also have a strong understanding of the LGBTI rights landscape in Europe and Central Asia, including relevant laws, policies and human rights standards.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Russian or other relevant regional languages is considered an advantage.
Additional Experience
Experience working directly with LGBTI organisations, grassroots movements, human rights organisations, democracy organisations or other marginalised communities would be valuable.
Knowledge of European institutions is also advantageous. This includes familiarity with organisations and bodies such as the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the European Union, Fundamental Rights Agency and Council of Europe.
Experience understanding how strategic litigation can support advocacy is another useful asset.
Salary and Benefits
The position offers a salary ranging from €7,069 to €7,554 gross per month, with the successful candidate starting at the beginning of the salary scale. The salary is subject to annual increases and indexation.
The employment package includes:
- 20 days of annual leave
- 10 public holidays
- Additional December leave
- Employee pension scheme
- Health insurance
- €8 luncheon vouchers per working day
- Public transport contribution
- Home-working contribution
- Professional development support
- Flexible working arrangements
- Support for care responsibilities
ILGA-Europe also provides relocation support for eligible non-EU applicants. The organisation states that it covers costs associated with obtaining a work permit and visa and can provide guidance on relocation and settling in Belgium.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity may be particularly suitable for experienced professionals working in advocacy, public policy, human rights, international development, democracy, equality or civil society.
It is a senior position and requires strong strategic leadership, political judgement and stakeholder-management skills.
Candidates should also be comfortable working in an international environment and travelling when required.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit the signed electronic application form by email to recruitment@ilga-europe.org.
Applicants should follow the organisation’s instructions carefully, as ILGA-Europe states that additional documents will not be reviewed.
The application deadline is 17 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST.
For professionals seeking a senior international advocacy role with a strong focus on human rights, democracy and equality, the ILGA-Europe Advocacy Director position offers an opportunity to contribute to regional policy and advocacy efforts while working with organisations and movements across Europe and Central Asia.
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