Strategic Campaigner- Climate and Human Rights

ABOUT THE ROLE 

Are you an experienced climate change and human rights campaigner who wants to be part of shaping Amnesty International Australia’s response to climate change through a human rights lens?  

• This is a parental leave cover until end of October 2027 and we are looking for a campaigner who can hit the ground running, turning strategy into high-impact advocacy and campaigning. 
• Flexible location (although Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra are preferred for ease of travel)  
• The role involves travel to Canberra during some parliamentary sitting weeks.  
• Annual Salary $118,791 per annum + super + not for profit access to salary packaging. 
• We will review applications as they are submitted and the job ad will close once the position is filled. 

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION 

As the Strategic Campaigner- Climate and Human Rights, you are responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating strategic campaign and advocacy plans in line with AIA’s Strategic Priorities 2026-2030. We have identified climate change and human rights is a new campaign priority as it is one of the defining human rights challenges of our time. It threatens rights to life, health, housing, food, water, culture and an adequate standard of living, while its impacts are felt most severely by communities that have contributed least to the climate crisis. Climate change also has profound implications for inequality, displacement, Indigenous rights and the rights of future generations.  

The Strategic Campaigner will bring expertise in climate change and human rights, combined with strong skills in political advocacy, government relations, media and strategic planning.  

You will lead Amnesty’s advocacy on climate and human rights, working to influence governments, parliamentarians and other key stakeholders. You will work with sector partners, climate and human rights experts and other important stakeholders. You will also be a confident media spokesperson and public speaker, helping Amnesty bring the human rights dimensions of climate change in public and political discourse. 

KEY DUTIES 

• Lead strategic campaign development and implementation with a focus on campaign strategy, advocacy and external affairs. 
• Represent AI Australia’s (AIA) campaigns to decision makers, departmental staff, diplomats and other influencers in an impactful, authoritative and professional manner. 
• Prepare high-quality written materials to develop and support campaign and advocacy priorities including briefs, submissions, speeches, letters and media materials. 
• Act as a key media spokesperson on climate change and human rights. 
• Embrace co-design and participatory practices to ensure activists and communities of lived experience are included and consulted in campaign design 
• Perform role to a high standard within agreed timelines, and in line with AIA’s vision and values 
• Implement our diversity, inclusion and wellbeing commitments as required. 
• Other tasks within your skills and competence as required. 

QUALIFICATIONS + EXPERIENCE 

• Proven ability to develop, implement and evaluate focused and strategic campaigns to achieve concrete and measurable human rights outcomes. 
• Demonstrated high level understanding of Australian parliamentary processes and proven experience in developing government relations and advocacy strategies that deliver positive outcomes. 
• Have lived experience of the human rights issues in the campaigning areas we are working on and/or have the ability to develop solid issues expertise. 
• Track record in public speaking, presenting and connecting with media for a range of audiences. 
• Lived experience of human rights issues and or proven experience of working with diverse stakeholders, communities and organisations; and experience and ability to develop and implement participatory processes with activists and relevant communities of lived experience. 

DESIRABLE 

• Demonstrated experience in or commitment to working with rights holders. 

SKILLS 

• Excellent communication interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence, including writing and presenting for and to a range of audiences, speaking in public and in the media. 
• Highly developed analytical skills, political judgement and strategic thinking, able to manage complexity. 
• Strong collaborator, able to adjust to people from different backgrounds. 
• Change Champion. 

DETAILS 

Department: Strategic Campaigns, People Powered Campaigns Unit (PPCU) 

Location: Flexible location, preferably close to one of our co-working spaces. (The role may involve interstate/regional travel as required) 

Employment: Parental Cover – 12 months, Full time 

Reports to: Advocacy  + Advocacy Manager 

Other Information: Must have full working rights in Australia  

DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION 

AIA is committed to making reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability or other access needs during the recruitment and selection process. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment and interview process, please email us at humanresources@amnesty.org.au. 

AI Australia is committed to equal opportunities in all areas of our work, community and partner relationships. We want people to achieve their full potential, which will positively impact on our work and the communities in which we operate. At AI Australia, our values empower people to be themselves within an inclusive and supportive environment. We have a global, multicultural following and want to actively contribute to building a more diverse and inclusive team at AI Australia. 

We are committed to equal opportunities in all areas of our work, community and partner relationships. We want people to achieve their full potential, which will positively impact on our work and the communities in which we operate. At AI Australia, our values empower people to be themselves within an inclusive and supportive environment. We are a movement of people from all walks of life around the world. We intend to actively contribute to building a more diverse and inclusive team. 

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA? 

We are an independent, global movement that campaigns courageously for human rights for everyone. 

We’re ordinary people from all walks of life, using our passion and commitment to bring torturers to justice, change oppressive laws and free people imprisoned just for voicing their opinion. 

We’re independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion to ensure we can speak out on human rights abuses wherever they occur. 

We stand for equality, justice, freedom, and human dignity and uphold these values: 

• Empowerment – we build people power 
• Persistence – we are resolute in pursuit of our goals 
• Integrity – we hold ourselves to the highest standards 
• Courage – we are fearless in upholding human rights 

Every day we move closer to a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Please submit your application, including a cover letter, addressing your answers to the following questions (approx. 250 words each): 

• Please describe your experience working on climate change and/or climate justice issues and how you would approach campaigning for climate action grounded in human rights. What are your key learnings?  
• Please describe your approach to developing government relations and advocacy strategies. Provide an example of a campaign or advocacy strategy where you successfully influenced political decision-makers or public debate.  

People from cultural and linguistic diverse backgrounds and First Nation Australians are strongly encouraged to apply.