Lead, Advocacy and External Engagement (East Malaysia)
Executive recruitment firm Monroe Consulting Group is partnering with a global faith-based organization dedicated to protecting people in poverty from violence and strengthening justice systems globally. Our client works alongside governments, civil society, and communities to combat human trafficking, forced labor, and other forms of exploitation. Our respected client is seeking a highly strategic, mission-driven, and influential leader for the position of Lead, Advocacy and External Engagement.
Job summary
Our client is seeking a strategic and mission-driven Lead, Advocacy and External Engagement
to spearhead organization’s advocacy and stakeholder engagement efforts in East Malaysia. This role will play a critical part in advancing justice system responses, influencing policy frameworks, and strengthening protections for vulnerable workers.
The Lead will ensure that all East Malaysia initiatives are aligned with national advocacy priorities while providing contextual insights to inform national-level policy and systems change strategies. This position will support the establishment of organization’s satellite presence in East Malaysia and collaborate closely with teams in Kuala Lumpur and across the region.
Key job responsibilities include:
Leadership & Strategic Coordination
- Lead and coordinate
organization’s
advocacy and external engagement efforts in East Malaysia in alignment with national strategies set by the Head of Policy & External Engagement.
- Provide strategic input to the Project Manager on advocacy priorities, stakeholder engagement, and policy reform opportunities.
- Guide cross-functional collaboration to ensure external engagements contribute directly to program outcomes.
Advocacy Strategy & Knowledge Development
- Develop and implement advocacy strategies aligned with
organization’s
Protection Model, Advocacy Goals, and East Malaysia Program Goals.
- Activate and mobilize stakeholders to influence government action on forced labor and labor trafficking issues.
- Prepare high-quality briefing materials, strategic analyses, and advocacy plans for engagement with government, private sector partners, and development actors.
- Adapt national advocacy frameworks to East Malaysia’s legal, political, and governance contexts.
- Monitor policy reforms, media coverage, and emerging trends at state and national levels, recommending strategic adjustments as needed.
- Contribute to
organization’s
advocacy communities of practice and regional or global coordination forums, documenting best practices and lessons learned.
Coalition Building & Partnerships
- Map and engage key stakeholders with influence over labor protection and anti-trafficking efforts in Sabah and Sarawak.
- Identify, establish, and manage strategic collaborations with government, civil society, and private sector partners.
- Represent
organization
in meetings, forums, and coalitions to advance justice system improvements and shared advocacy objectives.
- Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues, roundtables, and joint initiatives to promote systemic change.
- Support partnership activities, including coordination and monitoring of sub-grants, in close collaboration with the Partnerships Lead based in Kuala Lumpur.
- Serve as the primary liaison between East Malaysian partners and Malaysia national advocacy team.
Training, Capacity Building & Media Engagement
- Contribute to the development of advocacy tools, training materials, and capacity-building resources.
- Deliver or coordinate trainings in collaboration with program teams and technical specialists.
- Support initiatives to strengthen media engagement in East Malaysia, equipping journalists to report on trafficking issues through a rights-based lens.
Documentation, Monitoring & Reporting
- Maintain comprehensive records of strategic relationships, advocacy activities, and outcomes.
- Track progress against advocacy goals and contribute to quarterly and annual reports.
- Support periodic reviews to assess achievements, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
- Ensure alignment with MERL frameworks and reporting requirements.
Collaboration & Internal Coordination
- Maintain regular coordination with the Head of Policy & External Engagement to ensure alignment between national and East Malaysia strategies.
- Collaborate closely with Advocacy, Partnerships, and Communications teams based in Kuala Lumpur to ensure consistency and shared learning.
- Proactively flag emerging political, policy, or stakeholder risks requiring escalation.
Reporting & Supervisory Structure
- Reports to the Project Manager, Sarawak
.
Authority & Decision-Making
- Represent
organization
in approved advocacy and stakeholder engagements in East Malaysia.
- Support relationship management and partnership coordination, escalating high-level engagements as required.
- Prepare and disseminate advocacy materials, briefing documents, and reports.
- Coordinate advocacy-related travel, events, and stakeholder meetings within approved guidelines.
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Key job requirements:
- Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in humanities, law, human rights, social work, international development, or related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience
in advocacy, project implementation, or stakeholder engagement involving government and community-based organizations.
- Strong knowledge of forced labor, human trafficking, international instruments, and relevant Malaysian legal frameworks.
- In-depth understanding of federal and state government structures and operating environments.
- Proven experience in capacity building, partnership development, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia
.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
Competencies
- Strong organizational skills with high accountability and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management and ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.
- Sound analytical judgment and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to work independently in remote or decentralized settings.
- Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
- High integrity, humility, and servant leadership mindset.
- Passionate commitment to
organization’s
mission and Theory of Change.
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