TITLE: Advocacy Manager
LOCATION: Washington, D.C.
REPORTS TO: Senior Policy Director
Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (“Friends”) works to end the worldwide burden of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We educate, engage, and mobilize U.S. decision makers to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (“Global Fund”), the world’s largest public health financier. The Global Fund supports treatment, prevention and care programs for the three diseases – and larger health security and pandemic response capacity locally — in more than 100 low- and middle-income countries. In addition, we advocate with policymakers in support of the U.S. bilateral health programs (PEPFAR, PMI, and the USAID TB program), and advocate for global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response policies and institutions grounded in human rights and implementing country leadership. Friends works very closely with the Global Fund in Geneva, and with civil society partners and coalitions in the United States, in other high-income donor countries (e.g., in Europe and Japan), and in low- and middle-income countries around the world.
The Advocacy Manager is a part of the Policy team and will play a vital role within the organization. The position reports to the Senior Policy Director.
Duties
The Advocacy Manager assists the Chief Policy Officer and Senior Policy Director in four central elements of Friends’ advocacy work. First, the primary responsibility of the Advocacy Manager will be to play a significant role in Friends’ efforts to communicate with policymakers in Congress and the Executive Branch. The Advocacy Manager will be encouraged to develop relationships with staff and principals to cultivate support for Friends’ goals to expand support for the Global Fund and U.S. bilateral health programs and to develop global health champions in Congress. Also, they will track relevant appropriations and authorization hearings, advocate for current or proposed legislation and amendments, and creatively drive new legislative vehicles to enactment.
Second, the Advocacy Manager will assist the Senior Policy Director in maintaining relationships with a wide variety of coalitions and partnerships, including grass tops advocates in the faith-based community, private sector advocates and civil society groups in the U.S. and abroad. They will represent Friends in regular meetings with coalition groups focused on disease-specific advocacy and groups coordinating external support for increased foreign aid, and in meetings with advocacy partners in both donor and low- and middle-income countries.
Third, the Advocacy Manager will be the lead staffer in coordinating Friends’ events to build audiences of staff and principals in the policy-making community as well as the broader advocacy community, in the U.S. and abroad. These events range from panel discussions, webinars with experts and advocates and in-person events on Capitol Hill with thought leaders and frontline health specialists conducted by Friends’ senior staff.
Lastly, the Advocacy Manager will produce and edit research and writing to support Friends’ role as a catalyst in the health and advocacy community in making a case for investment in the Global Fund and ending the HIV, TB, and malaria epidemics as related policy issues, including global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The position contributes to Friends’ capacity to produce timely briefs and reports based on empirical evidence, on benefits to the American public and economy of promoting global health and curtailing the three epidemics, health security, pandemic preparedness and other policy topics. In addition, the Advocacy Manager will assist the writing and research of the Chief Policy Officer, the Senior Policy Director, or the organization at large.
The ideal candidate will bring experience and connections from the advocacy or legislative sectors, be energetic and motivated, work well in a team, and have a problem-solving attitude. This is a full-time, exempt opportunity reporting directly to the Senior Policy Director based in our Washington, D.C. office.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of/experience in the advocacy, D.C.-based legislative, or think tank communities, preferably with a focus on global health or international relations.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and occasional heavy workloads.
- Ability to research and analyze various issues with reasonable speed, sourcing and accuracy and articulate how these interact with the Global Fund and U.S. policies, initiatives and procedures.
- Possess strong analytical, oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, including attention to detail and superior editing abilities.
- Knowledge and understanding of global health issues, with a particular understanding of the Global Fund and its mechanics and processes, are considered a plus.
- Possess the ability to interact effectively with leaders in public policy, global health and other partners in the U.S. and abroad and be responsive to these entities.
- Comfortable facility with using databases, videoconference and online dissemination platforms.
- Ability and acumen for working with people reflecting gender, racial, ethnic, intercultural, political and ideological diversity with sensitivity and effectiveness.
- Decisive and diplomatic, with a strong and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and projects while working as a team member.
- Ability to effectively manage workload and complete projects in a timely fashion.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated and independent problem solver.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree is required. At least 3-5 years of professional experience working on related issues.
- An advanced degree or experience in global health, international relations or public policy is preferred but not required.
- Experience working on Capitol Hill, including internships, is required.
- Experience with national and international public interest advocacy campaigns and international affairs, or demonstrated equivalent experience.
How To Apply
Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample with the subject heading Advocacy Manager to [email protected]. No phone calls, please. Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only respond to applicants whose qualifications closely match the job description.
Compensation: $60,00 – $68,000 depending on qualifications, plus we offer a competitive benefits package. Friends is an equal-opportunity employer.
All Friends staff work from home but are routinely expected to be in-person in Washington, DC, depending on public health conditions and organization needs.