The Senior Program Officer (SPO) is a leader in the implementation of these goals, with a specific focus on the foundation’s Nutrition strategy. The SPO will work closely with the full Global Policy and Advocacy team, the Nutrition team and with other program teams in the foundation to continually refine and execute an advocacy and communications strategy, forge new partnerships, and develop grants.
The SPO will play a critical role in managing high impact and complex partnerships, grants, coalitions, and advocacy campaigns. She or he will provide expertise in developing policy and advocacy strategies; drive investment decisions; and engage directly with foundation leadership. The SPO will bring a depth and breadth of experience in and knowledge of donor and developing country governments’ development activities and mechanisms, and technical expertise in evidence based, results oriented advocacy.
- Develop, refine, and ensure the execution of the nutrition advocacy and communication strategy in partnership with the PST to generate attention, resources, and policy changes necessary to best achieve the Nutrition PST’s goals
- Lead the core nutrition advocacy and communications team
- Engage regularly with Nutrition Director and Nutrition Leadership Team
- Lead high profile campaigns and events including managing partners and agencies to ensure successful execution
- Form and sustain key partnerships with individuals and organizations – in the public and private sector and civil society – to drive towards the achievement of key program goals.
- Ensure the delivery of key communications activities in support of and in partnership with the Nutrition advocacy team and the Nutrition program team.
- Identify opportunities for the development of new strategic alliances and coalitions to further the objectives of the foundation’s and nutrition strategy.
- Manage a portfolio of project grants. Partner with grantees to develop project objectives and define key outcomes and milestones, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems and processes are established to produce robust evaluation of outcomes.
- Write, produce and deliver informative briefings, reports, email updates, and other materials on key nutrition and related issues related to program advocacy for other colleagues, the Nutrition team leadership and foundation leadership.
- Manage and track the overall nutrition advocacy and communications grant portfolio and its progress
- Manage 1-2 Nutrition Advocacy and Communications Program Officers
- Represent the foundation to key program-related external constituencies. This could include both formal and informal presentations such as making speeches, attending conferences and other meetings as necessary.
- 10-15 years of experience
- Experience in the conception, design and management of advocacy and communications strategies, initiatives and programs
- Experience working with policymakers and advocates for global and/or country level policy & advocacy, with preference for knowledge of Africa and/or India
- Experience developing, managing and implementing projects, including partnering with grantees on the definition of objectives and deliverables and monitoring and evaluation of results.
- Demonstrated understanding of the role of advocacy and communications efforts to increase awareness of health/ development issues and build political/financial support for health and development goals in the developing world with governmental and non-state organizations
- Experience working with social, digital and media relations, preferably with agency background or variety of in-house roles. Experience managing communication agency contracts also preferred.
- Ability to work with flexibility, entrepreneurship, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort
- A deep commitment to development issues
- Ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally
- High standards of personal integrity