Director, Government Relations

About Malala Fund

Registered in the U.K., U.S. Nigeria, and Pakistan, Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in local education leaders and front-line organizations, the people who best understand girls in their communities in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We give girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. We believe girls should speak for themselves and tell leaders what they need to learn and achieve their potential.

About the position

The Director, Government Relations will be responsible for strategically building and managing Malala Fund’s relationships and engagements with governments, elected officials, administration leaders and civil servants to further advance our global advocacy initiatives. The Director is accountable for the development and implementation of Malala Fund’s political influencing strategies and the overall coordination of all Malala Fund’s government relations outreach across key markets in the Global North and MENA regions in order to advance the full portfolio of Malala Fund’s global advocacy priorities. They will lead and oversee direct advocacy towards policymakers – strengthening Malala Fund’s organisational identity as a leading advocate for girls’ education – and inform opportunities to leverage the voice of Malala Fund’s co-founders – Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai – with governments in support of Malala Fund advocacy.

The ideal candidate is a global political strategist with a deep knowledge of how governments operate, political platforms and influencing spaces most relevant for Malala Fund advocacy priorities, and the wider geopolitical environment in which we operate. They have a deep knowledge of how to influence across different political contexts and have a proven ability to build strong networks and connections with senior decision-makers, experience in diplomacy and a strong commitment to gender equality.

Location: Hybrid position out of our Washington, DC Office; may consider New York City candidates.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Leadership

• In collaboration with advocacy leads, oversee the development and delivery of political influencing strategies to support (1) Malala Fund’s policy and financing recommendations to key political decision-makers and (2) Malala Fund’s advocacy at the global level to support girls in Afghanistan.
• Set a multi-year vision for government relations work; develop annual, market-specific goals and targets that make best use of Malala Fund’s staff, capacity, networks, and relationships; and develop an annual evaluation framework to assess progress.
• Working with the Executive Office, ensure alignment between co-founder’s and Malala Fund’s influencing agendas. Offer ad hoc support to the Executive Office to inform Malala’s personal advocacy goals and activities, ensuring clarity and consistency with approaches to key governments.
• Work closely with Communications colleagues to ensure consistency of external messaging related to governments and to co-create campaigns in support of Malala Fund advocacy objectives.
• Advise senior leadership on political opportunities that should inform the timing and focus of Malala Fund policy change campaigns and lead the government relations strategy for campaigns.
• Proactively seek out political opportunities and provide intelligence and insight on political events and dynamics to the Executive Leadership Team and the Executive Office to inform Malala Fund’s and Malala’s positioning.
• Build and develop a nimble and high-performing team that leverages critical opportunities for informing and advancing impactful policies at the right times and ensures complementary networks of government relations contacts/expertise across key global markets.
• Lead the development of the Government Relations team budget on an annual basis in order to inform the wider departmental annual budget.

Representation and Relationship Management

• Cultivate and maintain a strong network of government contacts in priority markets, ensuring Malala Fund is operating with the latest political intelligence.
• Manage Malala Fund’s overall relationships with governments in key global advocacy markets – working closely with the Executive Office and External Affairs colleagues – in support of Malala Fund’s advocacy objectives. As needed (relative to total team composition and relationships) directly oversee relationships and strategy implementation in at least 1-2 priority markets.
• Represent Malala Fund at senior levels of government and in external forums.
• Help prepare the CEO, the Chief External Affairs Officer and, in partnership with the Executive Office, Malala Fund’s co-founders for meetings, events and public statements; accompany them to engagements as needed.

People Management

• Actively build and maintain systems that allow for the growth and development of all direct reports.
• Welcome and induct new team members into Malala Fund, and facilitate collaboration across and within your team.
• Co-create clear objectives and development plans for direct reports and engage in regular and constructive performance conversations.
• Share key messages and relevant information with direct reports, and seek out, address and/or escalate feedback as appropriate.
• Ensure all team members understand and comply with Malala Fund policies, procedures and resources.

Organisational Culture

• Uphold the values of Malala Fund.
• Actively contribute to making Malala Fund a diverse and equitable workplace through inclusive practice and openness to different perspectives, cultures and ideas.
• Maintain behaviour and conduct that uphold the highest standards for safeguarding, professionally and personally.
• Act as a role model for a ‘learning organisation’ culture by seeking insight and using problems as opportunities to learn.

Qualifications

Essential

• At least 10-12 years of demonstrated global government affairs experience or work within government, with proven experience in identifying and maximising political opportunities in support of policy change and navigating political processes in a variety of international settings.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with sensitivity to different audiences.
• Ability to think strategically, critically and consistently apply good judgement and discretion.
• Strong political instincts and the ability to identify timing and messaging that appeals to advocacy targets in support of Malala Fund’s advocacy aims.
• Experience of representing organisations and building strong external relationships at senior levels.
• Proven experience of managing others and building a high performing team.
• Strong commitment to Malala Fund’s mission, purpose and values.
• Strong commitment to gender equality, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, decolonisation and social justice
• Excellent team player with ability to work independently and in collaboration with colleagues at all levels across departments and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Knowledge and exposure to gender or education policy/advocacy programmes and/or experience in global advocacy in the international development sector.
• Sound knowledge of international financial institutions and pathways to influence.
• Experience of insider and outsider advocacy tactics, including public campaigning.
• Experiencing working with and leveraging high-profile principals in support of government relations and advocacy objectives.

Living our Values

We aim to center girls in all we do and create a supportive environment where people excel in their craft while never compromising our organizational values:

• We aim high. Inspired by the girls we serve, we set ambitious goals for ourselves and push others to do the same. We focus on impact and delivering tangible, purposeful results.
• We dare to be brave. We speak truth to power and hold leaders accountable to their commitments to girls. We have the difficult conversations, say yes to tough projects and aren’t afraid to take risks.
• We value differences. Our best work happens when we bring many voices to the table. We embrace diverse perspectives and open dialogue. We strive for equity in all we do and are always learning from others.

Learn more here