Senior Policy Advocate (SPA)

JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Policy Advocate (SPA)’s primary responsibility is to analyze USG policies, draft CARE policy positions and develop appropriate advocacy and implementation strategies related to global health and sexual/reproductive health. The SPA represents CARE to Congress, the Administration, non-governmental organization (NGO) coalitions and others as required. In coordination with relevant internal stakeholders, the SPA develops specific internal and external policy communications, drafts USG policy objectives and plays an active role in developing and implementing cross-departmental strategies (CDS), monitors and analyzes key legislation and regulations, and reports on progress to the organization. The SPA also provides support to the Citizen Action Network in implementing CARE’s advocacy agenda, guidance and information about how CARE supporters around the country can help educate their Members of Congress, and contributes to CARE-wide campaigns related to global health. The SPA also supports internal coordination around CARE-wide initiatives focusing on global health, including frontline health workers. The SPA is also responsible for assisting with fundraising proposal development.

Reporting to the Director of Government Relations, the SPA is a key member of the Government Relations (GR) team that handles multiple development policy issues that impact millions of people in the developing world and ensure that CARE’s annual public policy priorities and advocacy agenda are accomplished vis-a-vis Congress and the administration. The SPA works in a fast-paced and collaborative environment within the US Policy and Programs Department.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provides political analysis and develops advocacy strategies regarding US government global health policies, legislation and initiatives

• Analyzes U.S. government (USG) policies and legislative and/or regulatory vehicles of interest to CARE’s global health and SRHR work and develops policy proposals to address such policies or vehicles that impact CARE’s priority issues.
• Monitors key congressional and administration activities on relevant issues to keep CARE’s strategies updated and makes adjustments as needed.
• Takes a leadership role in drafting CARE policy positions on relevant legislative issues in consultation with internal stakeholders.
• In coordination with the USPPA team, leads the design of policy objectives and contributes significantly to the development of advocacy strategies on relevant policy initiatives in consultation with Advocacy and Program colleagues and external partners, including for CARE-wide campaigns. Works with these stakeholders on an on-going basis to inform and refine such strategies

Implements Global Health Advocacy Initiatives

• Represents CARE with Congress, the Administration, the NGO community, coalitions, and other key players as required to raise CARE’s visibility and promote the development, adoption, and implementation of the best policies and programs on issues of concern to CARE.
• Manages and implements CARE’s advocacy agenda on global health in consultation with Director of Government Relations, Government Relations team, the US Policy and Programs team, and in collaboration with Health, Equity, and Rights (HER) and Global Advocacty (GAT) teams
• Informs, educates and works to influence policymakers in order to secure that the best policies, programs and funding levels are in place in USG legislation and regulation of importance to CARE.
• Prepares CARE senior leadership for direct or indirect communication with policymakers and does necessary follow-up.
• In partnership with peers on the Government Relations team, supports the implementation of CARE’s full suite of advocacy priorities, engaging on issues outside the global health portfolio as necessary.

External Representation and Coordination 

• Primary representative of CARE and its policy positions on USG advocacy for global health and SRHR issues in key coalitions and other groups with which CARE has a common agenda, including by seeking leadership positions in coalitions.
• Works in key coalitions and other groups on specific policy initiatives of importance to CARE.
• Keeps CARE abreast of coalition policy discussions and reports in a timely manner on coalition decisions, strategies and activities and communicates updates to relevant stakeholders.
• Works with departmental leadership and grant management team to engage and respond to current and potential donors, including providing inputs into draft reports.
• Works with CARE’s external communications team to educate and engage press and mass media.

Internal Representation and Coordination 

• In consultation with the GR team, provides timely updates to colleagues in the advocacy department regarding policy analysis and the implementation of advocacy strategies.
• Works with CARE USG advocacy colleagues to provide audience-appropriate updates, talking points, and briefing materials, as well as action opportunities, for CARE supporters, including CARE’s citizen advocacy network and Learning Tour alumni network.
• Coordinates with CARE USA global advocacy colleagues and CARE International colleagues to ensure USG policy and advocacy work aligns with global advocacy strategies and objectives and contributes to coherence across contexts.
• Works with members of CARE HER technical team and GAT team to translate programmatic impacts into policy developments and new learnings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA in political science/international relations or a related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• 8-10 years in a relevant organization or government agency focused on global health and/or federal advocacy.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise and thought leadership to external audiences on global health
• Ability to deveop advocacy starategies that have been successful in creating policy change
• Ability to liaise with donor audiences with ease
• Ability to utilize a variety of tools like media, social, grassroots, et c
• Ability to communicate persuasively with a variety of audiences: a USAID leader, a technical expert, a new Hill staffer, both political parties, grassroots advocates, your family members
• Substantial experience working with Congress or U.S. government agencies.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. politics and the legislative process.
• Three to five years experience developing partnerships and building coalitions to advance organizational learning and program impact
• Proven ability to get things done in a complex, international organization
• Ability to thrive in a proactive, collaborative work environment.