Title: Advisor II, Program and Policy Communications
Div/Dept: Program and Partnerships Division
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting Relationship: Senior Director, External Engagement
Deadline: December 10, 2021
summary
The Program and Policy Communications Advisor will design and implement a strategy to significantly increase ChildFund’s visibility with clear goals, objectives, and metrics of success. By working closely with other members of the External Engagement team, Communications team, and others, the Program and Policy Communications Officer will leverage their existing media networks and communications expertise to tell the story of ChildFund to donors, policymakers, and the media in order to spur momentum and progress for children and youth globally. This is a newly created position designed to help ChildFund capture and discuss our work in order to influence key targets. The person in this role must be adept at capturing and disseminating compelling products that include policy and advocacy asks and wins in succinct and accurate ways, as well as someone who is also able to effectively translate technical documents for donors and the public.
The person in this role will have the opportunity to develop and deepen relationships with target media outlets and will have a proven ability to tell persuasive stories that center around children’s and young people’s voices. This person can communicate in a clear and engaging manner with a variety of audiences and across multiple mediums, including through the development program and policy-related content to share with identified audience markets, such as donors, peer organizations, policymakers and thought leaders. The ideal candidate excels at working across teams and has a passion to improve policies, programs, and systems to better the lives of children and allow their meaningful participation in solutions. The ideal candidate will also understand the intersecting vulnerabilities facing children and youth globally and possess some sense of U.S. foreign assistance or experience working with and for international non-profits.
ChildFund International is committed to a workplace culture that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Furthermore, ChildFund International is committed to ensuring a workplace that safeguards and protects all children, including preventing their sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as preventing the sexual exploitation and abuse of its staff, partners, and program participants.
KEY DUTIES
The Program and Policy Communications Advisor position will support the development of external publications highlighting ChildFund’s engagement with the U.S. government and ChildFund’s advocacy priorities. In addition, the Advisor will work with the Business Development team and technical experts to develop capacity statements and other collateral material to position ChildFund for new funding. This position will promote the organization’s programs and policy successes, with the goal of increasing ChildFund’s name recognition and influence. Key duties to include:
Strategy Development & Implementation – 20%
· Develop a strong action plan and communications strategy that showcases ChildFund’s successes in both programs and policy. The strategy should include measurable objectives, target audiences, key messages, and activities;
· Contribute to knowledge management and continuous improvement efforts; develop and maintain communications, audience, and impact tracking systems;
Content Development – 60%
· Work cross-functionally to gather and craft compelling narratives that promote and amplify ChildFund’s impact, innovation and influence;
· Develop and edit materials, including for op-eds and blogs, policy briefs, talking points, reports and other publications that are grounded in ChildFund’s programmatic experience and insights;
· Advise on and develop relevant updates to the ChildFund website, as well as a social and traditional media strategy;
Raise Awareness and Brand Trust – 15%
· Create capacity statements, technical briefs, responsive statements to and for global events and other documentation;
· Identify and pursue opportunities to amplify ChildFund’s advocacy efforts, engagement, and policy influence;
· Build and maintain a database of peers, partners, networks, influencers and donors for dissemination of communications;
Other Duties As Assigned – 5%
Qualifications
Required
· At least 6-8 years of relevant experience, including direct experience developing and implementing effective communications strategies with demonstrable impact.
· Existing relationships with relevant media outlets, such as Politico, The Hill, DevEx, and the New York Times, as well as excitement to develop and deepen new relationships with other media.
· Expertise in developing communications strategies and engaging diverse stakeholders such as peer organizations, donors and policy makers.
· Excellent and engaging writer with a proven ability to translate technical materials and data into succinct, accurate and compelling written materials.
· A proven track record of high-impact narrative development that appeals to and engages audiences across sectors.
· Demonstrated attention to detail, excellent organizational skills and proactive working style and attitude. Proven capacity to rapidly produce outputs and work with peers and superiors to solve problems and meet deadlines as required.
· Ability to implement a strategic technical and policy communications strategy while also being able to respond quickly to changes in short-term priorities in a matrixed, cross-cultural environment.
· Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to quickly gain trust and respect.
· Based in the United States.
· Proficiency in Word, Outlook, Teams and PowerPoint.
Preferred
· 8-12 years of experience in progressively senior communications roles
· Based in Washington, DC or willingness to relocate to Washington, DC upon office re-opening.
· Experience in U.S. foreign policy advocacy and/or INGO program communications.
· Experience working in cross-cultural settings or teams preferred.
· Ability to utilize and/or create icons and basic infographics in compelling ways.
EDUCATION
· Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field.
TO APPLY To apply, please use the ChildFund portal https://childfundinternational.secure.force.com/careers/fRecruit__ApplyJob?vacancyNo=VN872 and upload the following documents as one single PDF file labeled FirstNameLastName_PPCAdvisor no later than December 10th.. All interested applicants must* submit all three: cover letter, work sample, and resume. Cover letter should highlight applicant’s qualifications and share why this opportunity would be a strong fit. The communications sample is an opportunity to highlight your best and most relevant work. **
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position and exact percentages in each core competency are approximate. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications without resume, cover letter, and sample of work will not be considered. Thank you for your time and interest.**
Child safeguarding
All staff must remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills that enable the promotion of strong safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and procedures and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with ChildFund’s Child Safeguarding Policy, including through the use of photos and language in communications materials.
NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.
EOE/M/F/D/V
This vacancy is archived.