Policy and Advocacy Officer - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
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Description:
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people - especially those with the fewest resources - have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.The goal of the Global Development Program is to increase opportunities for poor people in the developing world to lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.
We support efforts in the following areas:
• Agricultural Development: helping poor farmers increase their productivity and incomes;
• Financial Services: making a wide range of financial services-particularly safe places to save-more widely available to people in developing countries;
• Policy, Advocacy, and Special Initiatives: increasing awareness of global development issues; identifying and promoting powerful solutions; and advocating for more effective investments;
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: investing in effective sanitation approaches that will contribute to a world where children and families lead healthier, more productive lives;
• Global Libraries: providing free access to computers with the Internet through public libraries in emerging countries.
The Policy and Advocacy Officer for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WSH) is part of the Global Development Policy and Advocacy (GDPA) team. GDPA works on behalf of the program teams to bring more resources, more attention, and more effective action to issues important to the Global Development program. In this capacity, the PAO will work closely with the WSH team to oversee its advocacy activities, develop a grantmaking portfolio of advocacy grants, and bring more attention to WSH efforts and grantees in collaboration with GDPA's communications and external relations team members.
Key responsibilities include:
• Work closely with the WSH director and other team members to develop, manage and monitor an advocacy strategy to help the WSH team meet its long-term strategic objective of increasing access by the poor to safe and sustainable sanitation services in the developing world.
• Analyze and evaluate partnership and alliance opportunities that will help direct donor organization, developing country government and private sector resources toward more effective WSH interventions and models. This work includes building and tracking efforts that promote policy reform, boost political will and improve the use of existing or new resources.
• Track current global, regional and national economic, political, social and other trends important to inform effective execution of the WSH strategy.
• Identify, develop and manage advocacy-related grants, contracts, and convenings related to achieving the WSH team's advocacy goals.
• Help plan WSH-related activities involving senior foundation leadership-including the Global Development President, CEO and co-chairs-and draft related issue briefs as needed.
• Coordinate effectively with other members of GDPA, serving as the primary liaison to external relations and communications staff and resources.
• Directly take on other advocacy tasks by the WSH program in conjunction with WSH staff, such as grantee consultations related to advocacy, external relations visits and communications activities.
- Contribute to the overall quality of GDPA efforts.
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Qualification:
• BA/BS in public policy, international relations, economic development or applicable experience. Advanced degree in a related field strongly preferred.• At least 7 years experience using a broad range of advocacy tools, such as government relations, issue campaigns, political advising, elite education and mobilization, messaging and media, etc.
• Experience in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector preferred.
• Significant experience working in a developing country and/or closely with partners, including governments in developing countries, bilateral and multilateral donors, and major civil society actors preferred.
• The ability to meet deadlines.
• The ability to work as part of a team and across diverse program areas.
• Innovative and open-minded approach to all aspects of work. Ability to question and challenge colleagues, including managers, and partners in a constructive manner.
• Strong public presentation skills and ability to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with advocacy partners (e.g. advocacy groups, other funders, donors, research organizations, and other development organizations).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to create persuasive and clear oral and written communications.
• Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic and operational situations, demonstrating culturally sensitive behavior with a diverse range of people.
• The ability to stay calm and poised under pressure and remain focused in a rapidly changing environment.
• Demonstrated initiative to solve problems with high energy and a positive attitude.
• Demonstrated commitment to the foundation's core values, mission, and programs and to serving our grantees.
• The highest personal and professional integrity along with a sense of humor.
• Ability to travel up to 25%. Position is based in Seattle, WA.
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a comprehensive background check.
SOURCE: PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL 03/23/10
