Organization: Mercy Corps
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 30 Oct 2015
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
The Mercy Corps Global Policy and Advocacy team works to support Mercy Corps" mission by fostering a policy environment that enables Mercy Corps" field programs to achieve greater impact. The US-based PA team is seeking a policy advisor, with proven ability to influence the US government including the White House, NSC, USAID, State Department, Congress and the United Nations; and who will help ensure that Mercy Corps has a strong, credible, and timely voice in foreign aid policy and advocacy arenas.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Policy Advisor is responsible for implementing strategies to advance Mercy Corps" policy objectives on a range of issues related to Mercy Corps" global and country-level priorities. The role also requires drafting policy reports, briefing papers, fact sheets, talking points and opinion pieces as well as support of Mercy Corps" grassroots advocacy efforts and close engagement with Mercy Corps" field and HQ teams.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Advocacy
- Manage a portfolio of policy issues (both country-based and thematic) for Mercy Corps. Issues will reflect Mercy Corps global priorities with a specific focus on the Middle East; and other priorities identified by the Policy and Advocacy Director.
- Build effective, credible relationships with relevant Administration officials, including USAID, State Department, NSC and White House officials.
- Build effective, credible relationships with relevant Congressional contacts, including Members and staff from Appropriations Committees, Foreign Relations/Foreign Affairs Committees; key caucuses; and Pacific Northwest and New England delegations.
- Support the agency"s participation in collaborative advocacy efforts, such as the US Global Leadership Campaign, aimed at building bi-partisan support for US foreign aid.
- Represent Mercy Corps in collective advocacy efforts through Interaction and other coalitions.
- Track legislative developments on Capitol Hill and monitor action alerts and legislative initiatives from colleague agencies, Interaction, advocacy organizations and coalitions, and think tanks.
Internal Collaboration
- For priority issues, work with Mercy Corps internal stakeholders on country teams, technical teams, among others to identify policy objectives and develop appropriate and thoughtful strategies to achieving those objectives.
- Assist in devising and carrying out policy focused advocacy and outreach strategies, both unilaterally and/or in cooperation with Mercy Corps colleagues and partner agencies.
- Develop strong relationships with Mercy Corps field teams; track developments in priority countries; and provide advocacy and policy-level support to enable high-impact programs.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Mercy Corps" staff and key external actors, including NGO colleagues, Congressional offices, administration officials, think tanks, and academic institutions, among others.
- Travel to Mercy Corps field programs and regional meetings 2-4 times per year. Understand and adapt to the cultural, political and religious environment in field visits.
- In cooperation with the Global Engagement, Communications and Web teams, help craft the agency"s legislative advocacy strategies and messaging for mobilizing grassroots audiences.
Research and Writing:
- Write policy documents including public reports, opinion pieces, blog posts, and white papers.
- In cooperation with the Communications and Digital Web teams, occasionally draft and tailor written products as appropriate for use with various audiences, including policy makers, media, web visitors, and the general public. Products will encompass a variety of formats, including policy briefs, case studies, op-eds, web stories, and talking points, etc. for external consumption and to help guide and inform Mercy Corps staff.
- Drafting of policy-related talking points and key messages to help guide and inform Mercy Corps" staff members.
- Research and analyze selected issues through a variety of means, including field visits, key informant interviews, literature reviews, etc.
- Other duties as assigned
Accountability
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We actively engage beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Organizational Learning:
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Policy and Advocacy
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Washington DC office staff, Communications Team, Vice President of Global Engagement and Policy, Technical Support Unit Regional and Country Teams, and Digital Team,
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master"s degree or higher in relevant field (international development, international relations, public policy, etc.) preferred.
- 4 to 6 years relevant experience in the public policy and international development arenas. Experience with relief and development fieldwork, the US Administration or Congress, and/or international NGO-related advocacy preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in humanitarian and/or development sectors required.
- Specific experience working in the Middle East, especially in response to the Syrian crisis or on priority issues (including the foreign assistance budget, food security, youth, conflict resolution, resilience, the protection of humanitarian space and humanitarian reform) preferred.
- Proven ability in researching, analyzing, and reporting on foreign assistance policy issues.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to effectively gather and summarize large amounts of information from various sources.
- Strong political and strategic skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively advance policy priorities.
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
- Demonstrated sensitivity, skill and experience in working diplomatically and effectively within different cultural settings and in public relations and correspondence with a wide variety of public constituents.
- Knowledge of Arabic and interest in traveling to the region preferred.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues, peer groups, officials and stake-holders.
Ability to effectively summarize complex information into clear, concise talking points or briefing papers.
A clear understanding of Mercy Corps" mission and collaborative style of working.
Ability to multi-task in a fast paced, often stressful environment and meet deadlines under those conditions.
Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with both HQ and country team personnel.
Computer literate with strong organizational skills.
Ability to operate with a significant degree of autonomy within agreed upon parameters.
Flexibility and sense of humor are really important!
LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
Some travel (up to approximately 20%) may be required to field locations, including program locations that may include insecure or harsh environments.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC"s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
How to apply:
Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=dGNoYWJvdW5pLjg1Njc5LjM4MzBAbWVyY3ljb3Jwcy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20
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