Organization: Save the Children – US
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 12 Oct 2015
Summary
Save the Children’s Saving Newborn Lives (SNL) program has made a major contribution in putting newborn survival on global and national agendas—producing groundbreaking analyses and publications, identifying interventions to address the major causes of newborn mortality, and helping 19 high-burden countries develop or improve newborn health policies and strategies and introduce improved newborn care services and practices. However, accelerated progress is needed: newborn deaths now comprise over 40 percent of all deaths of children under age 5; political commitment and funding for newborn survival and health remains inadequate; and progress in reducing neonatal mortality lags behind progress in maternal survival and survival of older children. SNL and its partners have concluded that the critical next step is to demonstrate that evidence-based newborn health interventions can be effectively implemented at scale.
To this end, SNL is working with partners globally and in seven priority countries to develop, apply, document, and sustain successful program implementation at national scale. SNL works collaboratively through country governments, development partners, civil society, and other strategic partnerships to catalyze action to improve health outcomes for newborns. SNL has five mutually reinforcing objectives to achieve impact at scale:
- To promote the generation and use of evidence.
- To provide technical assistance and resources to improve health systems and programs.
- To monitor implementation and outcomes.
- To manage knowledge to improve newborn policies and practices.
- To advocate for and mobilize commitment, resources, and integration for accelerated implementation of newborn health programs.
The SNL Advocacy Specialist provides technical leadership and oversight in support of the fifth SNL strategic objective*.*
Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Impact
Provides input to the strategic and operational plan for their functional area. Develops short term plans and establishes priorities affecting own area. Accountable for achieving results in short term plan. Responsible for setting clear objectives and measures for self and others. Exercise independent judgment and discretion on significant matters related to functional area. Objectives and milestones are determined jointly by employee and supervisor and implemented with management support. Functional based policy and practices exist. Incumbent is provided with the "what", but is most likely to determine the "how." May exercise management supervision of administrative or professional staff, or program(s) Provides information to their Manager or to other Senior Managers so that they can make accurate decisions. Builds effective relationships with peers and managers. Relates well to all kinds of people.
The SNL Advocacy Specialist is an integral member of the advocacy, communications, and knowledge management team, serving as a technical resource for staff and contributing to communications and knowledge management strategic planning and implementation. The Advocacy Specialist also works with SNL’s home office leadership, with seven country offices, and with working groups, alliances, and steering committees across the Save the Children federation and other key organizations that work globally to advance the newborn agenda.
Specific duties and responsibilities of the Advocacy Specialist include the following:
- Update and finalize the strategic plan that guides SNL advocacy activities, spelling out clear roles, milestones, indicators, and measures to monitor progress and results. The plan should link global advocacy efforts to those at the country level so as to ensure a consistent approach and reflect evidence gained from field experience (20%).
- Coordinate and support SNL efforts to influence and engage other organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank; other advocacy groups, working groups, and coalitions; and private sector organizations with an interest in newborn health (20%).
- Support country-office staff to complete development of their advocacy strategies and then to implement them, focusing on the top 3 to 4 key advocacy objectives/outcomes. Help roll out the advocacy champion tool kit and support SNL country-office staff to identify, recruit, train, support, and measure the effectiveness of advocacy champions to maintain and increase national political and organizational commitment to improving newborn health. Assist staff to identify opportunities to become engaged in global and regional forums for all champions, while tracking their engagement and influence (50%).
- Coordinate advocacy efforts with communications and knowledge management staff to use media and social media channels to generate engagement of civil society and issue activists in both developed and developing countries (10%).
Required Background and Experience, Skills and Behaviors
Professional Level of Technical or Managerial knowledge, skills, and experience to manage the operational activities of a Unit or Team, or provide the technical and management support related to various size programs, grants or projects. Minimum 5 – 9 years" experience required in area of expertise. Bachelor"s Degree through PhD.
- Master’s degree in development communications or related field, or relevant experience
- Five or more years of professional experience, including field experience supporting diverse teams to build skills in planning and implementing advocacy strategies and activities
- Experience working in international health policy issues, especially related to maternal, reproductive, newborn, and child health
- Ability to think both strategically and tactically, i.e., to help teams think through an issue, develop a strategy and plan, prioritize and implement activities, and monitor and measure outcomes
Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we are dedicated to ensuring every child has the best chance for success. Our pioneering programs give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Our advocacy efforts provide a voice for children who cannot speak for themselves. As the leading expert on children, we inspire and achieve lasting impact for millions of the world"s most vulnerable girls and boys. By transforming children"s lives now, we change the course of their future and ours.
Save the Children provides an attractive benefits package including competitive salaries, a matching retirement plan, health and welfare benefits, life insurance, an employee assistance program, generous time off and much more. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender,
How to apply:
https://chc.tbe.taleo.net/chc01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=SAVETHECHILDREN&cws=1&rid=3564
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