SENIOR POLICY ADVOCATE

CARE USA

Background

75 years ago, a small group of Americans sent the world’s first CARE package on a ship across the Atlantic. They refused to stand on the sidelines while millions of Europeans faced starvation. Much has changed since World War II but CARE’s commitment to helping people has not.

Today CARE is a leader in global development. Our staff strengthen health in Honduras. Advance gender equity in Ethiopia. Reduce poverty in Pakistan. Mitigate climate change in Cote d’Ivoire. With an annual budget of $700 million and a global team of 7,000 CARE works in nearly 100 countries around the world to save lives, defeat poverty and promote social justice.

The Opportunity

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 food and nutrition security (FNS). 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 CARE Action Network in implementing CARE’s advocacy agenda and providing guidance and information about how CARE supporters around the country can help educate their Members of Congress. The SPA will also contribute to the overall success of CARE’s advocacy portfolio.

The SPA is also responsible for assisting with fundraising proposal development. Reporting to the Deputy 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.

Job Responsibilities:

Provides political analysis and develops advocacy strategies regarding U.S. government FNS policies, legislation, and initiatives.

  • Analyzes U.S. government (USG) policies and legislative and/or regulatory vehicles of interest to CARE’s food and nutrition security 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 CDS 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. Works with these stakeholders on an on-going basis to inform and refine such strategies.

Implements food and nutrition security 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 FNS security in consultation with Director of Government Relations, Government Relations team, and the US Policy and Programs CDS team.
  • 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 officials 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 FNS portfolio as necessary.

External representation and coordination.

  • Takes an active role in representing CARE and its policy positions on food and nutrition security 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 managemetn 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 CDS 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 FNS technical team to communicate policy developments and new learnings.

Educational :

  • BA in political science/international relations or a related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
  • Desired : Post-graduate degree in international relations, political science, international development or related field.

Experience/Technical Skills

  • At least seven years’ experience in a relevant organization or government agency focused on food and nutrition security policy and advocacy.
  • Substantial experience working with Congress and U.S. government agencies.
  • Substantial experience in the design and implementation of policy advocacy interventions, and especially in policy analysis, research and writing.
  • Deep knowledge of U.S. food and nutrition security policy and solid understanding of U.S. foreign assistance more generally.
  • 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.
  • Extensive background and knowledge of legislative environment on Capitol Hill and related.
  • Executive branch departments.
  • Knowledge and understanding of issues surrounding food and nutrition security and international development assistance policy and programs as well as its accompanying budget and appropriations processes
  • Sound technical understanding of food and nutrition security policies and field-based approaches.
  • Advanced written and communication skills, particularly to convey information effectively and to write persuasively in a variety of styles for a variety of audiences
  • Excellent data organizational skills including analysis and synthesis
  • Ability to articulate and orally convey information persuasively Sound computer knowledge and skills.
  • Visioning and strategic development skills Experience in organizational learning and knowledge management Effective interpersonal communication skills
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate well with others and develop and maintain positive working relationships

Desired

  • Ten or more years or substantive Congressional experience or advocacy work.
  • 5 years international development hands-on experience such as Peace Corps or NGO programs.
  • Solid knowledge of the CARE organization, including the workings of country offices (through concrete program experience with CARE or a similar operational NGO, ideally to some extent in the field).
  • Direct food and nutrition security program experience in implementing and promoting rights-based approaches. Experience in a previous position developing strategies for multi-donor support of gender programming
  • Three – five years experience in fundraising and external relationship-building
  • Demonstrated strategic planning, teambuilding and facilitation skills Proposal development skills Proficiency in a second language, preferably Spanish, French, Portuguese or Arabic.

How to apply

https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg02/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=CAREUSA&cws=52&rid=6112

There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. Some examples of these fees are placement fees or immigration processing fees. CARE does not use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Occasionally, CARE does employ recruiting or placement agencies to help us identify candidates for specific employment within CARE. If you’re contacted by a legitimate recruiting or placement agency, there should be no charge to you. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud from someone purporting to be CARE, please contact us at [email protected].

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. If you’d like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click here.


Closing date: 22-Oct-22