Policy and Advocacy Officer

Position:         Policy and Advocacy Officer

Location:         London, U.K. (preferred) or Washington, D.C.

Status:           Full-time, permanent

Reports to:       Director, Global Advocacy and Campaigns

Salary range:         £37,900 - £40,200 GBP | $56,700 - $60,100 USD

Deadline to apply: 27 April 2021

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I. Position Summary

Reporting to the Director, Global Advocacy and Campaigns, the Policy and Advocacy Officer will support Malala Fund’s policy development and advocacy activities across the work of the Advocacy department. They will contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality global and national policy advocacy strategies for girls’ education through supporting policy analysis, global and national research projects and the project management of advocacy initiatives on the themes of education financing, education quality and social norms. They will represent Malala Fund externally with sector colleagues and contribute to relationships with technical specialists in key government and international institutions.

II. Responsibilities

Strengthening Policy and Advocacy

• Develops draft key messages and policy recommendations using evidence from our programmes and wider research in consultation with Advocacy colleagues and partners.
• Produce evidence-based policy briefings to inform global and national advocacy work.
• Provides research, evidence-gathering and copy-editing support for advocacy reports.
• Produces advocacy materials, including talking points, high-level correspondence and briefings.
• Maps advocacy targets, moments and tactics for achieving change across Malala Fund’s priority areas.
• Support the coordination and implementation of global and national advocacy campaigns.
• Identifies and implements ways to support greater coherence across the work of the three units within the Advocacy department: Global Advocacy and Campaigns, National Advocacy, Research and Policy.
• Working with the Research and Learning Officer (MEL) and the Programmes department, helps develop frameworks to monitor and evaluate the impact of Malala Fund’s global advocacy.

External Relationships and Representation

• Represents the organisation at external meetings with sector colleagues and technical specialists in key government and international institutions as directed, reporting outcomes to the wider team.
• Undertakes direct advocacy with decision-makers as directed.
• Creates and maintains a database of advocacy targets.
• Develops relationships and conducts advocacy with government departments, parliamentary bodies, oversight bodies and other political influencing targets.
• Promotes and supports the input and voices of education activists and girl advocates at external engagements.

Organisational Culture

• Upholds the values of Malala Fund.
• Actively contributes to making Malala Fund a diverse and equitable workplace through inclusive practice and openness to different perspectives, cultures and ideas.
• Maintains behaviour and conduct that uphold the highest standards for safeguarding, professionally and personally.
• Acts as a role model for a ‘learning organisation’ culture by seeking insight and using problems as opportunities to learn.

III.  Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours

Essential

• Previous experience working in policy and/or advocacy.
• Proven ability to oversee a wide range of tasks and to manage multiple competing deadlines.
• Exceptional writer and editor with meticulous attention to detail, including in order to influence policy and raise public awareness.
• Willing to listen and learn, making space for ideas and approaches that are different than your own.
• Take ownership of and initiative in everything you do, while understanding how to work across teams.
• Strong commitment to Malala Fund’s mission, purpose and values.
• Strong commitment to gender equality, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, decolonisation and social justice.
• Strong commitment to professional development and continued learning.
• Excellent team player with ability to work independently and in collaboration with colleagues at all levels across departments and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Strong understanding of issues related to girls’ education.
• A good working knowledge of international and regional institutions related to girls’ education and international development.
• Experience using programme evidence to support policy and advocacy work.
• Experience in designing and implementing MEL plans, tools and processes for global advocacy initiatives. 

Note: This position is eligible for immigration sponsorship in the U.K.

IV. About Malala Fund

Registered as a public charity in the U.K. and U.S., Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn for 12 years and lead without fear. We advocate for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves — and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in developing country education leaders and frontline organisations — the people who best understand girls in their communities — in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We amplify girls’ voices. Malala Fund is building a movement of young education activists who, like Malala, speak truth to power around the world.

V. How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter through the application link by 27 April 2021.

Please note that due to the very high number of applications we receive when positions are posted, we are only able to respond directly to candidates with whom we wish to move forward in the interview process.

Malala Fund is an inclusive organisation and welcomes applications from under-represented and intersectional groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are seeking people from different backgrounds, cultures, age, experience and identities, to provide a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund. 

Malala Fund is committed to ensuring the safety of those involved in our work. Our first priority is protecting everyone who comes in direct or indirect contact with our organisation. Malala Fund has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and exploitation by any of our staff, representatives or partners. We commit to ensuring that those who work with Malala Fund or on our behalf are able to work in an environment that is free from harm. To this end, Malala Fund reserves the right to conduct background checks on prospective and current employees.