Program Officer, Policy & Advocacy

Staff work a hybrid schedule with 2 days/week in the office

Under the direction of the US Country Director, this position executes projects and tasks to further global Program initiatives, implement the Institutional Strategic Plan, and drive policy and advocacy priorities within the US market. A focus of this position will be on formalizing and growing IFAW’s network of grassroots activists and supporters in the United States, raising awareness about IFAW priority issues and mobilizing public support for IFAW’s policy initiatives.

The Program Officer will develop and execute grassroots engagement strategies with a focus on awareness, education, and action. This entails working across Departments to identify strategic Congressional districts, states, cities, and communities for which IFAW would benefit from increased engagement and activism.

In close consultation with the DVP, Digital Marketing and Fundraising, the Program Officer will develop and help execute a digital marketing strategy and plan, helping to create online content to influence public opinion and drive policy change.

Other program and advocacy work may include researching and collating information on conservation issues and public policy, participating in NGO coalitions, drafting outreach materials for target audiences, participating in meetings with the Administration and Congress, and representing Programs and the organization to both internal and external audiences as necessary.

The Program Officer is expected to collect and report data related to monitoring and evaluating US advocacy work, comply with reporting requirements for federal and state lobbying, as applicable, and carry out administrative tasks as needed to fulfill the responsibilities of this role.

Role and Responsibilities

Grassroots Engagement and Digital Strategy (~75%)

• Develop a grassroots supporter outreach strategy and plan
• Organize and facilitate events, webinars, and community outreach programs to engage and empower supporters to take action on priority issues.
• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, volunteers, activists, and other stakeholders to strengthen grassroots efforts.
• Provide training and guidance to IFAW’s grassroots supporters on advocacy tactics, campaign strategies, and issues.
• Collect and analyze grassroots campaign feedback to evaluate effectiveness and improve future outreach efforts.
• Craft other communications as needed to effectively promote grassroots engagement and advocacy efforts.
• Draft email blasts, petitions, actions, and other supporting content to mobilize supporters, promote events, and drive petition signups.
• Develop grassroots-related content for relevant social media platforms.
• Help create shareable graphics, sample posts, and how-to guides to support online activism and peer-to-peer outreach.
• Update and maintain content on relevant advocacy landing pages, petitions, and event pages.
• Help create and manage a grassroots database of records within IFAW's main database; input, track, and analyze grassroots supporter data

Government Affairs (~25%)

• Support policy initiatives through activities including but not limited to: direct lobbying; participating in relevant coalitions; legislative, policy, and legal analysis; multi-party negotiations; developing advocacy materials; researching and drafting reports and memos; preparing testimony and public presentations.
• Develop knowledge of and keep abreast of relevant conservation and animal welfare issues. Build up working knowledge of, amongst others, relevant international conventions and agreements and scientific knowledge of focus species.
• Represent IFAW at relevant meetings and conferences.
• Maintain a positive and professional approach when in contact with the media, politicians, representatives from Government, community groups and other NGOs.
• Provide information on IFAW US initiatives to colleagues in other IFAW departments e.g. Development, Communications, other Country Offices and Program Departments
• Ensure compliance with all external and internal reporting requirements, including tracking lobbying activity and contributing to IFAW’s monitoring and evaluation work and annual reports.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent in Natural Resources, Public Policy, Law, Biology, Education, or related discipline preferred. Advanced degree ideal.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience, such as Capitol Hill or other legislative experience and/or grassroots advocacy organizing
• Proven ability to build relationships with diverse communities and mobilize volunteers or constituents.
• Experience planning and executing community events, canvasses, phone/text banks, or other advocacy mobilizations.
• Experience creating content for online advocacy campaigns: email, landing pages, petitions, social media, and newsletters.
• Familiarity with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and advocacy platforms like Blackbaud CRM, Salesforce, Engaging Networks
• Understanding of segmentation and targeting using these CRM tools.
• Knowledge of federal legislative procedures, and ability to formulate and execute strategies to gain Congressional support and advance legislation
• Superior writing skills with the ability to write reports and briefing documents and carry out strategic analyses.
• Organized, self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Highly effective interpersonal, communication and organizational skills and experience working on teams in a multi-task environment.

At IFAW, we aim to create and foster a workforce that reflects and contributes to the diverse, global community in which we work to improve the lives of both animals and people. We are dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion so we actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Hiring range is $69,000-$83,000 per year