Title: Senior Manager, Advocacy and Communications

ABOUT VILLAGEREACH

VillageReach transforms health care delivery to reach everyone.  Our vision is a world where every person has the health care needed to thrive. Our programs focus building people-centered health systems that make sure health products and services are available when and where they are needed, with a focus on developing scalable, high-impact solutions. We are driven by a passion for collaboration and partnership, as we believe strongly that collective action is the only way to achieve sustainable change. Our work improves the lives of more than 35 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.  VillageReach in incorporated in Washington State and has offices in Seattle (USA), Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Summary

The Advocacy and Communications Team at VillageReach influences the ability of others to act in support of VillageReach’s mission while strengthening the organization’s brand.  VillageReach seeks an experienced professional to support advocacy and communications in DRC, with a focus on liaising with government officials and partners on key programs.  This is a dynamic role requiring a candidate who can help develop strategies, write compelling policy and advocacy materials, and work with a broad set of external and internal stakeholders.The Senior Manager, Advocacy and Communications reports to the DRC Country Director and works in close collaboration with the broader Advocacy and Communications team.

Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

• Lead DRC advocacy and communications work and ensure that all activities contribute to the broader objectives of the organization.
• Lead advocacy and communications for HealthChat dissemination, timely information to the public on COVID-19 via WhatsApp.
• Support the deployment of remote training of health workers on COVID-19.
• Take the lead of advocacy and communication directions, by designing, developing, and delivering advocacy strategy and messaging, lay out the tactics, engage partners, build and strengthen relationships with relevant stakeholders and proactively take necessary action
• Advocate for the uptake of next-generation supply chain (NGCA) for vaccines in Mashako Plan to address last mile supply chain challenges
• Document the policy and financing needs – along with broader political considerations required to sustain next-generation supply chains in the context of broader initiatives such as the Mashako Plan
• Engage Provincial Parliamentarians on sustainable health financing, with a focus on domestic resource mobilization
• Advise the Director, Advocacy and Communications and Country Director in the development of advocacy proposals and strategic activities to ensure that these meet the requirements of high level stakeholders, political and decision-making bodies and promote further cooperation and coordination with partners
• Promote VillageReach and its objectives by ensuring high visibility and understanding of NGCA at the highest political level and grassroots level
• Document and disseminate the implementation of a next-generation supply chain, including best practices, success stories, lessons learned and challenges
• Support the GFF mechanisms through the partnership with GFF CSO Coalition
• Promote VillageReach’s evidence and experience regionally and globally in key countries to support plans and policies that lead to improved access to health at the last mile.
• Lead cross-organizational communications activities and processes, liaising with staff in Seattle to manage VillageReach social media channels, support employees with advocacy and communications and more.
• Contribute to blogs, presentations, whitepapers, grants proposals, strategy documents, and other written deliverables.

Competencies:

The following competencies reflect what is expected of all VillageReach employees; including examples of how one might demonstrate each of these competencies in one’s role.

• Personal Motivation and Drive: Is self-directed in one’s approach to work, but asks for help when needed; holds oneself accountable; undertakes self-development activities; seeks to build and master new skills; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities within the organization.

• Collaboration & Effective Communication: Establishes and maintains effective relations with coworkers, partners & stakeholders and external parties; works collaboratively with others to accomplish organizational and team goals and objectives; works actively to resolve conflicts; expresses ideas and thoughts effectively; selects and uses appropriate communication methods and maintains meaningful communication with virtual coworkers and other parties to keep them informed.
• Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Takes personal responsibility for and supports others across the organization in creating and sustaining a diverse work environment where individuals are welcomed, valued, respected and supported; personally committed to attaining cultural competency including self-awareness of one’s own attitudes about culture and cross-cultural interactions; exhibits the willingness and ability to engage openly and respectfully around issues of race, colonialism, identity and culture; upholds equity in access to sharing of information, ideas, and opportunities throughout VillageReach.
• Commitment to Excellence: Produces a high output of work, both in terms of quality and quantity; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; monitors work to ensure quality; has a personal commitment to the mission of VillageReach.
• Solution Orientation & Innovation: Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how to best achieve them; gets the job done; sees opportunities for creative problem-solving while staying within the parameters of good practice; sees old problems in new ways and has novel approaches to solving those problems; contributes original and/or resourceful ideas to their area of responsibility; is able to consider and articulate risks and consequences of proposed innovations and factor these into decision-making.

REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & Experience:                                                                                                            

• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in policy, advocacy or related field of which at least 3 years working in health or international development.
• Experience in the design and management of initiatives to change policy and increase visibility and political will for health and development issues.
• Ability to build political and financial support for health and development goals in low-resource environments with governmental and non-state organizations. 
• Experience working collaboratively with international stakeholders and multilateral organizations such as Gavi, The Global Fund, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, World Bank, and/or bilateral aid organizations.    
• Persuasive written and verbal communication. Open mindedness to accommodate the non-traditional mix of disciplines within VillageReach and interpersonal skills to work effectively in partnership with others in the organization and externally.
• Experience working with CSOs, government, the media and other stakeholders to influence change.
• A graduate degree in public policy, public affairs, international development, public health, or related field. 

Other Qualifications:

• Excellent written and verbal English and French communication.
• Established cultural competency in partnering with racial, cultural and linguistically diverse groups.
• Demonstrated understanding of challenges with working in rural, underserved and low-income context.
• Ability to be self-directed, prioritize and perform multiple tasks, problem-solve, and work under pressure.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced technical environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel) and comfortable in a fast-paced technical environment.
• Ability to travel up to 30% (depending on government’s restrictions on travels in the context of COVID-19).

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position will supervise one staff member supporting programs and advocacy and communications.

Environment and Physical Demands

VillageReach has no private offices, employees work in a shared, open environment with task and conference rooms accessible to employees for privacy and meetings. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Due to the time zone differences between our Seattle office and our Country Offices and location of other global staff, DRC based staff are expected to be available for late afternoon/evening meetings up to 6pm.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

This is an immediate hire and therefore resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis until June 3, 2020. To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter to our online portal: https://www.villagereach.org/join-us/

This is a 6-month fixed-term contract and the position is based in Kinshasa, DRC.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:

VillageReach is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to workforce diversity. We believe that diverse, equitably weighted perspectives foster an organizational capacity to create novel solutions that improve health in the most underserved and hard-to-reach areas. To align our values, innovations and impact, VillageReach is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse global workforce.

Compensation:

VillageReach has an established compensation structure that is based on the relevant market and internally transparent. We hire people into the established range based on one’s experience and education and considering internal equity. We do not inquire about salary history.