Advocacy Coordinator

Job Title: Advocacy Coordinator

Job Status: Full time (40 hours per week)

Job location: Washington, D.C. or New York

Report to: Executive Director

JOB SUMMARY

We are looking for an Advocacy Coordinator with a strong understanding of the international humanitarian policy space, especially the impact of wars on health, development, nonprofit work, funding of humanitarian work, background in advocacy in the humanitarian space, and expertise in the storytelling of humanitarian and health across communications platforms.

This position will play a key role in developing and overseeing the creation of a strategy, activities, and both daily and long-term goals for policy/ advocacy work and communications/ media work.

This role will bring strategic, creative, and critical thinking, and embrace working both independently and collaboratively with a global team as well as partner organizations and allies.

The role emphasizes advocacy toward the US government and in collaboration with US-based advocacy and humanitarian groups.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy and Policy

● Lead in developing and updating MedGlobal advocacy strategy.

● Research and analyze domestic policies, legislation, and potential advocacy actions related to humanitarian issues in MedGlobal countries of operation: Bangladesh, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine.

● Brief different stakeholders on field humanitarian work and major policy issues related to it that includes, but not limited to, attacks on healthcare, protection of healthcare workers, building resilience through training, attacks on civilians, impact of war on mental health, use of unconventional weapons, impact of war on health, displacement and refugees, impact on non-communicable diseases, impact on infectious diseases, impact on reproductive health, impact on malnutrition, early recovery, and post crisis recovery.

● Work with country teams to develop and adjust policy priorities related to MedGlobal countries of operations and health programming.

● Build relationships with and represent MedGlobal to a variety of stakeholders in virtual and in-person meetings, emphasizing the US government, UN officials in the US and elsewhere, US-based coalitions, and more.

● Coordinate and participate in briefings, public actions, lobby days, and other policy related events in DC and NYC as possible.

● Lead in the researching, drafting, and publication of specific reports related to MedGlobal areas of operations, and spearheads the coinciding advocacy strategy related to these reports.

● Produce materials such as position papers, talking points, action alerts, blog posts, and content for the website.

● Brief MedGlobal staff, the Medical and Programs Directors and the Executive Director on key advocacy and policy trends.

Communications

● Help in branding of MedGlobal to different stakeholder as a model coalition of like-minded humanitarian and medical American, diaspora, and local organizations teaming up to build resilience in MedGlobal countries of operation by focusing on improving access to healthcare, and reduce the direct and indirect risks of the war on local populations, learning from collective experiences in disaster responses to other countries.

● Work closely with the Communications team helping to develop and implement MedGlobal communications strategy.

● Work to increase MedGlobal online presence through planning, creating and curating high-quality, high-impact content tailored to MedGlobal channels and audiences.

● Work with the Communications Manager to oversee MedGlobal social media platforms, preparation of social media content, and assessment of key metrics.

● Take a leading editorial and oversight role in the production of a variety of materials, including Annual Report.

● Help develop effective communications strategies for website, newsletters, social media platforms, and other communication channels.

● Oversee the creation, formatting, and distribution of regular email newsletters and email updates, as well as managing the MailChimp listserv.

Partner Relations and Coordination

● Lead in partner engagement, including with local and international NGOs, humanitarian and human rights coalitions, academic institutions, think tanks, and more

● Represent MedGlobal in key coalitions and working groups, ensuring that participation reflects the perspective of field experience and key policy priorities.

Media

● Pitch stories on our collective work of MedGlobal to different media outlets

● (Co)draft press releases and op-eds

● Work with individual journalists to build relationships, pitch stories, and offer quotes

● (Co)Coordinate special events such as the Annual Gala and MedGlobal Day.

● Represent the organization at events, which may include some travel.

● Develop and host online events, which highlight MedGlobal programs and advocacy positioning, ensuring key decision makers and stakeholders are present.

● Draft issue-based reports to highlight important milestones, challenges, and attract attention to specific issues

● Organize advocacy campaigns

General

● Collaboratively work with field, leadership, and program teams to develop strategy, provide input into programs and partnerships, and assist with assessments as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in international relations, public policy, public health, or related fields; master’s degree strongly preferred.

● At least 5 years of work experience focused in the humanitarian sphere, advocacy, communications, and/ or policy work around humanitarian, and human rights issues

● Familiarity of humanitarian funding, international NGOs, USAID and other funders

● Experience representing an organization in advocacy contexts on issues related to international humanitarian crises.

● Experience in media relations, including drafting and pitching op-eds and stories to top tier media outlets.

● Excellent advocacy, consensus-building, and coalition-building skills.

● Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and ability to analyze and articulate complex issues and to communicate them to a variety of audiences.

● Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, work well under pressure, and to adjust to frequently changing demands.

● A knowledge of and passion for humanitarian work, advocacy, and global health

ABOUT MEDGLOBAL

MedGlobal is a global humanitarian non-profit organization providing medical and health education services to people in need, including refugees and displaced persons, in disaster and underserved regions. The organization is composed of medical and public health professionals of diverse backgrounds.

CODE OF CONDUCT

MedGlobal Code of Conduct reflects the profession’s core set of beliefs and values of care, respect, trust, and integrity. These beliefs and values are fundamental to MedGlobal employees, volunteers, interns, consultants, and contractors to guide their practice and conduct. The Code is organized into categories, as follows:

1. Always act with fairness, honesty, integrity, and openness; respect the opinions of others and treat all with equality and dignity without regard to gender, race, color, creed, ancestry, place of origin, political beliefs, religion, marital status, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

2. Provide a positive and valued experience for those receiving service within and outside MedGlobal.

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Child abuse in all forms is unacceptable to MedGlobal, which recognizes its responsibility to protect children from harm in all areas of its work. MedGlobal is committed to ensuring a child-safe environment and is applying a zero-tolerance approach towards any kind of child abuse and exploitation.

DISCRIMINATION, ABUSE AND HARASSMENT POLICY

MedGlobal provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and expressly prohibits and will not tolerate any form of discrimination, abuse, harassment (sexual or otherwise), based upon race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, citizenship status, disability, or military status. MedGlobal employees and related personnel must under no circumstances take part in any form of discrimination, harassment, or abuse (physical, sexual or verbal), intimidation or exploitation, or in any other way infringe the rights of others inside or outside the organization.