COVID-19 Vaccines Campaign Advocacy Advisor

Company

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian organization that delivers impartial medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care in over 70 countries.

We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s common mission.

Position Background

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MSF has worked to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and bring medical care to people affected by it. In addition to
providing direct medical support and services, the organization has also promoted equitable access to COVID-19 medical tools, including diagnostics, medicines and
vaccines. With the advent of COVID-19 vaccines, MSF USA is scaling up its work to promote affordable access to these vaccines, many of which have been developed
by US-based pharmaceutical companies with financial support from the US government and other philanthropic funding.

The Advocacy Advisor will implement key elements of MSF’s COVID-19 advocacy campaign, working with a multi-disciplinary team at MSF USA composed of communications, development, advocacy and policy stakeholders, along with external US-based stakeholders and partners.

Department

The Programs Department at MSF USA consists of several units including advocacy, diplomacy, and research arms for both MSF USA and MSF’ international offices. Units served by the Program Department include the Grants Unit, Humanitarian Representation Team, Access Campaign, Epicentre and special projects.

The Development Department is responsible for developing secure and diversified private income streams in the US to meet the financial needs of MSF’s medical projects and ensure the independence of our global operations. The Mass Marketing team within Development — especially the Digital team — collaborate closely with
colleagues in Programs on campaigns that drive advocacy goals and drive engagement and bring in new activists and supporters.

This position will be managed by the Programs Department and will coordinate with a core team composed of key representatives of relevant MSF USA departments in addition to representatives as appropriate from the Access Campaign. Additionally, there will be a steering committee made up of senior Management Team directors from both MSF USA and the Access Campaign for project management.

Project

Under the direction of the Programs Departments, and in close cooperation with the Development and Communications departments, the Advocacy Advisor leads MSFUSA’s public and internal engagement project related to COVID-19 vaccine access. The Advisor will work to design and implement the project by engaging a range of internal and external stakeholders and supporting the team to operationalize the advocacy and campaign plans. The position will liaise with and reach out to diverse US-based organizations and key stakeholders to foster engagement and build coalitions for the campaign and advocacy action. This role will help to collaborate with colleagues from MSF-USA, the Access Campaign and the broader MSF movement to implement strategy and tactics, while helping amplify messages, and making use of advocacy and communication materials to support country-level objectives of the project.

Tasks

Core Functions and Responsibilities

• Designs and implements the US-focused advocacy strategy with a small interdisciplinary team of stakeholders from Development, Programs, and Communications along with MSF’s Access Campaign, to include at least the following:

-refining campaign objectives;
-setting and monitoring performance KPIs;
-working with internal teams to coordinate activities;
-ensuring MSF is engaged and participating in relevant policy conversations; and
-contributing timely and informed communications.

• Project Management responsibilities to deliver on Project’s Charter
• Works closely with the Communications team on communications strategies and other public communications tactics that will advance the campaign objectives.
• Helps refine key messaging for various US audiences, framing language and campaign materials for the various audiences in close collaboration with stakeholders.
• Drafts advocacy briefings, campaign materials, outreach and communication materials, as needed.
• Researches and monitors the positions and policies of relevant stakeholders (e.g. policy makers) and other groups of interest.

• Conducts outreach to other civil society groups to enhance engagement and build coalitions within the US, including facilitating collaborative work and sessions with external partners and other contributors, when relevant.
• Helps to ensure the project stays on track and monitors implementation progress; tracking relevant information such as notes and action points from calls and meetings.
• Attends regular campaign team meetings and department meetings.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May be asked to manage one or more staff consisting of associates, temporary staff, paid interns, and/or volunteers.

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training intern or volunteers; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Fiscal Responsibility

Responsibilities may include tracking expenses and timely submission of expense reports, while aligning with project expense budgets and making sure they are adhered to.

Extent of Public Contact

Will represent MSF to supporters, donors, and public event partners (academics, officials of medical and other professional associations, schools, event venues, conference coordinators). Within MSF USA, interacts with office staff, association members, and other team members related to the campaign to stay abreast of MSF issues and to identify participants in MSF Development, Programs and Communications work.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of project management experience in a campaign and/or advocacy portfolio, including outreach and public engagement, within the health, medicine, or pharmaceutical space. Knowledge of US government landscape, US based global health actors and/or experience within pharmaceutical industry a plus.
• Experience in bi-lateral advocacy representation.
• Motivation to improve equity of access to medical care, including vaccines.
• Knowledge of international humanitarian affairs.

• Strategic thinking and planning ability, problem solving/seeking solutions to challenges. Excellent judgment and diplomacy in complex situations.
• Understanding of strategies and tactics of mass advocacy in digital channels.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to track multiple projects simultaneously with an eye towards detail.
• Able to handle a large volume of work under pressure and with deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills, and able to engage with students, civil society organizations, activists, coalition groups, etc.
• Able to work collaboratively and coordinate with a variety of different internal team members in support of your work and, alternatively, with minimum of supervision.
• Experience creating and disseminating communications across various medium, ranging from formal letters to digital content.

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

No phone calls or emails please.

MSF-USA/Doctors Without Borders is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No employee, or applicant for employment, shall be discriminated against in any term or condition of employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law. We are constantly striving to make our organization anti-racist. Diversity, equity and inclusion are core values. As an employee, you become part of that mission. We expect this same commitment from our staff.