Policy Director

Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (“Friends”) works to end the worldwide burden of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We educate, engage, and mobilize U.S. decision makers to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (“Global Fund”), the world’s largest public health financier. The Global Fund supports treatment, prevention and care programs for the three diseases – and larger health security and pandemic response capacity locally — in more than 100 low- and middle-income countries. In addition, we advocate with policymakers in support of the Global Fund and the U.S. bilateral health programs (PEPFAR, PMI, and the USAID TB program), and advocate for global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response policies and institutions grounded in human rights and implementing country leadership. Friends works very closely with the Global Fund in Geneva, and with civil society partners and coalitions in the United States, in other high-income donor countries (e.g., in Europe and Japan), and in low- and middle-income countries around the world.

The Policy Director reports directly to the Chief Policy Officer (CPO). The successful candidate will work closely with the CPO, President/CEO, Advocacy Manager, and Global Fund representatives to inform and support the organization’s work among U.S. policymakers, partners and opinion leaders, and to identify and address key questions and issues that could affect the work and reputation of the Global Fund, and global pandemics policy more generally. They will oversee staff and at times contractors to develop policy positions and papers, analyze legislative developments and budgets, and advise and coordinate Friends’ and the Global Fund’s events and outreach on Capitol Hill. They will work with the Chief Communications Officer and Communications team to help develop messaging and media pieces, web material and general information on the Global Fund. They will develop Friends’ working relationships with colleagues at the Global Fund, on Capitol Hill especially, in the Department of State including but not limited to the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs including but not limited to the President’s Malaria Initiative and the tuberculosis program, and the National Security Council, directly and among NGO partners and coalitions, and with other key stakeholders as needed.

Duties

• Coordinate, organize and implement outreach to and interface with Capitol Hill on behalf of the Global Fund, including tracking funding and legislation; planning, staffing, and attending advocacy days, events and briefings (in-person and virtual); and for Washington, D.C. visits from Global Fund executives, managing production of briefing materials and talking points and shaping priorities for legislators to engage.
• Manage and directly engage in Friends cultivation of supporters in Congress of the Global Fund and other global health investments, building networks of information-gathering and trust.
• Lead outreach to nonprofit advocacy groups, serving as Friends’ representative on disease-specific, global health, and other coalitions and coordinate. Convene coalition meetings as needed on Global Fund advocacy.
• Where needed, advise and assist superiors in Executive Branch outreach; work with private sector and faith-based advocacy partners (supporting Chief Policy Officer’s lead role with both); and collaborate with partner advocacy groups in high income and low- and middle- income countries, representing Friends whenever needed.
• Make recommendations to the Chief Policy Officer and President/CEO on strategies to build or retain U.S. government support for the Global Fund, and on creative means and avenues to engage decision-makers.
• Coordinate directly with the Global Fund, including in regular meetings; attending key events; preparing materials for and staffing Global Fund executives as needed; and cultivating relationships with various key personnel at the Global Fund.
• Directly and by overseeing staff, research and provide policy guidance on issues regarding AIDS, TB, malaria; pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; and global health that are important to the U.S. Congress and Administration, and providing high-level counsel to the Global Fund on the same as needed.
• Direct and oversee policy staff and consultant(s). Delegate work assignments, set expectations and monitor delegated activities to team members. Manage the assignment and division of tasks with superiors.
• Monitor and report on legislative and policy activities in the Congress, White House, and executive branch, and key related policies important to the Global Fund.
• Draft letters, legislative analyses, position statements, memos, speeches, congressional testimony and other materials necessary to accurately convey the Global Fund’s and Friends of the Global Fight’s positions and recommendations.
• Author and co-author occasional articles and blogs for Friends and outside publications on AIDS, TB, malaria, pandemics and global health policy, and offer creative ideas for content and forms of Friends thought leadership on policy.
• Provide brief oral and written reports to the President/CEO, staff and, if assigned, the Board of Directors on developments in public policy and the objectives and results of legislative education and advocacy activities.
• Assist the Chief Policy Officer in drafting and production of the Policy team’s sections of all regular reports to the Friends Board of Directors and a few key Friends funders.
• Serve as an expert resource for public policymakers and other interested partner organizations on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
• Continue to build Friends of the Global Fight’s role as a respected and objective voice on the Global Fund, on the three diseases; global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; and global health policy.
• Ensure strict adherence to ethical and legal guidelines in lobbying and other activities by the Policy team.
• Intermittent international travel.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent political/policy strategist and writer, able to synthesize and edit political and policy information/ideas in written form.
• Strong capacity to engage and work with the U.S. Congress on a non-partisan basis.
• Capacity to engage in and coordinate with advocacy and health community coalitions.
• Knowledge of global health and/or U.S. foreign policy very highly desirable. Both preferred.
• Ability to communicate and write clearly, persuasively and quickly.
• Ability to creatively and productively manage and keep accountable staff and contractor(s).
• Strong project management skills; able to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Conceptual, strategic, tactical, creative and especially critical thinking.
• Attention to detail is essential.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Arts Degree. Advanced degree in Public Health, International Affairs or Public Policy preferred.

• Previous experience drafting, tracking, developing legislation and/or federal budgets or programs is desirable.
• Experience in global or public health issues advocacy a plus.
• Previous nonprofit experience is a plus.
  

How To Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample with the subject heading Policy Director to [email protected]. No phone calls, please. Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only respond to applicants whose qualifications closely match the job description.

Compensation: Salary is competitive and depends on qualifications, plus we offer a competitive benefits package. Friends is an equal opportunity employer.

All Friends staff work from home but are routinely expected to be in Washington, DC, depending on public health conditions and organization needs.