CAREERS

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) provides strategic support to advocates working to enact and implement laws that save lives, and is a leading policy advocacy voice on a range of issues including food policy, road safety, cardiovascular health, drowning prevention, civil registration & vital statistics, preventing epidemics, and maternal and reproductive health, among others. Our history is rooted in one of the most successful public health campaigns — tobacco control. Building on the successes and lessons learned in the global fight against tobacco deaths, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids launched the Global Health Advocacy Incubator in 2014 to strengthen advocacy capacity to improve public health around the globe using a locally-led approach that is adaptable to culture, political context and issue area. 

Position Overview

GHAI seeks an Associate Director of Communications to support communications initiatives to advance policies and regulations that improve cardiovascular health and nutrition. The Cardiovascular Health Program (CVH Program) seeks to prevent millions of deaths from cardiovascular disease through regulations to ban industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA), sodium reduction policies (including front of package labeling, unhealthy food marketing bans, school food environments regulations, policies for healthy food procurements in public institutions, maximum sodium benchmarks, among others) and hypertension control policies. The program works in partnership with Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The Associate Director of Communications leads efforts to support the strategic communications, media and digital advocacy work of GHAI’s civil society organization partners in key countries advocating for cardiovascular health policy change. This position reports to the Director of Communications, Food Policy and works closely with the Director, CVH Program. The Associate Director, Communications serves as a thought partner and resource for the CVH Program and team, GHAI staff, international NGOs, and the media. The Associate Director will have a deep understanding of and strong track-record of using traditional, digital and paid media as critical components to advance policy change. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong project management skills; passion, curiosity and comfort working in cross-cultural settings; and a demonstrated commitment to capacity strengthening in a global context. 

This position is based in Washington, DC and is open to U.S. citizens and other applicants who already possess U.S. work authorization.  GHAI will be operating under a hybrid (partial remote and partial in-person/in-office) work environment beginning in April 2022. Full vaccination (including booster shots) against Covid-19 is required.

Responsibilities

As the communications lead for the CVH program, the Associate Director will partner closely with in country civil society organizations to develop communications strategies and campaigns to advance policy objectives and program goals.  This role will also collaborate closely with the GHAI Food Policy Program, GHAI core communications team, Resolve to Save Lives, and other partners.  

Key areas of focus for the position include:

• Develop, implement, and support advocacy communications strategies that include earned media and digital advocacy strategies in partnership with NGOs and NGO networks in selected low-and middle-income countries of focus;
• Enhance capacity of civil society organizations in focus countries to conduct effective communications, in part by providing training and capacity building programs;
• In partnership with in-country civil society organizations, develop and implement methods to increase the capacity of the media to report on public health issues, including journalism workshops, and other programs;
• Collaborate with GHAI and other relevant partners to efficiently and creatively craft and implement media strategies in support of GHAI’s and local NGO’s objectives;
• Collaborate with country-focused communications staff from other organizations;
• Oversee production of communication materials;
• Oversee relationships with and output of communications agencies and consultants, including PR agencies and media monitoring vendors in countries;
• Evaluate the country-specific communications and media advocacy programs; and 
• Highlight the CVH work and local partners advances through regular contributions to the GHAI blog and social media channels and development of case studies and other publications.

Qualifications

• Broad client-services experience in the field of public relations, and/or particular experience serving NGO clients in the public health arena; 
• Demonstrated experience using social media, digital advocacy tools and platforms as well as traditional media as a critical tool for policy change;
• Advocacy campaign development and implementation experience;
• Understanding of how communications strategies can support policy change and implementation in low-and middle-income countries;
• Impeccable project management skills and the ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement trainings; 
• Excellent writing and editing skills;
• Comfort working on multi-country programs and/or in cross cultural settings; Experience working or living overseas a plus;
• Flexibility, strong organizational skills, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment;
• Meet timely and detailed project goals that support larger strategy; 
• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 5-7 years’ relevant experience in media relations, public relations, consulting, and/or advocacy campaigns; 
• Ability and desire to travel overseas;
• Fluency in written and spoken languages in addition to English, preferred; and
• Experience working on nutrition and food policies issues, a plus.

Why Join GHAI Team?

You will be a part of a respected global health advocacy organization that works to save lives around the world through effective public health policy change.   Our generous benefits package includes:

• 100% company paid health, vision, and dental for you; 70-80% contribution to these coverages for your dependents.
• Paid parental leave benefits (4 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave), in addition to federal and local leave provisions.
• 403b plan participation (with 9% company contribution)
• 10 paid company holidays, 15 vacation days, 10 sick days and 5 personal days (on an accrual basis each calendar year); for 2022-- 5 additional personal days 
• A hybrid work schedule (3 days in office; 2 days remote)  

TO APPLY

To apply for this position, please email a cover letter, resume and salary requirement to: jobs@advocacyincubator.org.  Please reference the position code: ADC/CH/14 in the subject line of your email.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. No phone calls please. 

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity. 
 
The Global Health Advocacy Incubator, a program of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, advances public health policies to build a healthier and safer world. Drawing on our extensive global experience, we offer strategic support to in-country partners to develop and execute advocacy campaigns to pass laws and policies that save lives. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leader in the fight to reduce tobacco use in the United States and around the world. A non-profit organization established in 1996, the Campaign works with more than 130 organizational partners, including public health, medical, education, civic, corporate, youth and religious organizations. The Campaign does not accept any government or tobacco industry funding.