Associate Director, Communications, Health Systems Strengthening

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) supports civil society organizations advocating for public health policies that reduce death and disease. We bring a proven advocacy approach and a global network of local partners, built on a 25-year track record of success across multiple issues in more than 60 countries. GHAI is an initiative of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), a program of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, draws on lessons from tobacco control and its growing experience on other public health issues to support advocacy campaigns around the globe to improve health policies and systems and increase budgets to enhance program delivery and impact. To date, that work includes food policy and cardiovascular health, road safety, immunization, drowning prevention, preventing epidemics, and vital statistics. The Health Systems Portfolio currently includes the Prevent Epidemics, Immunization, Data for Health, Drowning Prevention and Hypertension Program work. As part of the Prevent Epidemics work, we work with local partners to engage policy makers to prioritize epidemic preparedness. GHAI supports building government, civil society and media capacity to advocate for and demonstrate demand for epidemic preparedness funding. GHAI also develops political strategies to remove bottlenecks affecting the allocation and spending of preparedness funds. We are currently working in Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. In addition to the country level work, GHAI will also be developing a capacity building program to support civil society advocacy on epidemic preparedness globally. As part of the Vital Statistics Program. GHAI provides legal reviews for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Data for Health Initiative to improve public health data collection so that governments are better equipped with the tools, information, and systems necessary to make informed public health policy decisions. GHAI is also developing a budget advocacy module to increase government resources for strengthening civil registration systems. As part of the Immunization work, GHAI supports governments in Africa and Asia prioritize and strengthen domestic resource mobilization for routine childhood immunizations by supporting locally led civil society advocacy. As part of the Hypertension Program (HTN), GHAI supports civil society advocacy aimed at preventing millions of deaths from hypertension through supporting budget advocacy and health system strengthening to support delivery of hypertension control services at the primary health care level. GHAI will also increasingly be involved in prioritizing HTN at the global level through increased visibility for primary health care strengthening and the NCD agenda. As part of the Drowning Prevention work, GHAI supports the governments of Bangladesh and Vietnam as they implement proven drowning prevention interventions, and advocates to ensure the sustainability of the interventions once external donor financing comes to an end. GHAI supports capacity building with local and international partners to ensure the funding and implementation of programs aimed at reducing number of child deaths and injuries related to drowning. Position Overview GHAI seeks a Associate Director, Communications, Health Systems Strengthening to lead a range of communications initiatives designed to advance policies and budget advocacy in focus countries. The Senior Manager will primarily work on the Prevent Epidemics and Data for Health work and any other projects as directed by the VP of Health Systems Strengthening. The Associate Director leads efforts to support the strategic communications, media and digital advocacy work of GHAI’s civil society organization partners working in key countries on prevent epidemics and data for Health. Working closely with the PE and Data for Health Teams, the Associate Director serves as a thought partner and resource for the HSS Program and team, GHAI staff, international NGOs, and the media. She/he/they will have a good understanding of and strong track-record of using traditional, digital and paid media as critical components to advance policy change. 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 citizens and other applicants who already possess work authorization. GHAI will be operating under a hybrid (partial remote and partial in-person/in-office) work environment. Full vaccination (including booster shots) against Covid-19 is required. The position reports to the VP, Health System Strengthening.

WHAT YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH:

• As the communications lead for the HSS 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 HSS team, GHAI core communications team, and other global partners.
• Develop, implement, and support advocacy communications strategies that include media, influencer 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 through earned media and digital media advocacy, 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, fellowships, digital media trainings 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; and
• Evaluate the country-specific communications and media advocacy programs.
• Highlight the HSS work and local partners advances through regular contributions to the GHAI blog and social media channels and development of case studies and other publications.
• Advise on communications components of the budget advocacy curriculum and support, as needed, webinars and training sessions to promote the PE and Data for Health Budget Advocacy Toolkit and curriculum.
• Develop and track content related to global health security.
• Raise the profile of GHAI’s work on Prevent Epidemics, Data for Health and other HSS programs and position the program in the context of current global and regional health security discussions.

SKILLS YOU'LL BRING TO THE ROLE:

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 5-7 years relevant experience in media relations, public relations, consulting, and/or advocacy campaigns;
• 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 especially in Africa; 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;
• Ability and desire to travel overseas (up to 20 percent)
• Fluency in written and spoken languages in addition to English (ideally French), preferred
• Experience working on health systems issues, a plus

WHY JOIN THE CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE KIDS?

• You will be a part of a respected global health advocacy organization that works to create meaningful change through policy changes and save lives in our neighborhoods and in communities worldwide.
• You’ll receive a generous benefits package including:
• 100% company-paid health 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)

$102,000 - $132,600 a yearSalaries commensurate with experience and departmental budget.The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences, whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make The Campaign's work more inclusive. We encourage qualified applicants of all ages, racial, economic, social, cultural, sexual orientation, ability and gender expressions, national origins, and veteran statuses to apply. Organizational OverviewThe Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) supports civil society organizations advocating for public health policies that reduce death and disease. We bring a proven advocacy approach and a global network of local partners, built on a 25-year track record of success across multiple issues in more than 60 countries. GHAI is an initiative of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. For more information, visit .