PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The role of the Head of Advocacy is to design and lead transnational advocacy strategies for policy and practice change relating to access to products for health.

Médecins Sans Frontières is searching for a Head of Advocacy for a new structure dedicated to improving access to products for healthcare. As part of the structure’s management team, the successful candidate will contribute to the set-up of this structure and lead the advocacy department. The Head of Advocacy will design and implement transnational strategies for improving access to products for healthcare for current and future patients, their communities, and beyond.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy, vision and leadership

• Participate as a member of the APH Structure Management Team
• Contribute to the development, review and implementation of the APH Structure’s strategic plan
• Consolidate outcomes and impact reporting against strategic and annual plans
• Contribute to the development of APH policies for the MSF movement
• Contribute to the development and review of the APH Structure’s internal policies

Strategy development

• Design approaches and plans for policy and practice changes for the APH Structure’s strategic plan, in collaboration with the analysis department
• Propose advocacy objectives and plans in response to emerging opportunities and threats for APH, in collaboration with the analysis department
• Plan and oversee the resources that the APH Structure requires for strategic communication, to support the policy and practice change objectives.

Implementation

• Lead the implementation of all transnational policy and practice change initiatives in accordance with the strategic plan
• Identify opportunities for high-level representation, coalition building, and public mobilisation in support of agreed APH advocacy objectives
• Maintain an overview of, and liaise with, colleagues across MSF involved in external representation and advocacy, including the Humanitarian

Representation Team

• Represent the APH advocacy agenda on MSF’s platforms for coordination of communication
• Mobilise colleagues across MSF for the agreed advocacy agenda of the APH and support them in their contribution to the agenda
• Provide, or help to find, representation and strategic communication services to the APH Structure and MSF entities to support the introduction of new products, participation in medical research and development, source and supply models, and funding and collaboration opportunities

Management

• Oversee the selection of all APH Structure advocacy staff (initially estimated 5-10)
• Ensure that advocacy staff members have clarity on their objectives and scope of work
• With the Heads of Regional Hubs, manage the workload of advocacy staff and support their motivation and well-being
• Make sure that advocacy staff are well-informed of the Structure’s priorities and activities on an ongoing basis
• Plan, monitor and report on the budget of the Advocacy Department

Job requirements

• Commitment to the work and principles of MSF (working experience in MSF is an asset)
• Higher academic qualification in a relevant field, with significant understanding of global health
• Experience designing strategies for political or social change at transnational level
• Proven ability to plan and conduct high-level representation
• Solid understanding of the strategic use of public communication and campaigning as tools for change
• Experience in leading a team of highly-qualified professionals
• Experience with significant organisational change, for example establishing a new department
• Excellent communication skills, ability to interact with colleagues across all levels in MSF as well as to work as part of a geographically-distributed team
• Appreciation of cultural diversity and strong commitment to equity and inclusion
• Fluency in English (additional languages are appreciated)
• Willingness to travel extensively