Communications and Advocacy Associate(Global Health Strategies)-Career opportunity in USA

Job title:Communications and Advocacy Associate
Organization: Global Health Strategies
Country: United States of America
Deadline: 31 Dec 2013
About the Position:
The Communications/Advocacy Associate will work with the firm’s senior consultants and directors to develop and implement communications and advocacy strategies for Global Health Strategies’ clients. The Associate will work on a number of issues, including HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Polio and access to vaccines. Given the flexible nature of the organization, the opportunity exists for the Associate to work on a variety of projects; however the associate will focus on three core areas: advocacy, communications/media relations, and client/project management. More detail is provided below.

Communications/Media Relations:
GHS provides full-spectrum communications services for its clients and the Associate should expect to spend a significant amount of his/her time on communications and media relations, especially getting a thorough understanding of the global health and science media landscape. The Associate needs to be able to identify trends, opportunities and key reporters in the U.S, Europe, Africa and emerging markets. Additionally, the Associate is responsible for the production of communications strategies for current and potential clients, the drafting of important communications documents (press releases, fact sheets, speeches, Q and A’s), editing communications materials, liaising with journalists to ensure and guide coverage of key global health issues, and developing a documented network of media contacts.

Advocacy:
GHS works with clients to secure financial and political support by leveraging its existing and new relationships with governments, policymakers, foundations and multilaterals, and NGOs to help its clients expand their global support base, build internal and external capacity, and identify and maximize new relationships and opportunities for GHS’s clients. In support of these efforts the associate is responsible for researching global health policies and funding opportunities, using strategic thinking to identify invitees and develop agendas and presentations for advocacy events (lunches, dinners etc.), managing the logistics of advocacy events, and drafting proposals and documents necessary for these efforts. The associate is also responsible to draft research and policy analyses, reports and PowerPoint presentations.

Client/project management:
GHS expects the Associate to quickly assume responsibility for managing projects and client relations.
This includes managing account budgets, accounting for the project team’s monthly activities, tracking account deliverables, managing team calendars, schedules, travel logistics and other administrative duties as needed. The Associate acts as the client’s point of contact and is responsible for managing work projects and deliverables, ensuring the client’s needs are met and keeping the principals appraised of project developments and status. The Associate is also expected to regularly attend both meetings with GHS clients and events on behalf of clients. In addition to the responsibilities described above, the Communications/Advocacy Associate is expected and encouraged to develop an expertise in global health in general and global health efforts. In conjunction with this, the associate is required to monitor global health developments and media coverage of global health, particularly those related to GHS clients. The Associate is also expected to contribute to the development of Global Health Strategies by supporting GHS efforts on an international level and working with the firm’s principals to expand the GHS global communications network.

Required Qualifications:
GHS is seeking an intelligent self-starter capable of quickly getting up to speed on GHS’s work and rapidly assuming increasing levels of responsibility. A passion for understanding global public health issues and trends is essential for this position. The individual must be well-organized and detail-oriented, capable of independently producing accurate documents quickly when required, and comfortable in a fast-paced international environment. The individual should also be comfortable pitching stories to journalists. Due to the global nature of GHS’s work and its office structure, the individual must have the ability to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends.

In addition, the individual should possess the following traits:
- B.A. degree and 1-2 years of work experience
- Excellent research skills
- Strong writing and editing skills for a variety of documents, including advocacy reports and communications tools
- Fast learner
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Deadline oriented
- Knowledge of, or demonstrated interest in, global health
- Experience with project/budget management
- Willing to travel internationally
- Able to frequently work nights and weekends to accommodate communication with overseas clients and offices and short-fuse requests for deliverables
- Capable of working with minimal supervision
- Proficient on Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Additional Qualifications:
- Foreign language skills (French or Spanish, in particular)
- International work experience
- Communications, public relations, or journalism experience
- Global health experience
- M.A. in a related field

How to apply:

Please email cover letter, resume and any additional materials to Jobs at globalhealthstrategies.com. We will contact you if your background matches our job qualifications. Please include “Associate” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

GHS is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of diverse backgrounds to apply.