Médecins Sans Frontières
Organization: Doctors Without Borders | Médecins Sans Frontières
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian organization that delivers impartial medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care in over 70 countries.
We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s common mission.
Department
The Programs Department at MSF-USA consists of several units including advocacy, diplomacy, and representation arms for both MSF-USA and MSF’s international offices. Units served by the Program Department include the Grants Unit, Humanitarian Representation Team, Access Campaign, Epicentre and special projects.
Project
MSF-USA is seeking a Global Health Policy Officer to provide analytical support, strategy development, and stakeholder engagement to advance US-based policy and advocacy strategies in the service of MSF’s projects and global health more broadly. As part of MSF-USA’s Global Health Policy and Advocacy team, the Policy Officer will help formulate change objectives grounded in thorough research and analysis and develop and execute advocacy strategies entailing direct engagement of key targets, public-facing communication, and coalition-building. American economic and political power and influence over both biomedical innovation and global health governance make the US a key site for advocacy on pressing issues for MSF operations and beyond. Working together with the Access Campaign, Humanitarian Representation Team, and other MSF entities, the Policy Officer will inform MSF-USA’s engagement with ongoing and emerging debates related to various aspects of global health policy and biomedical innovation; help formulate and represent MSF’s positions; and advance MSF’s policy objectives. This role will be listed as one of MSF-USA’s US based lobbyists at the federal level.
Tasks
The Global Health Policy Officer will:
- Track and analyze policies and trends related to sexual and reproductive health focused on the US Government and key US-based stakeholders (such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) upon request.
- Establish and maintain two-way communication with MSF’s medical technical and operations colleagues to ensure the needs of MSF’s patients are central to our representation and advocacy efforts and to inform internal understanding of factors that influence places where MSF works
- Lead jointly advocacy and policy initiatives on sexual and reproductive health directed towards the US Government and key US-based stakeholders;
- Where needed, support advocacy and policy initiatives in areas of current and/or emerging importance to MSF and the Global Health Advocacy and Policy unit, such as antimicrobial resistance, access to medicines and climate and environmental health;
- Respond to research and policy analysis requests on domestic and global health policy issues, initiatives, and actors;
- Draft technical briefs, advocacy documents, presentations, and public-facing content, adapting messages for various key stakeholder audiences;
- Represent MSF and advance policy objectives through engagement with US-based policy actors, including the US government, private sector entities, civil society, and media;
- Represent MSF in external coalitions, both domestic and global, focused on sexual and reproductive health and/or global health equity;
- Ensure that projects are efficient and stay on track by shaping and maintaining systems for organizing, sharing, and tracking resources, information, and activities; liaise with MSF-USA colleagues and external vendors towards these same ends and to fulfill all reporting needs of the Programs Department;
- Maintain regular communication with line management and appropriate team members;
- Other policy and advocacy related dossier support and management not otherwise specified.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Manage interns and/ or volunteers, potential line management of future campaign officers. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training intern or volunteers; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Fiscal Responsibility
- Responsibilities may include tracking expenses and timely submission of expense reports, while aligning with project expense budgets and making sure they are adhered to.
Extent of Public Contact
- Represents MSF-USA in external meetings with US government officials, coalition partners, and policy stakeholders.
Qualifications
Required
- Master’s in Public Health, Public Administration, International Affairs, Political Science or equivalent is required
- Commitment to MSF principles
- Five years or more of experience working on global health advocacy and policy or related issues
- At least three years of experience working in sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly in emergency humanitarian contexts
- Strong research capabilities, including excellent writing and analytical skills
- Knowledge of US government landscape, US-based and multilateral global health actors, and the access to medicines movement
- Strategic thinking and planning ability; problem-solving/seeking solutions to challenges
- Project management experience and knowledge; knowledge of Office 365 and office software
- Strong facilitation skills and excellent organizational skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent judgment and diplomacy in complex situations
- Proficiency in English to mother-tongue standard
- Ability to work cooperatively in a cross-cultural setting with long-distance working relationships
- Capacity to work autonomously
Expected to work in a hybrid work environment with the ability to come into either the NYC office or regional hub (Washington, DC or Bay Area, CA ) a minimum of 2 times a week.
We offer a generous comprehensive benefits package inclusive of Wellness initiatives to support a healthy work life balance
No phone calls or emails please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Please note that relocation assistance or visa sponsorship will be offered for this position
Your Safety Matters: Vaccination and booster against COVID-19 is a requirement at MSF – USA
Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination:
MSF-USA is committed to building a diverse, unbiased, and inclusive workforce. MSF-USA is an equal opportunity employer; we recruit, hire, train, promote, develop, and provide other conditions of employment without regard to a person’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences consistent with applicable laws. This includes providing reasonable accommodation for disabilities, or religious beliefs and practices. Members of communities historically underrepresented in the Humanitarian Aid sector are encouraged to apply.
If you have a disability of some kind and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources by emailing us: [email protected] accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.