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Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer

PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations—that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.

PATH’s Advocacy and Public Policy (APP) department works to improve global health by increasing awareness and support of global health priorities by policymakers, coalitions and other influential individuals and groups. PATH’s APP department is seeking a Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer who will develop and oversee advocacy strategies to advance policy and advocacy goals in the areas of maternal and newborn health in Zambia. The position is supported through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Advocacy Partnership Grant, which supports advocacy projects in Kenya, South Africa and Zambia.

The Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer will report directly to the Zambia Country Director in Lusaka, Zambia with an administrative reporting line to the Country Advocacy Director.

The Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer, based in Lusaka, Zambia, will be responsible for the following key activities:

Oversee budget and project management for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Advocacy Partnership Grant in Zambia, including sub-grants or sub-contracts as needed.
Oversee the development and implementation of advocacy strategies and corresponding activities to achieve maternal and newborn-related policy change at the national level as well as facilitate advocacy activities for improved national budget allocation for maternal and newborn health through the MNCH Alliance.
Maintain partnerships and networks with key stakeholders working in MNCH, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health, policymakers, multi-lateral, parastatal, and private sector institutions, NGOs and civil society organizations, women’s and professional associations; and educations and research institutions.
Oversee the performance and professional development of the PATH Policy and Advocacy Officer in Zambia and hire/contract for additional expertise to achieve project goals as necessary.
Provide oversight of relevant advocacy taskforces and working groups, including logistics management, meeting administration and working group communications as necessary for the project.
Conduct research and produce advocacy documents and presentations, including policy memos and briefs, and other policy and informational documents for both internal and external purposes.
Oversee and implement all aspects of advocacy-related meetings and events.
Train and provide technical assistance to PATH programs, CSO partners, and other organizations on the development and implementation of effective advocacy strategies/initiatives or approaches on key health policies and programmatic issues in Zambia.
Contribute to the development, documentation and dissemination of cross-country lessons learned, best practices, and experience.
Represent PATH at national, regional and international conferences and events as necessary.
Lead the development of work plans and collection of monitoring and evaluation data for reporting on outcomes and activities in Zambia.
Ensure timely submission of project reports and other deliverables as specified in the grant
Consult on and contribute to the development of proposals in support of policy advocacy activities.

Required Skills:
Demonstrated success in planning and conducting advocacy activities to achieve health or development policy-related outcomes.
Demonstrated success in planning and conducting advocacy activities to influence maternal, newborn or child health-related policies regionally, globally or in Zambia.
Proven ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with government personnel, NGO partners, and international organizations at various levels.
Knowledge of the political, social, economic, and cultural context of Zambia.
Demonstrated ability to communicate (orally and in writing) complex issues in a concise, compelling, and easily understandable manner.
Skilled in successfully working with geographically dispersed teams and working in a multi-cultural environment.
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
Experience supervising staff and contractors; managing advocacy budgets and grants; and donor communications.
Experience in facilitating meetings and moderating complex discussions with a variety of stakeholders (including national leaders) preferred.
Expert computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Fluency in English is required.

Master’s or other advanced degree in public health, social sciences, international development, or related field.  A minimum of seven to ten years of professional experience coordinating and managing a wide variety of projects; Zambia experience desirable.


Job Email id: jtaylor(at)path.org