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The Policy and Communications Advisor (PCA), Education is responsible for supporting the Senior Director and Education Leadership Team (ELT) in implementing the IRC’s established strategy for influencing external policies and practices, to ensure IRC’s programming, policy and research have a greater impact on our clients. The Policy and Communications Advisor carries out specific policy and advocacy work within this strategy, including writing presentations and think pieces for large audiences, and representing the Education Technical Unit as needed. S/he will help identify relevant relationships and partnerships for the IRC, appraise meetings and opportunities within an agreed remit, attend relevant meetings, and support with follow up. S/he works closely with the Senior Director and is part of the Education Senior Management Team (SMT). The Advisor also serves as the Education Technical Unit’s primary liaison with IRC’s External Relations and Communications teams, ensuring accurate and timely representation of Education’s work across internal and external channels. The Advisor will engage closely with colleagues in Communications, International Philanthropy and Partnerships and Awards Management Unit.

Responsibilities

1. Support delivery of IRC’s influence strategy for education

• With the Senior Director and ELT, support implementation of the agreed strategic direction for the external policies and practices the IRC seeks to influence, to achieve the biggest impact in early childhood development and education in conflict and crisis contexts.
• Identify strategic opportunities, tactics and audiences that will most effectively influence policies and practices of our targets and raise our profile as needed to achieve impact.
• Seek out and appraise opportunities for policy advocacy and engagement on a regular basis; be disciplined and discriminating in this appraisal to make best use of scarce resources.
• Alongside the Director and Deputy Director, help Country Offices to understand, deliver and advocate for IRC’s education strategy.
• Support internal profile raising around IRC’s education portfolio including preparing presentations, Brown Bags, and regular updates for an internal audience through newsletters etc. 
• Work closely with the Policy and Advocacy Department tointegrate education / ECD into global objectives for humanitarian reform and high-level talking points for IRC’s CEO.

2. Support with executing Global Education Strategy

• Coordinate and support with  strategic opportunities, including but not limited to:
• Arrange and attend meetings to further IRC’s education policy goals;
• Draft talking points and accompanying materials for presentations and present as needed,
• Write / edit think pieces and content showcasing IRC’s programs and evidence;
• Inputting into global consultations and frameworks;
• Horizon scan global trends/donor developments and policy landscape;
• Choreograph key policy events with support from the Education TU Unit Manager;
• Maintain a collection of core briefs and policy documents for use by program teams; Country Offices and headquarters.

3. Communications liaison and materials

• Serve as the Education Technical Unit’s point of contact with IRC’s External Relations and Communications teams on media opportunities and relevant content for IRC’s digital channels, including websites and social media.
• Support fact-checking and review of communications materials (press releases, op-eds, reports) drafted by Global Communications to ensure technical accuracy.
• Maintain and update the Education Unit’s core library of briefs and communications products, including corresponding online content, in coordination with Internal Communications.
• Support review of donor-facing and marketing materials for accuracy and appropriate tone, in coordination with Fundraising colleagues.

4. Provide coordination support to the Senior Director for Education

• Help coordinate relevant meetings and fora for the Senior Director and ELT on education and early childhood development; flag opportunities and requests for the Senior leadership’s time.
• Coordinate and participate in opportunities alongside senior leadership; ensure follow-up.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  Senior Director, Education.
• Position directly supervises:  No current direct reports, potential for supervision of consultants, specialists, or officers as work evolves.
• Indirect Reporting: Deputy Director, Global Practice Leads and US and European Policy and Advocacy Departments.
• Internal: position is part of the Education Senior Management Team (SMT). Works closely with colleagues in Communications and External Relations.
• External: education in emergencies, development and humanitarian stakeholders, policy makers and advocates.

Professional Profile

Success in this position requires an individual with strong policy and advocacy skills, expertise in development or humanitarian settings and a keen interest in furthering IRC’s strategy and vision. Expertise in education is preferred but not essential.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 6-8 years of relevant experience, with field and programmatic experience in a donor, NGO or comparable international agency required.
• Experience and familiarity with donors, peer agencies and national contexts required, preferably in education, humanitarian and transitional, post-crisis contexts.
• Experience and expertise raising funds from bilateral, multilateral, and private donors.
• Experience producing communications materials (press-facing content, digital/social content, donor materials) for diverse audiences, in addition to policy/advocacy products.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Self-directed, able to independently set priorities and solve problems within established procedures and guidance from the Senior Director; comfortable working for a supervisor who is remotely located.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills; demonstrated ability to successfully work in a fast-paced environment and develop positive relationships with locally and remote based staff.
• Highly effective strategic planning, policy development and execution.
• Private and statutory business development/ fundraising.
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to translate technical and programmatic content into clear, audience-appropriate language across formats and channels.
• Experience contributing to or managing social media content in a professional context (preferred).