Advocacy and Communications Manager

UNOPS hosts the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership Secretariat (STBP) as of 1 January 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland. The vision of the Stop TB Partnership is to realize the goal of elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) as a public health problem and, ultimately, to obtain a world free of TB by ensuring that every TB patient has access to effective diagnosis, treatment and cure; stopping transmission of TB; reducing the inequitable social and economic toll of TB; and developing and implementing new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic tools and strategies. The Stop Partnership is uniquely positioned to support the development and further implementation by partners of the current and future Global Plan, acting as a coordinator and catalyst for the range of partners engaged in the fight against TB.

Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership's mission is to serve every person who is vulnerable to TB and ensure that high-quality treatment is available to all who need it. Our partners include international and technical organizations, government programmes, research and funding agencies, foundations, NGOs, civil society and community groups and the private sector.

Under the guidance of  Stop TB Partnership’s Executive Director, the incumbent serves as Manager of the Advocacy and Communication Team managing, leading and guiding staff, as well providing leadership on Advocacy and Communication strategies to promote the Stop TB Partnership’s objectives at the highest political and decision-making levels. The Manager will work with partners, donors, and key influencers in order to achieve the objectives of the current and future Operational Strategy. The purpose of all Stop TB Partnership advocacy work is to engender political and financial commitment to end TB as a public health problem.

The specific responsibilities of the Communications and Advocacy Manager  include:

• Under the guidance of the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director, lead Stop TB Partnership’s work on global advocacy and communication, ensuring that all opportunities are optimally utilized to build high-level political commitment for TB at global level and in strategically important countries.

• Advice and support the Executive Director on activities leading up to the United Nations High Level Meeting (UNHLM) on TB in 2018, promoting the engagement of Ministries of External Affairs, Ministries of Health and Offices of Heads of State and Governments. Ensure effective communication between all stakeholders and provide guidance on advocacy and communication related follow up actions from the UN HLM.

• Promote Stop TB Partnership and its objectives by ensuring high visibility and understanding of TB at highest political level, building a movement to strengthen global and national TB efforts towards ending the epidemic.

• The incumbent will be responsible, for executing and evolving the Partnership’s advocacy and communication directions, by designing, developing, and delivering advocacy strategy and messaging, lay out the tactics, plan events, engage partners, build and sustain campaigns and proactively take necessary action - to meet the objectives of the current and future Operational Strategy. All advocacy work needs to be planned and executed in close collaboration with all Secretariat teams and partners.

• To conceptualize ambitious and realistic longer-term advocacy goals for TB, aligned with the Global Plan to End TB,  and to work with partners to achieve consensus.

• To critically assess the progress and achievements, identifying gaps and pitfalls towards recommending remedial actions and, within the delegated authority, implementing innovative strategies for further improvements.

• To advise the Executive Director and Secretariat staff in the development of advocacy proposals and strategic activities to ensure that these meet the requirements of high level stakeholders, political and decision-making bodies and promote further cooperation and coordination with partners.

• To manage, guide and motivate the staff assigned to the Advocacy and Communication Team, including but not limited to overseeing the development and continuous adaptation of advocacy and communication strategies and facilitating their implementation in campaigns and events.

• To collaborate on the development and execution of Partnership work plans and budgets related to advocacy and communications, and the optimization of the use of financial and human resources, as well as effective processes, streamlined procedures and best practices.
• Develop advocacy and communication messages and strategies to be used by Stop TB for increasing the funding available globally to fight TB. 

• Through effective communication, ensure that Stop TB Partnership, including its mandate and work, is well understood by development partners and country missions in Geneva and New York.

• To perform other related responsibilities as assigned, to assist the Executive Director and others as required

A minimum of 10 years demonstrated experience and concrete results in the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies, including advocating, campaigning, networking, public relations at national and international levels.

Track record in the development and successful delivery of advocacy/communication campaigns related to public health/development. 

Demonstrated experience in the development of advocacy strategies and related high level messages through interaction at senior level, and proven experience in the elaboration of strategic plans, fund/raising activities, working under pressure to deliver results against tight deadline.

Experience of working with International Organizations in the area of strategic advocacy for at least 5 years with a focus on social justice/global health issues.

At least 5 years experience in leading and managing large multicultural teams in both headquarters and the field at an international level and direct management responsibility of large budgets.

Proven experience interacting with and presenting to senior leadership of donors, government and partner organizations. Sound understanding of the global public health arena and future directions.

Experience and understanding of global health and political landscape with demonstrated capacity to work and engage high level stakeholders.

Experience of direct working with Ministerial and other high level representatives.

Proven networking capacity with important stakeholders – including but not limited to private sector, business leaders, members of parliament, senior government officers and/or Ministers. 

Excellent knowledge of English with proven ability to communicate in English (spoken and written) in a clear and concise manner. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.