USA: Senior Policy Advisor, Climate

Sep 5, 2022 | Mercy Corps
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Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do  their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome  diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.  The Team  The Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) team advances policy changes to achieve transformational  impact in the countries where we work. In support of Mercy Corps’ global mission, the GPA team’s work  benefits Mercy Corps’ field programs. The U.S. Policy and Advocacy team focuses on the United  States government and select multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and World Bank to  change, influence and improve relevant policies, practices and decisions affecting vulnerable  communities living in fragile and conflict-affected countries.  The Position   The Senior Policy Advisor will lead Mercy Corps’ policy portfolio primarily related to climate policy (adaptation and mitigation) and water security (access to clean water and sanitation). This Senior Policy Advisor will also oversee country and regionally focused policy and advocacy issues, as appropriate . The Senior Policy Advisor will seek, in collaboration with Mercy Corps’ GPA team and relevant internal teams, to drive U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance reforms in order to  advance Mercy Corps’ global goals, as informed by the organization’s ten year strategy. Specifically, this will include drafting and helping to pass relevant U.S. legislation and engaging key Congressional leaders, as well as working with the U.S. government, particularly with national security, humanitarian, development and  peacebuilding experts, to advance  key policies. S/he will track and analyze policy initiatives relevant to the climate policy and water security portfolio, including  through working groups with partner agencies to advance joint coalition advocacy and campaign  initiatives at domestic and international fora, including the United Nations. The Senior Policy Advisor  will also be responsible for raising Mercy Corps’ profile on policy positions including through: representation at external events, panels; developing written policy documents for external dissemination; supporting  Mercy Corps’ grassroots advocacy efforts; and liaising with and traveling to Mercy Corps field and HQ  teams.   Essential Responsibilities   Strategy and Planning   

  • Collaborates with Global Policy and Advocacy staff as well as appropriate technical and research teams to develop Mercy Corps overall strategy on influencing policy and practice regarding climate change and water security issues. 
  • Leads strategy development for the U.S. Policy and Advocacy team’s portfolio on climate change and water security. 
  • Develops strategies regarding influence and policy issues with relevant field teams in support of country- and region-focused advocacy efforts, primarily focused on increasing community resilience to climate change’s impacts, and increasing water security. 
 Execution 
 Develops and manages the climate, water, and other advocacy portfolios by:  
  • Implementing policy-focused advocacy and outreach strategies, in cooperation with Mercy Corps colleagues and partner agencies. 
  • Drafting policy documents in support of policy and advocacy goals: In cooperation with the Media Relations and Digital teams, support written products as appropriate for use with various audiences, including policymakers, web visitors, and the general public. 
  • For public dissemination, draft policy briefs, op-eds and case stories. 
  • Draft internal information and messaging for Mercy Corps staff. 
  • Tracks legislative developments on Capitol Hill, including hearings, authorizing bills and the appropriations process. 
  • Shapes legislation and policies relevant to Mercy Corps’ mission to help people build secure, productive, and just communities. 
  • Leads advocacy efforts through collaborative work within the NGO sector and among other NGO, governmental, and private partners. May also be called on to help lead internal Mercy Corps policy coordination through matrix teams. 
  • Engages substantively with Mercy Corps’ climate matrix team, working across multiple internal teams to develop global policy priorities for the portfolio. 
  • Publishes and speaks publicly, when appropriate, to advance thought leadership on climate adaptation and water policy issues and to elevate the importance of Mercy Corps’ relevant programming and research. 
  • Researches and analyzes selected issues through a variety of means, including field visits. 
 Influence and Representation  
  • Represents Mercy Corps with the US Administration and Congress as well as at public forums, think/policy tank panel discussions and briefings, and relevant international and multilateral institutional events. 
  • Builds and maintains strong relationships with senior level USG officials, including State Department, USAID, and Congressional staff. 
  • Contributes to or leads on written pieces including policy pieces, thought leadership and other external facing communications. 
  • Supports Mercy Corps senior leadership’s engagement on climate issues at high level events, through media engagement, and other fora, including through drafting remarks, developing policy positions, and providing staffing assistance. 
 Supervisory Responsibility  None, except for occasional interns.  Accountability   Reports Directly To: Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy  Works Directly With: Global Policy and Advocacy Team; Washington DC office staff; Research and Learning Team; Media Relations Team, Digital Team; Climate Matrix Team, Regional and Country Teams; and Technical Support Unit.  Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders  Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our  program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding  international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as  equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. 
 
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills   
  • Bachelors degree in international relations, development, public policy, law or related fields of study. 
  • 5+ years of relevant professional experience working on climate change, water security, and/or development policy issues. 
  • Professional experience in humanitarian, development, and national security sectors. 
  • Strong political and strategic skills, with a demonstrated ability to advance policy priorities including through coalition work. 
  • Proven ability in researching, analyzing, and reporting on policy issues. 
  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to effectively gather and utilize large amounts of information from various sources towards clear policy goals. 
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills. 
  • Demonstrated sensitivity, skill and experience in working diplomatically and effectively within different cultural settings and in public relations and correspondence with a wide variety of public constituents. 
 Preferred Qualification   
  • Graduate degree in international relations, development, public policy, law or related fields of study. 
  • Experience working in the U.S. Congress and/or the U.S. foreign affairs executive government 
  • Experience with international relief and development fieldwork, and familiarity with emerging development and humanitarian issues. 
  • Proficiency in one or more foreign languages, particularly French, Spanish or Arabic. 
 Success Factors   Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues, peer groups, officials and relevant  stakeholders. Motivation to seek out and establish new relationships. Motivation to find new solutions to  pernicious policy problems. A clear understanding of Mercy Corps’ mission and collaborative style of  operation. Ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks in a fast paced, sometimes stressful  environment and meet deadlines under those conditions. Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with both HQ and global personnel. Computer literate with strong organizational skills. Ability  to operate with a significant degree of autonomy within agreed upon parameters. Flexibility,  commitment to transformative change, and sense of humor.  Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions  This position is based in Washington, DC with the expectation of travel up to 10-15% of his/her time to field  locations that may include insecure or harsh environments. Mercy Corps US Policy and Advocacy team members are expected to be based in Washington, DC, with opportunities for periodic remote work, as appropriate. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours  when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to  conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies,  procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.   We are WWF, one of the world’s leading nature conservation organizations. We have been working for nearly 60 years and have offices in 100 countries, and started the programme in Myanmar in 2014. WWF-Myanmar works with various partners to ensure that Myanmar is a place where nature thrives.  
This project is focused on (1) agroforestry and community forest management; (2) livelihood improvements; and (3) capacity building of partners. The consultant is expected to perform the following deliverables by full commitments to respect WWF’s social safeguard policies. 
 
Objective of the consultancy 
 The main objective of the consultancy is to identify viable agroforestry products with local value addition for beneficiaries in ten locations. In particular, the product scanning analysis should determine potentials for local agricultural products, forestry products and NTFPs product expansion and diversification, market viability, value addition opportunities, quality improvement and input availability to small-scale producers. 
 
Requirements  
  • Degree in social sciences, business management or marketing 
  • Experience in baseline/midline/end-line studies. 
  • Excellent analytical skills & technical writing skills 
  • Experience in the use of contemporary data analysis tools 
  • Knowledge on community based livelihood development and link to conservation 
  • Excellent knowledge of product scanning/value chain analysis in Myanmar 
  
The detailed responsibilities, scope of works, deliverables & time schedule can be seen here. 
 
Application  
Interested candidates should submit their application (CV) together with a consultant proposal including financial budget (working days and daily rate) of the assignment to vacancy.mm@wwf.org.mm by 9th September 2022 (Fri). Rate history and reference contact should also be included.  Should there be travels related to this engagement, WWF will shoulder the cost. 
 Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.