Advocacy Advisor, Foreign Policy job in Washington, D.C.

Position description

The Advocacy Advisor will support OSF’s advocacy and policy strategies in Washington on U.S. foreign policy issues. The Advisor will be an expert on U.S. foreign policy towards at least two geographic regions (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe/Eurasia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Middle East/North Africa), as well as have deep experience with several thematic foreign policy issues (foreign assistance, human rights, national security law, defense, technology, etc.). This will be a senior level position that collaborates closely with colleagues in other regions, as well as relevant outside partners and US government officials. The Advisor will ensure coherence, rigor, and innovation across various priorities and lead collaborative work to develop organizational messaging narratives on issues of importance to OSF’s mission.

Key responsibilities

Develop strategies and materials to move US policy on related issues; including but not limited to position papers, letters, background memoranda, legislation, amendments, congressional letters, talking points, hearing questions, congressional record statements, and op-eds.
Lead OSF’s direct advocacy with US officials in Washington on relevant issues to advance policy accountability and innovation in their respective portfolios of responsibility.
Represent OSF in high-level policy events and processes. Develop and manage key relationships with intergovernmental institutions, governments, senior policymakers, legislative staff and Members, and economic, political, social and cultural leaders.
Where appropriate, serve as OSF’s spokesperson on specific issues.
Maintain a network of relationships with high-level officials in the US government and other key players within the policy community.
Maintain and build network of external stakeholders including but not limited to partners, grantees, relevant NGOs, think tanks, and regional experts.
Monitor US foreign policy especially as related to the assigned geographies and thematic issues.
Develop, maintain, and strengthen strong US government contacts as well as ones in foreign embassies, multilateral institutions and offices, and press corps.
Solicit, vet, and recommend consultancies and grants and evaluate grantee organizations.
Interpret political events in the United States as they relate to US foreign policy and serve as a resource for other OSF opportunities whilst contributing to multi-program efforts in relevant areas.
Consider relevant foreign and domestic policy interplay and opportunities.
Develop and manage tools, tactics and partnerships for direct engagement with US officials, and advise leadership accordingly.
Design advocacy strategies for direct engagement with US officials together with Advocacy Advisors, Opportunity staff, and other OSF offices and partners as needed; and lead on delivery as appropriate.
Travel as required.
Other duties as required.

People Responsibilities (Total Team/DRs)
None

Key Internal Relationships
US Policy Director; MD; Opportunities; Leadership/EO

Key External Relationships

US government, foreign embassies, think tanks, core NGO partners, multilateral institutions,

The ideal candidate

Educated to bachelor’s degree-level (or equivalent).
Proven prior external Foreign Policy leadership experience in an international organization or non-governmental organization (public or private).This should include experience either managing a team or a number of large/complicated projects over extended periods of time.
Substantial practical experience, including extensive work relevant to policy advocacy, working with senior policymakers across a range of government agencies.
Prior employment history in an Executive Branch agency or the U.S. Congress.
Demonstrated experience of creating and measuring impact with designing advocacy strategies for a global organization on a wide range of issues.
Directly relevant geographical regional experience with a proven track record of leading advocacy across US foreign policy towards at least two of the following regions: Africa; Asia-Pacific; Europe &Eurasia; Latin America and the Caribbean; and Middle East & North Africa. Candidates should have experience working in the regions and/or working in a policy role focused on those regions for at least a couple of years for each region.
Experience with a minimum of 3 different thematic issues related to US foreign policy, such as foreign assistance, national security law, human rights, defense, and technology. Candidates should have spent at least a year dedicating a significant percentage of their time focused on these thematic issues, either in policymaking, advocacy or private sector positions.
Excellent knowledge of the U.S. political process and foreign policy formulation infrastructure, specifically the roles of US Congress, the State Department, Pentagon, USAID, and other relevant agencies.
Assimilate and understand data and information from various sources to draw appropriate conclusions and make relevant recommendations.
Fluency in other languages will depend on the regional requirements of each position.
Demonstrates commitment to OSF’s core values of humility, commitment, collaboration, respect, inclusivity and integrity.

What we offer

Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including:
Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
Staff are required to work in an Open Society office 50% of working days per month.
Employer-paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).
Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance.
Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and much more.
A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.

The salary range for this role in the US: $181,600-208,300. The final offer is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set and level of experience.

Who we are

Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time-limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging needs. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems.

Guided by our founder’s values and the belief in the art of the possible, we engage directly with global entities, individuals, and policymakers through grants, advocacy, impact investing, and strategic human rights litigation to drive positive change. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to rights, equity, and justice, inspiring every action we take.

Application instructions

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