Senior Advisor, Policy & Advocacy

Summary

The Position

Team PLAY (Policy Leadership Advocacy and Youth) is responsible for influencing Canadian and global decision makers to advance childrens rights and equality for girls globally and supporting young people in Canada unlock their leadership potential be active global citizens and advocates for Plan Internationals global purpose and mission.

As Senior Advisor Policy and Advocacy you will play a key role in Plan International Canadas policy advocacy government relations influencing and external relations engagements. Under the leadership of Director of Policy Advocacy Partnerships and Youth Leadership you will support the development implementation monitoring and evaluation of Plan International Canadas policy and advocacy strategy with a particular focus on humanitarian action global education and youth advocacy. You will support the team by executing key elements of Plan International Canadas Policy and Advocacy Strategy including the development of evidence-based policy positions and coordinating policy and advocacy addition you will play a key role in advancing the overall Strategic Plan for Plan International Canada most notably our strategic initiative focused on Amplifying Youth Voices.

The role will be based in Ottawa.

What success looks like

With the leadership of and in close regular collaboration with the Director of Policy Advocacy Partnerships and Youth Leadership the Senior Advisor Policy and Advocacy Technical Advisors the Youth Engagement Unit the Public Relations Team the main responsibilities of the Senior Advisor Policy and Advocacy will be:

Advocacy Government Relations Influencing and Federation Engagement (50%)

• In partnership with members of Team PLAY (Policy Advocacy Unit and Youth Engagement Team) take a leadership role in Plan International Canadas efforts to influence federal government policy to promote childrens rights and equality for girls globally in global development and humanitarian action.
• There will also be ongoing work policy influencing advocacy and strategic communications work supporting Plan International Canadas priorities in global development such as education health and meaningful youth engagement and youth advocacy
• Chair monthly meetings on Humanitarian Policy Advocacy at Plan International Canada and represent Plan International Canada at key Plan International Federation-wide and Canadian civil society coalitions and working groups related to humanitarian action
• Build relationships with Members of Parliament Senators political staffers and the federal public service relevant to delivering advocacy objectives.
• Represents Plan International Canada vis-à-vis Government of Canada stakeholders and on issue-based coalitions and builds relationships with relevant NGO partners to promote joint policy and advocacy positions research and events.
• Work closely with Plan International staff across the Federation such as at Global Hub Liaison Offices National Offices Regional Offices and Country Offices.

Youth Leadership Programming and Advocacy (35%)

• Works closely with the Youth Engagement Unit and Plan International Canadas Youth Council in meaningfully engaging young people in the organizations policy advocacy and influencing campaigns.
• Leads capacity-building initiatives to support young peoples understanding and ability to engage in policy influencing working very closely with the Youth Engagement Unit and collaborating on the delivery of workshops briefings and seminars on key policy advocacy priorities for Plan International Canada as well as key policy advocacy and influencing skill sets.

Project Management Knowledge Management and Operations (15%)

• Be the go-to person for reporting needs internally and externally including providing regular updates and reports to the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying in Canada.
• Contributes to monthly quarterly and annual planning and reporting related to policy and advocacy achievements.
• Draft quarterly and annual unit reporting and drafting any separate reporting necessary to Plan Internationals global headquarters in the UK.
• Provides strategic advice and contributes to weekly information sharing intel gathering and planning meetings of Plan International Canadas Policy and Advocacy team.
• Support the Director in the preparation of the units annual budget and work plan.
• Track results of policy and advocacy initiatives at the output and outcome levels.

Education

• Masters degree in international relations international development political science law or relevant field or equivalent professional experience.

As our ideal candidate you will have:

• Experience in successful policy and advocacy work preferably in humanitarian action and international development with preference for those that have professional experience working in Latin America Africa and/or Asia.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Fluency in French is a strong asset.
• Successful track record as a policy strategist/analyst with INGOs government or multilateral organizations
• Proven experience working on policy advocacy at the federal level in Canada and in global forums such as the G7 G20 UN World Bank and more
• Demonstrated capability in producing cross-functional integrated advocacy campaigns (policy recommendations campaign messaging resource mobilization stakeholder engagement).
• Highly skilled at developing effective engaging action-oriented presentations for internal and external audiences
• Proven track record drafting and contributing to a range of products (presentations internal briefing notes policy briefs op-eds).
• Recognized capacity in translating complex information in a compelling and accessible way for non-technical audiences.
• Project management experience particularly working on complex projects with large cross-functional teams with the ability to manage deadlines and deliver quality results.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and advocating for gender equality and child rights policies.
• Demonstrated experience working on humanitarian policy advocacy priorities preferred.
• Demonstrated experience meaningfully engaging young people in policy advocacy and influencing campaigns preferred
• Experience working with young people through youth program facilitation workshop design and resource design through both in-person and digital delivery
• Strong policy research and analysis skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop analytical evidence-based policy papers and reports.
• Demonstrated understanding of Canadas current political landscape and humanitarian assistance international development and foreign affairs policies that impact the fulfillment of the rights and well-being of children particularly girls.
• Experience with ensuring adherence with lobbying rules and regulations for Canadian NGOs/charities preferred.

• Experience working in a collaborative and matrix environment is resourceful innovative and has a can do attitude.
• A flexible and adaptable work style; open to collaboration; thrive in a fast-paced evolving work culture