Assistant, Global Policy and Outreach
The Assistant will join Search’s Global Affairs and Partnerships (GAP) department to support its work in building relationships with policymakers, NGOs, for-profit organizations, and academics to advance the peacebuilding field and Search’s interests around the world. The GAP team focuses on building the policy case for the peacebuilding field. It does this by working collaboratively with Search's teams and partners around the world and leveraging their analysis, data, and expertise to inform the policies of emerging and established actors relevant to Search’s work. The GAP team also works closely with in-country Directors and Managers to ensure funding for programming that directly responds to the needs in Search’s conflict geographies. This involves building program development strategies for conflict geographies, capturing opportunities, and leading Search’s partnership engagement.
The Assistant will be an integral part of the GAP team by leading knowledge management, coordinating events and other outreach, and facilitating the overall organization of the team. The Assistant will support a range of ongoing multi-country policy research and advocacy programs by maintaining a robust contacts database, tracking outreach activities, and organizing program activities. They will also support research, record-keeping, and providing technical assistance to country teams.
The ideal candidate is well-organized, detailed-oriented, and adept at working in a fast-paced collaborative environment. The Assistant will work in collaboration with Search’s communications, institutional learning, finance, regional, and country teams. The position will be based in our headquarters in Washington, DC, with remote work until at least June 2021.
Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Responsibilities
- Tracks policies, statements, media, and social media relevant to the team’s priorities.
- Attends events and briefings and synthesizes information for sharing.
- Provides logistical and administrative support for Search-hosted events and visitors.
- Supports briefings, written products, and strategy development through activities such as desk research, copy editing, coordinating sign ons, scheduling working group meetings, and sharing materials.
- Gathers monitoring and evaluation data on outreach efforts.
- Ensures information and knowledge are captured in trackers and systems.
- Provides record keeping support for budget tracking, business intelligence, and strategy development.
- Responds to questions and policy and outreach-relevant requests in a timely and customer-service oriented fashion.
- Supports the development and execution of organizational initiatives and strategies, including participating in voluntary committees and discussions.
- Organize and update orderly online folders and other information-sharing systems to support Search’s global staff working on business development and policy.
- Research and share new partnership opportunities.
- Develop and update capacity statements and other general language for use in partner outreach.
- Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, Communications, or related area OR four years of relevant work experience in the international NGO sector (with a High School/GED);
- Demonstrably strong English writing and editing skills.
- Highly organized with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to work across teams and handle competing deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Fluency in French is an advantage
- Prior work experience in international policy research or business development.
- Familiarity with U.S. and UN funding or policymaking processes.
Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
- Engages effectively with collaborators and team members.
- Builds relationships. May participate in external meetings.
- Relates well to colleagues and to all levels of managers; works cooperatively and effectively across teams.
- Participates in active listening and is receptive to learning.
- With close supervision and direction from the supervisor, researches and compiles materials for team documents, briefing materials, and presentations.
- Appreciates multicultural teamwork.
- Has knowledge of and respect for the organization’s values and norms.
- Obtains essential information for a task or project.
- Organizes information or materials for others.
- Is resourceful and uses Search’s technology to support efficiency for self and team members.