Job Opportunity: Chief of Advocacy and Communications

Position Title:  Chief of Advocacy and Communications

Status: Regular, Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Classification: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime Pay)

Date: July 2016

Job Summary: The CAC will elevate the cause of land rights on the global agenda through a variety of advocacy and communications efforts, working closely with Landesa’s global leadership and staff. The CAC will help Landesa deepen partnerships within the international development community, related sectors, and with bi-lateral and regional institutions to leverage historic windows of opportunity to position land rights as an essential way to alleviate global poverty and address other global development challenges.

Reporting and relationships: The CAC reports to the Chief Executive Officer and works closely with the Chief Program Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor, Senior Director, Program Partnerships, Country Directors and department leads.  Among others, the CAC directly supervises the Global Advocacy Director, the Communications Manager, and the Senior Communications Specialist.

Availability: The CAC will be expected to work a standard work week of 40 hours plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. This position may require international and domestic travel of up to 70 days annually.

Basic Description of the Position:

The CAC is responsible for developing and implementing Landesa’s global advocacy and communications strategies based on Landesa’s mission, vision, and 2016-2020 strategy. The ultimate goal of Landesa’s advocacy and communications is to build a stronger focus on secure land rights as a central tool of international and national development efforts.

The CAC serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and participates actively in developing Landesa’s strategic direction. The CAC is responsible for all aspects of global advocacy and communications, and works closely with Country and Program teams to support and ensure alignment of national advocacy and communications efforts. The CAC also leads public relations, crisis communications/issue management, and collaborates with the Program Partnerships team on donor and partner communications and community relations.

Essential Job Functions:

Landesa Strategic Direction 

• Work with ELT and Board members to help set Landesa strategic direction;
• Oversee development of and tactical execution of the global advocacy strategy and the global communications strategy;
• Work with program teams and country offices to ensure that country-level and thematic advocacy and communications strategies are consistent with Landesa’s Strategic Plan and global advocacy and global communications strategies;
• Collaborate with Program teams and Country offices to ensure that advocacy and communications strategies and work products align with and support Landesa’s program strategies and work products.

 Communications Leadership and Oversight

 Working with global and national communications staff,

• Oversee the implementation of Landesa’s strategic communications activities, including via traditional and social media;
• Oversee the implementation of Landesa’s earned media strategy, including cultivating relationships with top tier journalists around the world in order to increase coverage of land rights;
• Oversee the development and implementation of a thought leadership plan, aimed at identifying and leveraging opportunities to raise the profile of land rights and Landesa’s ideas, leaders and work;
• Represent Landesa and manage and support relevant staff in interactions with the media and other public venues;
• Ensure consistency in Landesa’s branding and messaging across global teams and offices;
• Support the development of marketing and fundraising communications strategies and liaise with the Program Partnerships team to develop content and materials targeted at donor audiences;
• With relevant staff, generate ideas and support the writing of content for Landesa’s newsletters, reports, and other publications;
• Work with staff to identify their communications needs and provide support in the development of relevant materials.

Advocacy Leadership and Oversight

 Working with the Global Advocacy Director and other relevant staff,

• Oversee the implementation of Landesa’s global advocacy strategy focused on high level, strategic targets (e.g. Mulitlateral institutions, governments, global donors, corporations and industry bodies);
• Oversee efforts to connect Landesa’s advocacy work around land rights to other global platforms and movements (e.g. human rights, housing, climate change, women’s rights);
• Help identify and pursue strategic opportunities to advance Landesa-specific policy and advocacy initiatives;
• With national offices and partners, help identify and leverage opportunities to launch land rights advocacy efforts within key geographic regions and in front of regional and international bodies;
• Support Landesa leaders and represent Landesa at relevant conferences, events, and stakeholder meetings.

Management and Organizational Leadership

• Manage, train and mentor Landesa staff on the development and execution of communications and advocacy strategies;
• Help lead the execution of Landesa’s 2016-2020 organizational strategy, including the development of annual goals, strategies, and desired outcomes, along with the development of corresponding budgets;
• With the ELT and other relevant staff, ensure adequate funding (including active support for fundraising) and oversight of expenditures for Landesa’s global advocacy and communications activities;
• Support Landesa leaders in building relationships with international stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and donors;
• Present Management Reports relating to advocacy and communications to the Board of Directors and Board committees.

 Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A deep commitment to the mission of a better, safer future for the world’s poorest people through land ownership and secure land rights;
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience working in a mission-driven environment;
• A seasoned track record in advancing issues through advocacy, communications, policy, and partnership building;
• A proven ability to develop and deliver high impact messages and content, specifically tailored for the international development community;
• Strong familiarity with land rights and land tenure issues;
• An ability to collaborate at all levels, including executive leadership, Board Members, government officials, and donors; ability to work in a matrix management environment;
• Strong ability to think strategically and execute tactically;
• Excellent communication and writing skills; demonstrated public speaking skills and ability to coach staff around public speaking and advocacy;
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills;
• Proficiency using Microsoft Suite of products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other relevant software.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in public affairs, political science, communication, journalism or related field required;
• Advanced degree in law, communications, economics, or a relevant social science, preferred;
• Experience living and working in the Global South preferred;
• 15+ years of experience of successfully managing advocacy and/or communications campaigns with proven impact.

Physical and Environmental Conditions: Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work. This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.

Work Environment and Working Conditions for Travelers to Developing Countries: While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to working conditions and hazards which are prevalent for the location and/or country of assignment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work. The employee may be required to travel overseas and domestically. When traveling in a developing country, the employee may be exposed to: Physical Hazards (illnesses, noise, extreme temperatures, wet or humid climates, etc.), Road Hazards (unfinished/dirt roads, potholes, traffic-related accidents, etc.), and Atmospheric Conditions (odors, dust, fumes, smog, etc.).

Additional Comments: The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

To Apply: Qualified candidates may apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to jobs@landesa.org, with the title “AD-L” in the subject line. Eligibility to work in the USA required. No phone calls please. Due to the high volume of applicants, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Landesa is committed to diversity and gender equality in all of its operations and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.