Posted on September 19, 2012

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Program Assistant, U.S. Foreign Policy and Advocacy

The International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC) is making every woman’s right to a just and healthy life a global reality. IWHC shapes international policy and budgets, and builds local capacity for women’s health and human rights. We leverage our work in these two very different but critically linked worlds, to change thinking, redirect funding and motivate action by people and institutions that can secure rights and health for women and girls. This requires a strategy in which:

We Advocate: We advocate and motivate social, political and corporate leaders to enact policy and provide funding for women’s rights and health. We take courageous stands and achieve political victories for women in nations’ capitals and the United Nations.

We Empower: We provide grants and forge professional partnerships with local leaders as they build organizations to secure women’s rights and health, primarily in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Since 1984, we have provided over $16.5 million in grants to women and youth advocates.

We Mobilize: We mobilize women and young people, enabling them to take action to secure their rights, health and well-being. We have helped to build and sustain 75 organizations in 10 countries and create broad and powerful alliances.

We Inform: We analyze and communicate facts and pathbreaking ideas for policy improvement to powerbrokers, health professionals, influentials and other advocates. We produce and publish ideas and strategies to make public health policies work for women and girls worldwide.

PRIMARY PURPOSE & FUNCTION

Provide administrative, policy, and programmatic assistance to the Senior Program Officer, U.S. Foreign Policy, as part of the Advocacy and Policy team of five.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy and Policy Program Support

• Assist with mobilizing organizations around core issues through coalitions and work with various organizations, including by monitoring opportunities for the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC) involvement and leadership and actively participating in meetings and events on behalf of IWHC.
• Assist with writing letters to the executive and legislative branches, drafting action alerts, conducting Hill outreach, and planning and executing other advocacy strategies as needed.
• Keep IWHC staff informed about developments in U.S. funding, legislation, policies and programs related to sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and women’s rights and make recommendations for IWHC’s public policy efforts.
• Assist with the cultivation and maintenance of relationships and IWHC among key House and Senate offices.
• Assist with the cultivation and maintenance of relationships and represent IWHC among critical Administration agencies including State Department, USAID and other relevant White House offices.
• Review and analyze briefs, policy documents, and other publications. Monitor appropriate listservs.
• Conduct research for and assist with drafting IWHC publications, articles, speeches, factsheets, talking points, and other advocacy materials.

Grant-making

Assist in the grant-making process, including by drafting/editing grant justification memos, drafting grant award letters and ensuring that grant documentation, including proposals and supporting documentation, is in order. Assist in tracking grant-making activity and conduct administrative follow-up, including management of data entry, routine correspondence with grantees, and monitoring of grantee reporting.

Communications

Assist in keeping IWHC’s multilingual website, blog, email blasts, and social media accounts dynamic and up-to-date, including creating new content. Conduct research for and assist in drafting letters to the editor, op-ed pieces, news releases, editorial memos, and other communications and advocacy materials. Assist with compiling and maintaining resource files for institution.

Administrative Support

• Plan and execute public and private meetings and events.
• Assist with the preparation of strategies, annual budgets and workplans.
• Handle routine telephone and email communications, including with colleagues overseas.
• Arrange travel and accommodations for staff and for relevant colleagues, including assistance in obtaining visas, outlining itineraries, sending advance materials, etc.
• Assist in maintaining the calendars of program staff and scheduling appointments and calls.
• Manage expense reports and payment requests and help to monitor program spending.
• Manage and maintain relevant portions of IWHC programmatic databases and accurate and organized file systems.
• General office administrative tasks, including, but not limited to, responding to incoming calls and requests from the general public, faxing, photocopying, filing, etc.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Passion for IWHC’s mission and a strong commitment to sexual and reproductive rights and health, human rights, and gender equality.
• B.A. and two to four years administrative experience required; Masters degree preferred.
• Budgeting and grants administration experience desirable.
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent computer and administrative skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and internet research.
• Excellent listening and communications skills, with sensitivity to cultural communication differences and the ability to communicate directly and effectively with others.
• Ability to meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and work cooperatively, effectively and accurately under pressure.
• A high level of self-motivation and ease at taking initiative and working independently.
• Ability to show discretion and handle confidential issues.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and team spirit.
• Pleasant, mature and diplomatic manner and disposition.
• Willingness to work long hours, including occasional weekends, as needed.
• Fluent written and spoken English required; French, Spanish or Portuguese highly preferred.

COMPENSATION: Highly competitive salary and excellent benefits, including generous vacation time, and no contribution for employee-only medical and dental coverage, among others.

DESIRED START DATE: November 1, 2012.

Application Instructions

Send cover letter (including ref. #DCAPP0912 and salary requirements) and resume to: Liisa Sweet-Korpivaara @ fax 212-979-9009, or via email (in MS Word) to: recruitment@iwhc.org