Regional Manager for Advocacy at Open Society Foundations

 Job Description

Competitive rates of pay + excellent benefits

Do you want to make the world a better place with your deep knowledge and experience of advocacy on African political-economic issues?

We are seeking a Regional Manager for Advocacy based in Nairobi (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is also a possibility in the near future) to join our Africa Regional Office (AfRO). You will report to the Regional Director for Africa, maintaining oversight on and leadership of all of the Open Society Foundations (OSF)’ African advocacy.

The Open Society Foundations works to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. We are active in more than 120 countries, making us the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights.

The Africa Regional Office works at the pan-African level to build a free and democratic Africa, where leaders respect human rights, work to improve citizens’ lives, and are held to account for their actions.

AfRO works closely with our regional foundations in Western, Eastern, and Southern Africa, and our national foundation in South Africa, as well as our regional office in Tunisia. The Regional Manager for Advocacy conducts advocacy in line with AfRO’s strategy and work plan as well as according to the needs of and in partnership with the African foundations and other OSF advocates on Africa.

If appointed, you will provide advice and support to AfRO and African foundations’ staff on advocacy strategising, planning and execution. As the primary coordinator of Africa-related advocacy for OSF, we are seeking someone who will be proactive in engaging with other OSF advocates on Africa, when Africa-related work is considered or implemented, who can also collaborate with other OSF advocates in matters of OSF advocacy policy.

If this sounds like the position you have been looking for, we look forward to learning more about you.

As a Regional Manager for Advocacy at Open Society you will:

• Serve as OSF’s focal point for advocacy on Africa;  provide leadership for advocacy in and on Africa and identify advocacy opportunities for AfRO and the African foundations when necessary;
• Lead in the development and implementation of an advocacy strategy based on global, regional and sub-regional priorities; 
• Convene AfRO, African foundation and other OSF advocates on Africa to discuss, strategise around, plan and review advocacy on Africa;
• In collaboration with the African foundations, provide regular and timely updates, information, analysis and briefings on African advocacy for OSF’s leadership on developments that demand advocacy;
• Proactively collaborate with other regional advocacy managers in OSF’s other regions;
• When necessary, also collaborate with and provide advocacy direction to other OSF thematic programmes working on the continent;
• With OSF’s other advocates on Africa, arrange and lead in advocacy training for AfRO, African foundation staff and partners;
•  Promote staff growth, productivity and well-being through coaching, mentoring and helping others develop their skills;
• Promote healthy communication and teamwork within AfRO, with the African foundations as well as OSF’s other advocates on Africa.

What we are looking for:

• Deep knowledge of and experience working on African political-economic issues and a pan-African perspective on international relations;
• Deep understanding of the continent and regional institutions, particularly the African Union (AU) and how to engage with it;
• Deep understanding of pan-African civil society (broadly defined) and its advocacy history, strengths and weaknesses;
• Broad and deep contact base with African institutions and critical African governments;
• At least ten years of progressively responsible relevant experience and/or training;
• Fluency in English and French (Arabic an additional advantage);
• Excellent analytical, strategic, organisational, verbal and written and interpersonal skills;
• High self-motivation and ability to work independently;
• Ability to motivate a team and coordinate a broader group of staff;
• Profound commitment to professional ethics and the values of the OSF network;
• Willingness to undertake frequent travel.

Closing date: 14 April 2020.

We aim to build an inclusive workforce that is reflective of the populations we support, and actively seek applications from those who are marginalized and underrepresented. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.