Program Support Officer - Advocacy at Skills Outside School Foundation

Location: Virtual/ Abuja
Part-time: At least 24 hours per week.
Start date: Asap

Job Description

• The Advocacy PSO will develop, organize, and execute a wide range of activities to influence policy according to the scope of our programs, and specific results-oriented projects.
• S/he will build the policy capacity of our organization and advice on project implementation.
• S/he will carry out policy analysis and the writing of position statements of our organization.
• Together with the Media and Communications Officer and the Senior Programs Manager, s/he will play an active role in networking, lobbying, and representing the organization in a wide range of policy issues at events, conventions, and media opportunities.
• S/he will be able to integrate communication tools and channels in her/his work.

Main Responsibilities

• Facilitate and guide our institutional advocacy strategy.
• Facilitate the development of joint advocacy strategies with partners associated networks, partners, and other offices of our organization.
• Develop strategic partnerships with key actors to achieve our policy goals.
• Act as a spokesperson liaison to media, governments, and other actors.
• Work with the Media and Communications Officer in organizing media outreach; arranging all media contacts, press briefings, and interviews; providing talking points and other materials as needed for staff; responds to media inquiries quickly and effectively.
• Production of a diverse range of information products including audio/visual communications, when needed to achieve specific policy goals.
• Support and advise the team on how to carry out advocacy properly.
• Identify key opportunities in the short and long-term in which we can influence policy processes.
• Advice management for meaningful engagement with key actors and institutions.
• Support opportunities for fund-raising regarding policy interventions.
• Support and coordinate the relevant regional policy processes and activities of regional offices especially with regards to global/international policy processes and fora related to wetlands and other societal issues.
• Anticipate possible advocacy developments and outcomes and prepare contingency plans and strategy adjustments.

Profile of the Candidate

• The Advocacy officer has experience in formulating and implementing organizational policy strategies.
• S/he has demonstrated a commitment to the cause either through previous job experiences or any other activities related to our mission.
• S/he has a solid track record in representing organizations before.
• S/he is proactive, creative, outspoken, optimistic with interest in education, employability, and entrepreneurship and a passion for making a difference with a preference for achieving outcomes in collaboration with others.

Essential Skills and Experience
Essential:

• Bachelors’ Degree in a relevant field (e.g. Communications, Humanities, Education, International Relations, Law, Business Management, Public Administration).
• Proven working experience in policy analysis and advocacy in national, regional, and global dimensions.
• Demonstrable experience and achievements working in and advocating towards multi-stakeholder platforms and processes.
• Track record in policy analysis, writing and editing articles, website content, reports, and press releases.
• Experience working in an international environment is desirable.
• Ability to quickly understand and absorb new topics, issues, and disciplines and distill relevant advocacy strategies from them.
• Good understanding of political affairs and international institutions dynamics in Africa, and Nigeria especially.
• Experience in networking, stakeholder mapping and strategizing according to policy objectives of different projects.
• Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences.
• Excellent communication and project management skills; team player and facilitator.
• Excellent command of written and spoken the English Language.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Proficiency in cloud software applications (Skydrive, DropBox, Google Docs).

Recommended Prior Experience:

• Prior experience in the education or public sector.
• Prior experience providing advice to senior-level officials in the public, private or non-profit sectors;
• Reporting Relationship: Senior Programs Manager.