Head of Policy, Advocacy and Government Relations
Save the Children Canada (SCC) is a member of Save the Children International, a federation that works in more than 120 countries worldwide delivering programs focused on health and nutrition, education, child protection, child poverty, humanitarian response, and child rights governance. As the world's leading independent organization for children, Save the Childrenโs vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.ย ย
The Impact You will Make:
Theย Head, Policy,ย Advocacyย and Government Relationsย will play a pivotal role inย aligningย theย execution of the policy and advocacyย functionย to strategy. This hands-on role will act as a change agent for the organization, leading the shaping of the policy,ย advocacy,ย and government relations work to align to SC Canadaโs ambitious transformative agenda, including developing influencing partnerships. Internal to SC Canada, this willย entail workingย with businessย units toย defines and supportย policy changeย related toย Save the Childrenย Canada (SCC)โs priority areas of Gender Equality, Children in Crisis and Climate Justice and child rights.ย ย Within the Save the Childrenย internationalย movement, the Head role will engage with senior policy and advocacy staff to strengthen the global gender equality policy agenda.ย This role will haveย oversight of an operational unit, that are charged withย engagingย external stakeholdersย including child rights duty bears,ย policy influencers and decision makers.ย Theย incumbentย willย haveย provenย knowledgeย andย hands-onย experience toย navigate complexย Canadianย government regulatory landscapes, engaging with policymakers, and advocating for policies that align withย SCโsย mission and goals.ย The incumbent will have experience developing and executing policy/advocacy strategies for non-profits, including measurement of multi-year outcomes.ย ย Aligned to the organizational priority of achievement of gender equality impact through policy, the successful candidate will haveย demonstratedย experience in advancing a policy agenda related to gender equality internationally and/or in Canada and experience with feminist foreign policy.ย
Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
Strategy development and implementation, including partnership development:
Formulate and execute comprehensive advocacy strategies with KPIs,ย across SCC andย with relevant stakeholders.ย Annually, develop action plans for strategic goals.ย Engage with SC Canada change processes and stakeholders to refine the policy/advocacy functionย aligned to the organizational transformation agenda.ย Play a leading role with the Save the Children International Policy and Advocacy leadership teams to strengthen the global gender equality policy agenda.ย ย Regularly review and assess potential risks and opportunities related to policy changes, highlighting to the Senior leadership team, and building mitigation strategies.ย Work with SCC teams toย identifyย partnership building opportunities, including aligning with partners to join influencing agendas.ย Provideย strategic guidance to leadership and staff on navigating regulatory and policy challenges.ย Develop change management and contingency plans and proactive approaches to mitigate risks.ย Ensure systems areย maintainedย to track progress towards long term goals.ย ยCross functional achievement of impact: ย ย
Develop and deliver integrated campaignsย with the Communications, Media & Public Relationsย function for aย strengthenedย organizationalย voice on priority policy issues.ย ย Work closely with the Programs functions toย influence relevant areas of child-focused Canadian government policies,ย using evidence from research and programs.ย ย Work closely with the Programs functions toย support influence of improved donor practicesย and strategies.ย Work closely with Philanthropy functions toย identifyย partnerships for influence.ย Influence Save the Children International, SC membersย and other Partner plans.Leverage CEOโs platform as an effective andย appropriate resourceย for policy advocacy and impact alignment.ย ย Develop resourcing plans to articulate financing of advocacy impact priorities.ย Monitor legislative and regulatory processes, providingย timelyย analysis and updates to leadership.ยConvening and Representation:ย ย ย
Convene partners, policy influencers, local networks and other power and knowledge holdersย to advance policy change.ย Accountability for SC Canadaโs strategic participation atย relevant forums, legislative hearings, and meetings to communicate policy positions.ย Representingย SC Canadaย with external coalitions, Government of Canadaย stakeholders, and duty bearers gathering intelligence as well as defining and influencing strategic alignment and impact.ย Conduct outreach to external partners,ย identifyingย and cultivating relationships with policymakers, government agencies, and industry influencers engaging directly to advocate, drive, and advance SCCโs priorities and goals.ย ย In collaboration with the Communications and Programs teams, develop and deliver compelling advocacy messages to diverse audiences.Team Management and People Management:ย ย ย ย
Development workplans for operation unit, including settingย objectivesย and tasks for team members.ย Build operational budgets,ย manageย and approve expenses.