Senior Advocacy Associate -- InterAction

Senior Advocacy Associate POSITION SUMMARY: InterAction seeks a Senior Advocacy Associate to facilitate advocacy among InterAction members to promote InterAction’s public policy goals. He/she will establish and maintain relationships with members of InterAction’s Public Policy Committee (PPC) and coordinate advocacy activities including direct lobbying and grasstops lobbying for the PPC and other working groups as needed. He/she will be a jack-of-all-trades and be responsible for organizing Capitol Hill briefings, lobby days, carrying out special projects, writing policy-related external communications, representing InterAction at stakeholder events, and responding to urgent requests for information. He/she is expected to contribute to the fast-paced work of the Public Policy Team by providing executive-level support to the Senior Director. The Senior Advocacy Associate will be part of InterAction’s Public Policy Team, working closely with and reporting to the Senior Director of Public Policy. RESPONSIBILITIES: Specific duties will include: • Facilitate advocacy among InterAction members on budget and appropriations, international development, and humanitarian policy issues; • Establish and maintain relationships with members of InterAction’s Public Policy Committee (PPC) and coordinate advocacy activities including direct lobbying and grasstops lobbying for the PPC and other working groups as needed; • Be a jack-of-all-trades for the Public Policy team and be responsible for but not limited to organizing Capitol Hill and in-house briefings, lobby days, carrying out special projects, representing InterAction at stakeholder events, writing and editing policy documents, coordinating sign-on letters; • Respond to urgent requests for information from InterAction members, congressional staff, and administration officials; • Coordinate advocacy efforts with the rest of the Public Policy Team; • Contribute to the fast-paced work of the Public Policy Team by providing executive-level support to the Senior Director. • Support InterAction’s broad policy objectives within the context of budget/appropriations, foreign assistance reform, the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, and the Millennium Development Goals; and • Administrative and other duties as assigned by Senior Director of Public Policy. QUALIFICATIONS: • A least a bachelor’s degree with two or more years of Congressional work experience and/or experience in legislative advocacy for a non-profit organization; • Experience/knowledge with budget and appropriations, humanitarian and/or international development issues; • Knowledge of/experience working with USAID and/or the State Department is a plus; • Highly organized, team player, excellent writing skills; • Excellent inter-personal communication skills, including the ability to interact professionally with high-level staff and policymakers; • Understanding the challenges involved in organizing coalition advocacy; • Initiative to spot what needs to be done, as well as to respond to specific direction. • The ability to stay calm and poised under pressure, remain focused in a rapidly changing environment and responsive to new needs of members; • Demonstrated initiative to solve problems with high energy and a positive attitude; • Demonstrated commitment to InterAction’s core values and mission; and • The highest personal and professional integrity along with a sense of humor. ABOUT INTERACTION www.interaction.org InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), with more than 190 members working in every developing country. Members are faith-based and secular, large and small, with a focus on the world’s most poor and vulnerable populations. The U.S. public, foundations and others support the efforts of our membership via funding totaling more than $13 billion a year, according to 2009 estimates. InterAction’s funds come from dues and generous grants from others, such as foundations. Using its collective voice, InterAction seeks to shape important policy decisions on relief and long term development issues, including foreign assistance, the environment, women, health, education and agriculture. Members are at the forefront in responding to humanitarian crises and disasters worldwide and InterAction acts as a hub in these efforts. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: There are no extraordinary physical requirements for the performance of the essential functions of this position. InterAction will make reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. SALARY & BENEFITS: InterAction provides competitive salaries and excellent benefits. TO APPLY: • Email cover letter and resume to jobapplications@interaction.org . • Put “Senior Advocacy Associate” on the subject line. • Position is open until filled but applications received prior to July 27, 2012 are preferred and applications will be reviewed as they are received. • Due to the expected volume of interest, only candidates considered will be contacted. • All applicants must be able to provide documentation that they are legally eligible to work in the United States (US citizenship or “Green Card”). • No phone calls please. DEADLINE: Open until filled, with applications preferred by July 27, 2012.