SENIOR POLICY AND CAMPAIGNS OFFICER Job Profile

Transcription

1 The Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square, London, N1 6HT Tel: +44(0) Web: SENIOR POLICY AND CAMPAIGNS OFFICER Job Profile Permanent, Full Time Salary 34,109 p.a. 1. About Jubilee Debt Campaign Jubilee Debt Campaign (JDC) works to eradicate the poverty and injustice that result from global debt, and campaigns for new structures to create a more just financial system. It is the UK s successor to the Jubilee 2000 movement. On a global scale, developing country debt has been used to ensure billions of dollars flow from the poorest to the richest countries in the world. It has been used as an implement of control, to force policies on developing countries. It has exacerbated the disparities in income, wealth and power in the world. And, despite some big steps forward, it continues to play this role today. We do not believe it is possible to address the causes of global poverty without tackling the ongoing debt crisis. JDC comprises has around 100 local, regional and national affiliates. It draws its support from diverse sectors, including faith-based groups, trades unions and international development organisations. JDC is secular, independent of any political party and committed to principles of non-violence and equal opportunity. The main purpose of the JDC Secretariat, of which this post will form a part, is to coordinate lobbying, outreach and campaigning work on debt and poverty. 2. The Post The JDC Secretariat consists of four posts: - Director - Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer - Administration and Finance Officer - Campaigns and Communications Officer

2 The Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer is a vital and demanding role. S/he will be the foremost expert on developing world debt issues in the UK development sector, providing analysis and information to interested parties in the sector and beyond. But s/he will also play a leading role in the development of national and international campaigns on developing country debt, able to move adeptly from a deep understanding of policy issues to an easily-grasped description of the implications and impacts of a campaign. S/he will also liaise closely with other bodies working on debt issues in the UK and abroad, as well as with UK and EU governmental and parliamentary representatives. The post-holder will work in close co-operation with other staff, but with substantial day-to-day independence, requiring a very large amount of initiative and organisation. S/he will have significant interaction with media and external parties, with whom s/he must deal confidently and convincingly. The post has a probationary period of 6 months. JDC offers 25 days leave per annum, together with contributions to a personal pension of the staff member s choosing. 3. Job Description POLICY FORMULATION AND ANALYSIS Compiling, responding to and analysing new information about debt and debt policy Producing a monthly update on debt for affiliates and other interested parties Acting as a point of contact for affiliates and other interested parties on debt questions Producing data and analysis useful for lobbying and advocacy Convening occasional meetings and seminars for affiliates and other interested parties on debt and related issues Researching, consulting on and producing JDC policies Keeping on top of development policies in so far as they relate to debt Developing JDC s contacts with academics and academic departments and better using academic skills to further our campaigns Developing JDC s contacts with financial sector practitioners and better using their experience to further our campaigns CAMPAIGN STRATEGY Assessing the needs of JDC s campaigns for policy research Writing or commissioning reports, briefings and campaign materials Keeping on top of all relevant policy developments on JDC s campaigns Designing and developing our campaign strategy, in conjunction with the Director and Campaigns & Communications Officer Overseeing the evaluation of campaigns, in conjunction with the Director Writing material for communications outputs Persuading affiliates, NGOs, trade unions, business and other interest groups to support JDC s campaigns Finding new opportunities for forwarding JDC s campaigns Publicly speaking to interested parties on JDC s campaigns

3 LOBBYING Liaising with government and international officials and UK and EU parliamentary groups on issues of debt policy Lobbying government and international officials and UK and EU parliamentary groups on JDC s central campaigns Managing and enlarging JDC s parliamentary champions group Setting up and attending regular meetings with government and politicians Identifying and submitting to appropriate government and Parliamentary consultations EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION Leading day-to-day contact with Southern, European, US and other partners Attending civil society and official meetings in the UK and internationally Responding to media enquiries and giving interviews, in consultation with the Director, Contributing to the external representation of JDC, in conjunction with the Director GENERAL Deputising for the Director in all matters of campaigns and policy work Managing policy interns as necessary (at least 1 part-time intern) Assisting in the development of funding applications Participating in the organisation of events, including coalition events, including approaching and liaising with major speakers Participating in staff meetings on both strategy and day-to-day operations Helping in any other way, as needed. REPORTING TO The Director. 4. Person Specification ESSENTIAL Skills/Experience Proven ability to analyse and manipulate statistics, able to understand how data can be used to create and reinforce a narrative and the drawbacks it presents Research skills, with some experience of both desk-based and primary research Proven ability to understand and clearly communicate issues of development or economics to a wide variety of audiences Experience of developing policy positions on development or economic or social issues Experience of lobbying government officials and politicians Experience of working constructively in coalitions Experience of strategic planning Excellent writing skills particularly writing for politicians and the media Good networking, relationship and communication skills Good interpersonal skills: able to encourage and support campaigners and volunteers Prioritisation: ability to organise and manage a busy workload Competency at using basic office software, including Word, Excel and /internet tools.

4 Attributes Judgement able to make quick decisions on campaign and policy direction, understanding the implications of those decisions Initiative able to work with little supervision and create opportunities for a campaign and organisation Team Player - able to help define, and assist in meeting, collective objectives; a constructive and supportive approach to negotiations and team working Commitment - the desire and motivation to work for an organisation working towards the cancellation of unpayable and unjust Third World Debt Enthusiasm understanding of the demands of a small, busy office with a willingness to pitch in at times of high activity DESIRABLE Skills/Experience Knowledge of financial sector and issues Experience of fundraising for discrete pieces of policy and/ or campaigns work Experience of managing interns Experience of public speaking and conducting media interviews 5. Workplan Providing regular (monthly) policy analysis and information to the UK development sector (our current policy list comprises 70 policy representatives); Working intensively with UK development agencies to provide the analytical links between debt and current high-profile development issues. This will include the creation of materials for internal and external use, and lead to debt being given a higher profile in the work of those agencies; Providing an expert information point on debt-related issues for UK policy, campaign, educational and academic audiences; Ensuring the UK government, politicians and academics, as well as international policymakers like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, understand the implications on poverty of debt-related policy decisions; Forming new relationships with academics and financial sector practitioners, enabling us to increase the scope of our campaigns and gain valuable analysis; Inputting a strong UK voice into international development policy formulation on debtrelated issues and feed-back discussions and decisions to the UK development sector, to ensure global coherence and coordination capable of facilitating real change; Developing well researched, strong and coherent campaigns including: Working with UK partners to develop a campaign around export credit debt. Working with European and international partners to develop a campaign for international arbitration (a debt court ) on debt resolution.

5 6. Next Steps Those interested in applying should complete and return the Application Form, by post to Jubilee Debt Campaign, The Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square, London N1 6HT, or by e- mail to For further information, call JDC on This Job Profile can be downloaded from the JDC website ( Applications must be received by 12 noon on 13 August The interviews will be on 24 August We shall inform short-listed candidates by and/or telephone. We shall acknowledge, by , receipt of applications sent by . If you would like a postal acknowledgement, please send a stamped, addressed envelope.