Global Policy Advocacy Specialist

Title: Global Policy Advocacy Specialist

Reporting to: Global Director of Policy and Advocacy

Industry: Banking, Financial Services

Classification: Full-time

Location: Washington DC (Preferable)

Start Date: Immediate

Summary:

Women’s World Banking is looking for a talented and experienced Global Policy Advocacy Specialist to support our government engagement and global policy influence work. The role will ideally be based in Washington DC, with a focus on global policy advocacy, as well as collaborating with our regional teams in South Asia, South-East Asia and Africa, to leverage and highlight learnings from the organization's national policy advisory work.

The Global Policy Advocacy Specialist will join a small yet forward thinking, high-performing and collaborative External Affairs team focused on influencing global public policy and financial sector policy by fostering partnerships and managing key stakeholder relationships. By creating and implementing engagement opportunities at global and regional convenings in collaboration with global bodies such as the G20, World Bank Group, and the World Economic Forum, External Affairs actively enhances our visibility and image as a Thought Leader around gender equality and accelerates women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment. This position reports to the Global Director of Policy and Advocacy, who is based in the United Kingdom.

The ideal candidate will have a successful record of operations within financial services and/or international development with sector expertise of government engagement and policy influence using advisory input and research-based evidence. They will also understand and be able to manage influence on a broader scale, with relations in Government, regulatory bodies, industry associations and other relevant organizations and stakeholders. They will be passionate about women’s economic empowerment and eager to serve as a financial inclusion thought leader in policy and financial services ecosystem. We are looking for assertive and self-motivated person who is eager to seek out opportunities and co-create with colleagues across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Policy Advocacy and Thought Leadership:

• Work directly with the Global Director of Policy & Advocacy to define, shape an implement Women’s World Banking’s global policy strategy.
• Track the global policy outlook and ecosystem including key policymakers, policy environment, points of view, relevant messages, and engagement approaches.
• Support relationships with key policy makers and regulators, industry leaders, civil society organizations, key media and other influencers.
• Facilitate the development of women-centered policy by policymakers and regulators.
• Actively identify emerging and significant policy issues and political events, and engage with government and private sector stakeholders on issues of importance.
• Identify opportunities for evidence-based policy influence within policymaking institutions.
• Highlighting the gender perspective, participate in global conversations on digital financial inclusion, Digital Public Infrastructure, consumer protection and economic empowerment.
• Work with advisory and research colleagues to synthesize project learnings to identify opportunities for different stakeholders (primarily policy makers) to take defined action to advance women’s financial inclusion.
• Create policy papers and positions on critical regional topics using advisory and data-driven insights.
• Present information clearly and organized, both internally and externally. Outputs may include report writing, webinars, panels at conferences, executive-level briefings, presentations, policy briefings, proposals etc.

Stakeholder Management:

• Work with the Global Director of Policy & Advocacy to operationalize relevant policy advisory projects and programs.
• Liaison with the Regional Policy and Advocacy Directors to align Women’s World Banking’s policy positions.
• Work with the Women’s World Banking Institute to provide policy advisory support to regulators/policy makers participating in L&D training programs.
• Collaborate within External Affairs to leverage strategic partnerships with international organizations, think tanks, industry associations and media to enhance our global advocacy efforts across the full suite of engagement opportunities including events, communications, social media and PR.
• Manage policy interactions to reach policymakers with the right messaging systematically and strategically to drive action.
• Engage relevant policymakers and local stakeholders in meetings, events, and seminars through media and regional forums.
• Track and document activities/outputs to measure and improve program performance per Women’s World Banking’s policy and advocacy M&E frameworks.

Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in relevant discipline – International Development/Finance/Economics/Social Science/Public Policy.
• 6+ years of relevant work experience in financial services, policy, public affairs and/or advocacy, women’s empowerment, relevant government consulting, or non-profit.
• Working knowledge of global financial services regulatory landscape, policy formulation, and policy advocacy.
• Ability to interpret complex policy issues and political developments to create concise briefings in clear, actionable formats (e.g. policy papers, executive-level briefing notes, reports, presentations, panels, proposals) with attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and written communication skills, with policy makers, international organizations and financial institutions.
• Intellectual curiosity and creative problem-solving.
• Self-directed, pairing analytical thinking with a structured way of working
• Successful track record working in a diverse, multi-cultural global organization, collaborating with colleagues remotely with minimal supervision.
• A stable internet connection and ability to work remotely.
• Ability to travel to our global markets if required.
• Strong project management skills with ability to deliver on multiple concurrent projects and adapt to changing project needs.
• Ability to support in the planning, set up and execution of convenings and events.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools such as Hive. Ideally familiar with using Salesforce.
• Passionate about gender equality and financial inclusion.

Within the first 75 days:

• Assume full responsibility for the position
• Embrace Women’s World Banking’s values – Think Big, Own and Commit to It, Smarter Together
• Learn and comprehend Women’s World Banking’s business model
• Fully integrate into the Global Policy Advocacy and External Affairs team.