Advocacy and Policy Manager (m/f/d)

Background

FDI World Dental Federation is a Swiss-based not-for-profit organization. It serves as the principal representative body for over one million dentists worldwide. Founded in Paris, France, in 1900 it is one of the oldest organization’s in the field of dentistry. Its membership includes some 200 National Dental Associations and specialist groups in over 130 countries. FDI is the global voice of the dental profession and works with its member organizations to improve the oral health of people worldwide. It is in official relations with the World Health Organization and works closely with other UN agencies. FDI’s vision: ‘leading the world to optimal oral health’.

Role

The role of the Advocacy and Policy Manager is to support the development, implementation, and monitoring of FDI’s global policy and advocacy work. The candidate will work to improve oral health literacy and achieve political commitment to and action on oral health in all countries. The post will require the formulation of strategies to ensure the integration of oral health into the health and development agenda, specifically policies addressing universal health coverage (UHC) and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), for the comprehensive delivery of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The work will involve managing the writing and production of briefing documents, toolkits, and a comprehensive range of material and resources, so the candidate must have a high-level of written English.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of FDI’s advocacy strategy to help ensure that oral health is integrated into global health agenda priorities.
• Identify opportunities to advocate an oral health in all policies approach and engage all relevant stakeholders, to advance the oral health agenda.
• Nurture relations with key stakeholders and engage FDI members, partner organizations, institutions, and relevant United Nations (UN) agencies (e.g., World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Environment Programme etc.), to help deliver on advocacy goals.
• Organize high-profile side events and roundtables to engage policymakers, key institutions, opinion leaders, and civil society.
• Coordinate input into key consultations and represent FDI at meetings, briefings, and events to ensure the organization’s voice is heard and draw in FDI experts as relevant.
• Promote evidence-based approaches to address the needs of those living with oral diseases.
• Mobilize FDI member associations by equipping them with the tools and resources to advocate at a national level and lead any consultation processes.
• Develop campaign and advocacy resources including drafting content, managing their production promotion and roll-out as well as monitoring their uptake.
• Write policy briefing documents and statements, as well as advocacy content for the FDI website, press releases, articles, speeches, presentations, toolkits, reports etc., on a needs basis and manage the Advocacy Newsletter.
• Monitor and analyze the work and technical reports of strategic UN bodies and agencies, e.g. WHO, UNEP, and others relevant to FDI’s advocacy activities.
• Collaborate with members, policymakers, and partner organizations to craft oral health policies that are inclusive and relevant to populations.
• Handle registration processes for all WHO, UN and other key advocacy meetings as appropriate.
• Provide staff support and background research to FDI Committees and Task Teams charged with leading advocacy activities in key areas, including preparing agendas, presentations and meeting reports as well as providing logistical support for the organization of meetings.
• Provide regular updates and reporting on the progress of advocacy activities.
• Represent FDI at relevant external meetings.
• Other work as required to support the development of policy and programmes within FDI.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, international affairs, political science or other discipline related to health policy; Master’s an asset
• At least three years of relevant work experience that includes a blend of advocacy and communications within the healthcare not-for-profit sector
• Proven track record of project management skills
• Strong commitment to and knowledge of global health, UHC, NCDs and SDGs
• Knowledge of health and development issues and familiar with the UN systems
• Ability to operate with urgency and accuracy in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment
• Excellent oral and written English communications skills (fluency in other language(s) an asset)
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, including the ability to synthesize complex material accurately in non-specialist language
• Excellent team worker
• Ability to think and plan strategically
• Willingness to travel
• Valid permit to work in Switzerland

Desired skills and competences

• Strong interest in oral health issues and global development
• Proven ability to work effectively in a multicultural setting
• Entrepreneurial mindset and a willingness to innovate and propose new ideas
• Ability to influence
• Strong problem solving and multitasking skills

Application: interested and qualified candidates should send a CV and cover letter to recruitment@fdiworlddental.org by 9 June 2022. Please note only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.