Advisor, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement

Organization:                  Right To Play International
Department/Division:     Global Program Partnership     
Work Location:          Toronto or Ottawa, Canada
Work Arrangement:        A combination of in-office and remote-working in accordance with Right To Play’s work arrangement and the operational needs of the department. Possibility of remote-working pending management approval.
Authorized to work in:  Canada (Eligible to work legally without requiring visa or work permit sponsorship)
Target Hiring Salary:       CAD 20 per hour / CAD 20,800 prorated for six months (before taxes)
Target Start Date:            End of August/early September
Contract Duration:      Part-time (20 hours per week) / 6-month contract (with possibility of extension)
Application Closing Date:       August 11, 2023 23:59EDT

ABOUT US:       
Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates and empowers children to rise above adversity through the power of play. We help millions of children each year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the leading global development organization that uses play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease and inequality.

Established in 2000, Right To Play reaches children through experiential programming in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. These programs are supported by our headquarters in Toronto, Canada; London, UK and seven national offices across Europe and North America.

With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars:

• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work

Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do, and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code.

ROLE SUMMARY:
Working closely under the guidance of the Director, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement, the Advisor, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement will gain valuable insights into political and multilateral decision-making processes, will gain experience in conducting and contributing to policy analysis and policy influence activities, as well as coalition building and stakeholder management. In addition, the Advisor will take on responsibilities, such as the development of policy briefs, campaigns and event planning. This is a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of policy influence and resource mobilization activities for non-governmental organizations in Canada.

During the period of employment, the Advisor will work closely with INGO/NGO partners and other stakeholders and will be supervised by an experienced member of our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in international development, the Sustainable Development Goals, global education, children’s psychosocial well-being and play-based interventions, as well as a keen interest in policy making and external engagement. 

In this role, you will:

• Conduct policy analysis and produce policy briefs and recommendations;
• Support campaign activities, including external engagement and event planning;
• Actively participate in thematic working groups with peer agencies as a representative of Right To Play International;
• Actively prepare for and participate in dialogues with government officials at all levels to advance policy making agendas;
• Support key activities in support of Right To Play’s Global Thought Leadership Strategy;
• Administrative support, as required (e.g., scheduling meetings, note-taking).

WHAT YOU’LL DO:
#1: Support the Delivery of Right To Play’s Government Engagement Strategy (30%)

• Support engagement with government officials at all levels (e.g., political, bureaucratic) to deepen Right To Play’s relationship with key decision makers to advance the organization’s mandate and position the organization as a leader in the field;
• Support the planning and execution of two in-person learning events (e.g., engaging Global Affairs Canada and NORAD/MFA) to socialize global best practices and recommendations in a soon-to-be launched policy note promoting psychosocial well-being through play;
• Draft meeting requests, briefing notes, one-pagers and other collateral to support the learning events and other various engagements;
• Monitor current political trends, new and on-going parliamentary activities and identify opportunities to inform government priorities (e.g., focus on Government of Canada) related to quality education and children’s psychosocial well-being.

#2: Stakeholder Engagement Support and Event Planning (50%):

• Support Right To Play’s participation and leadership role in networks and coalitions that seek to influence policy at the global and national level (e.g., Canadian International Education Policy Working Group, UNHCR Educational Alliance MHPSS + SEL Task Team);
• Schedule meetings with working group members, send out meeting agendas, document discussions and capture action items, maintain the list serve and help respond to queries;
• Help to consolidate input into shared policy documents and advance joint advocacy activities;
• Support Right To Play’s representation at key events (e.g., United Nations General Assembly, Global Refugee Forum). Help to develop and execute workback schedules to adequately prepare for engagements and ensure effective and appropriate representation;
• Help to plan and execute two strategic side-events being hosted in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly and the Global Refugee Forum;
• Support senior leadership’s external engagement, when needed.

#3: Support the Delivery of Right To Play’s Global Thought Leadership Strategy (15% of Time)

• Support the Director in taking stock of progress related to our Thought Leadership Strategy Goals and Activities;
•  Help to develop a GANTT chart (or similar) to set realistic timelines for activities for the remainder of 2023;
• Maintain and refresh our shared calendar of events;
• Help support internal mapping of coalitions and working groups where Right To Play is participating across our National and Country Offices;
• Assist in scheduling calls, sending out meeting agendas, documenting discussions and capturing action items.

#4: Administrative Support as Required (5% of Time)

• Scheduling meetings;
• Note-taking;
• Other tasks as required.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING (ESSENTIAL):
EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:

• The candidate may be completing or have completed a Masters Degree in Public Policy, International Development or similar OR can demonstrate a comparable combination of education and lived experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• Proven leadership to convene diverse stakeholders and find areas of agreement and collective action;
• Proven ability to analyze policies for gaps and opportunities to advance Right To Play’s priorities;
• Proven ability to plan and execute events that engage decision makers and key stakeholders;
• Experience writing high-quality reports or briefs for policy makers.

COMPETENCIES/PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Confident, pro-active and a self-starter;
• Takes pride in producing high-quality products, with an eye for detail;
• Represents self and the organization professionally;
• Can speak to the power of play with conviction and enthusiasm;
• Willing to grow, problem solve, take on new challenges and share fresh thinking and approaches.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Strong knowledge of/interest in international development, the Sustainable Development Goals, global education, children’s psychosocial well-being and play-based interventions;
• Excellent writing and communication skills, including proper grammar, sentence structure and spelling;
• Exceptional organizational skills and attentive to detail.

LANGUAGES:     

• Fluency in spoken and written English.

 BONUS IF YOU’LL BRING (NOT ESSENTIAL):

• Experience interning, volunteering or working in the INGO/NGO/CSO sector, internationally or domestically;
• Fluency in spoken and written French.

WHAT YOU’LL GET:
The opportunity to collaborate with an innovative global team who are passionate about working with children and youth. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). You will be immersed in an environment where learning and development is encouraged and valued, and “play” is appreciated as a core avenue to building community.

• Flexible work arrangements (e.g. work from home and flex hours)
• 15 days annual leave per year
• Up to 3 personal days per year
• Up to 5 personal learning and development (L&D) days per year
• Annual learning week
• Annual staff recognition awards
• Opportunity to connect with employees across our offices (Global Buddy Chat, Facebook Workplace)
• Opportunity to engage in global projects and initiatives
• Wellness programs
• Playful activities and events

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How to Apply:

If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply with your resume and cover letter in English via the application link by August 11, 2023 23:59 EDT. One position is available for this opportunity.

Application Link: https://righttoplay.hiringplatform.ca/136105-advisor-policy-stakeholder-engagement-part-time/548144-application-form/en

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Shortlisting of applications will begin immediately and interviews may be held before the closing date.

Right To Play provides equal employment opportunities to employees regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. As such, we encourage groups who have been historically disadvantaged with respect to employment to apply for positions at Right To Play. We offer a family-friendly environment that allows for flexible work arrangements in order to support staff diversity and ensure a healthy work-life balance.

We value and promote a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Should you require any accessibility related accommodations or specific adjustments to ensure fair and equitable access throughout the recruitment and selection process, and thereafter, please reach out to the People & Culture team by email at [email protected]. All information provided will be treated as confidential and used only to provide an accessible candidate experience.

We are a child-centered organization. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in our programs. The successful candidate will be required to provide a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Screening or equivalent criminal check as a condition of employment.

EMPLOYEE VACCINE POLICY:
To protect the health and safety of our employees and the communities we serve, Right To Play requires all employees and volunteers based in Canada to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.