Development Policy Officer

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights seeks a full-time Development Policy Officer.

Role Overview

The Development Policy Officer plays a leading role developing tools and resources, conducting analysis, driving coalition work, and engaging with and building the capacities of decision-makers towards increasing investment in and political support for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada’s foreign policy and development assistance. The Development Policy Officer works closely with members of the Government Relations and Campaigns team to identify opportunities to hold the Government of Canada accountable to its human rights obligations, to collaboratively develop and leverage engaging communications strategies, campaigns strategies, public events, knowledge translation, partnerships and other strategies. 

Who We Are

Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights is a progressive, pro-choice human rights-based charitable organization committed to advancing and upholding sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada and globally.

We are an organization that works in Canada and around the world to promote health, wellbeing, and rights related to sexuality and reproduction. Building on the 50-year legacy of the organizations that formed Action Canada, we provide direct support, referrals, and information to the people who need it most, partner with groups and organizations on a range of campaigns using a collaborative, movement-building approach, and work with decision-makers to advance progressive policies on access to abortion, stigma-free healthcare, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, sex workers’ rights, and inclusive sex-ed.

We believe in a world where every person controls their sexuality, reproduction, gender expression, and health. In our fight for sexual and reproductive rights for all, Action Canada challenges the systems that create unequal access to information, health care, and rights.

For more information, visit actioncanadashr.org. 

Who You Are

You are an experienced policy specialist with a passion for sexual and reproductive health and rights. You bring a feminist intersectional lens to your work – including your analysis, collaborations, and communication style. You are critical of the unequal power dynamics established and upheld by colonial, racist and patriarchal practices that remain dominant within the international development sector and seek to dismantle them. You are a strategic thinker with experience operating in fast-paced, sometimes reactive advocacy environments. You have experience working with colleagues across teams, including communications and programs, coordinating coalition work, and engaging parliamentarians as well as other government officials. You have strong writing, knowledge translation and analytical skills. You are not intimidated by change and are excited to work within a small but mighty organization.  

Primary job responsibilities:

• Lead the development of resources (including briefs, factsheets, submissions, reports, position papers, etc.) on sexual and reproductive health and rights-related issues within the context of Canada’s development assistance and foreign policy.
• Monitor the work of Global Affairs Canada, and other relevant departments, identifying and seeking opportunities to build Canada’s support for sexual and reproductive health and rights in global fora.
• Support the development and execution of creative strategies to encourage further action by government actors on sexual and reproductive health and rights, human rights, global health, foreign policy and development assistance.
• Monitor global processes (including UN functional commissions, development framework reviews, G7/G20, among others) with a view to integrating a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights and strengthening Canada’s role in these spaces.
• Engage in knowledge translation of global research, studies and best practices related to sexual and reproductive health and rights for governmental audiences and awareness-raising among general public.
• With Support from the Director of Government Relations, oversee the work for the Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, including resource development, planning parliamentary briefings and events, growing and supporting the membership, and communications work.
• In collaboration with team members, engage elected and unelected officials towards increasing support for sexual and reproductive health and rights issues.
• Support the work of the Future Planning Initiative.
• Seek out and support existing opportunities for collaborative advocacy and feminist coalition work to increase support for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada’s development assistance and foreign policy.
• Attend relevant events, conferences and external meetings as required.
• In collaboration with campaigning and communications colleagues, work to promote the profile of specific UN agencies within Canada.
• Research, follow, and build the organization’s internal knowledge around emerging issues.
• Represent the organization externally with government officials and other stakeholders.
• Organize events with the public, government officials and parliamentarians.
• Participate in cross-team meetings to contribute to the development of campaign strategies.
• Oversee activity budgets (for example: events, publications, etc.)
• Support the Director of Government Relations with grant administration, fundraising, reporting, operational and administrative tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a related field such as political science, international development, gender studies, global health, public affairs, or human rights.
• Minimum of 3 years experience, preferably in a non-profit, charitable, or civil society organization.
• Knowledge of international human rights system, feminist and social justice organizations and international development sector, including the United Nations and its specialized agencies, global financing instruments, and international agreements relevant to sexual and reproductive health and rights.  
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression principles and practices.
• Knowledge of and commitment to Action Canada’s mission and values.
• Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated experience engaging in multi-sectoral collaborations and coalition work.
• Comfortable using digital tools to manage work and collaborate with team members (e.g. Asana, Zoom, Dropbox etc.)
• Ability to manage self-directed work and work collaboratively across teams in a fast-paced environment with quick turnaround and remote team members.
• Flexible and adaptive, able to respond quickly and effectively to changing circumstances.
• Willingness to travel and work outside of normal business hours, when necessary.
• Eligible to work in Canada.

Hiring Process and Timeline:

Send your cover letter and CV by 5pm EST on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 to:

[email protected]

SUBJECT: Development Policy Officer

Short-listed candidates will be contacted by Friday, May 21, 2021. We anticipate that interviews for this position will take place over Zoom during the week of May 24, 2021.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week), salaried position. Salary for this position is $52,517 to $59,604 per annum, commensurate with experience. Action Canada also provides a generous benefits program, including extended health and dental benefits, and RRSP contributions.

Recognizing that we are in the midst of an unprecedented and unusual time, we have made adjustments to our hiring processes. At this time, all staff at Action Canada are working from home, and the interviewing and on-boarding process will occur remotely. We acknowledge that COVID-19 has caused disruptions to many lives and people may require additional accommodations. 

Action Canada is committed to working within an anti-racism and anti-oppression framework. We encourage members of Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities, and members of other equity-seeking groups, to apply and to self-identify in your cover letter. We welcome applications from people living with disabilities; please let us know if you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process.

We thank all applicants in advance; however, only those invited for an interview will be contacted.