Policy Associate
We are looking for a Policy Associate to assist our team in this critical side of ALLFED’s work.
This role would contribute policy-specific competencies to drive our external engagement and support the organization in influencing decision-making.
ALLFED is an international NGO focused on improving the chance of humanity being able to feed itself in the event of global catastrophic risks that affect the food system. Our international research team has already done, and continues to do, world-leading research on disaster preparedness relevant to the food system. In our external-facing wing of ALLFED, we are engaging with policymakers, institutions, and organizations to generate opportunities for such preparedness interventions and planning strategies to be realized in different parts of the world.
Location:
Any / Home (flexible arrangement, remote flexi working).
Duration and Hours:
This is a 40h/week position, which can be split on the part-time basis (most likely 20/20). You will need to take part in policy team calls (phone or online conferencing, which may be very early/late for you due to time zone differences). The majority of time you will be able to set your own working hours.
Remuneration:
Our standard pay range for this role is $17.5-25 per hour; however, we will consider a higher rate of pay for rare skills and experienced/exceptional candidates
Reports To:
Strategic Advisor (& Research Coordinator)
Key Responsibilities:
- Carry out policy assessment for ALLFED projects and briefing documents, including landscape and contextual analysis, process insight, and opportunity evaluation.
- Apply latest knowledge to the context of global catastrophic events / scenarios in outreach strategy and policy evaluation.
- Respond to the latest developments/events around the world with knowledge-gathering and advice-scoping, where appropriate.
- Project lead designated projects, applying project management practices and principles (including planning, reporting and team support),
- Prepare and deliver internal, and help prepare external, ALLFED presentations, according to presentation guidelines,
- Assist with subject-specific communications (in collaboration with Communications),
- Maintain and develop collaborations, collaborators’ contacts and records, so that they are readily available to the research team and the organization,
- Keep own research/finance documentation and data in good order and readily accessible for the research/finance team, coordinators, and management, in keeping with ALLFED’s policies and guidelines,
- Communicate progress, milestones, deliverables, and resources, and other project updates as needed to Management/Research/Projects Coordinator(s)
- Consult with, support and train other team members on policy process and evaluation as required, as well as any relevant skills/tools,
- Other related tasks
Essential (must have):
For all ALLFED roles
- A mature attitude - we are trying to help feed the world;
- Reliable, hard-working, able to get along with people;
- Self-motivated and able to work with little supervision to deliver project objectives in a timely manner;
- Excellent record-keeping and organizational skills;
- Comfortable with working remotely and online collaboration systems;
- Able to give/take constructive feedback about work to/from other team members;
- Willingness to learn new tools, methods, software;
- Awareness of a significant responsibility that comes with ALLFED’s work, especially when it comes to outreach and public media presence;
- Good English spoken and written language skills;
- Access to high speed Internet (for your research and video conference calls);
- Headset (microphone + headphones) for calls.
Role Specific
- A policy-related degree, ideally relevant to Disaster Risk Reduction,
- Excellent attention to detail, analytical and reporting skills,
- Excellent project management and team leading skills,
- Excellent presentation skills; able to present and discuss work at conferences,
- Flexibility: as Einstein said, "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" We frequently reprioritise research projects based on updated understanding to remain most effective.
Desirable (nice to have):
- Familiarity with specific policy process and institutions,
- Familiarity with Bayesian updating,
- Ability to communicate in languages other than English (UN five official languages particularly desirable).
- Big picture thinking / ability to see how research interlinks with communications and preparedness planning,
- Familiarity with Global Catastrophic Risks,
- Familiarity with Effective Altruism and its core principles,