Vice President for Policy, Advocacy, and Communications

PACT Overview

Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact.

Department

Chief Executive Office (CEO) - The Office of the CEO contributes to realizing this purpose by developing and implementing Pact's strategy and oversees all operational and financial matters of the organization. The team consists of a small group of professionals dedicated to supporting Pact's President and CEO with decision-making, day-to-day management of the organization, and execution of strategic priorities. The Office of the CEO interacts with staff from a wide cross-section of the organization and leads many of the most high-profile initiatives the organization embarks upon. This office also supports the CEO with Board of Director engagement and staff communication as well as oversight of Pact's subsidiaries.

Position Overview

Under the direction of the CEO, the Vice President for Policy, Advocacy, and Communications has a key leadership role in the organization and is responsible for overseeing the organization's policy and advocacy efforts to strengthen Pact's development impact, policy influence and profile, and build coalitions for improved development and national security policy as well as legislative and regulatory reform. This position also provides strategic oversight of Pact's integrated communications function, ensuring that brand, messaging, and external engagement reinforce and amplify Pact's policy priorities. The policy and advocacy focus for this position will be international and multi-stakeholder, as well as US government (Legislative and Executive Branch engagement), and potentially other national governments in compliance with 501c3 limitations. The Vice President serves as a key spokesperson for Pact's policy priorities and is responsible for building a robust advocacy agenda and a team to design and implement the policy agenda. The Vice President collaborates closely with Pact's senior leadership and key Departments: Programs including Impact Area Leads and Regional and Country Directors; Business Development; and Program Operations. Additionally, the Vice President plays a critical role in the development and execution of the organization's long-term strategic plan

Key Responsibilities

• Executive Management: Serve as part of the core senior management team of Pact, advising on strategy, operations, and resourcing. Build and oversee Pact's growing policy and Advocacy team. Develop the department's organizational structure and specific responsibilities across functions within the team. Develop team and individual work plans with performance goals and measures of success. Build a collaborative and inclusive team culture that prioritizes working across departments.
• Developing Pact's Policy Agenda: Lead development of Pact's policy and advocacy agenda that reflects Pact's Engaged Communities approach and leading with impact, in close coordination with subject matter experts and within the framework of Pact's institutional strategic plan. This includes developing and implementing organizational level strategies as well as developing sub-strategies related to specific impact areas and/or legislative action.
• Identifying Policy Priorities: In consultation with internal subject matter experts, understand Pact priorities and how they are impacted by USG policy, budget and programmatic changes; determine policy positions to take, which USG and foreign government officials and advocacy targets to meet with, which written advocacy products to produce, how to promote existing publications and move existing policy recommendations forward.
• Engaging with Legislative and Executive Branch Stakeholders: Lead Congressional, federal agency, and administration outreach and relationship building on policy priorities, including related federal appropriations for development focused foreign assistance. Identify and track relevant Federal legislation, manage reporting on progress, and alert and support internal staff in responding appropriately. Organize and lead legislative briefings educating legislators and legislative staff on topics relevant to Pact policy priorities. Identify and secure opportunities for high-level meetings and briefings before Congress and/or Federal Agencies. As needed, prepare staff for meetings, hearings, briefings, or speaking engagements on key topics.
• Strategic Communications Leadership: Oversee Pact's integrated communications function, including branding, content creation, digital communications, social media strategy, and graphic design. Develop and oversee execution of communications strategies that support Pact's organizational strategy and goals, ensuring brand, messaging, and external engagement reinforce and amplify Pact's priorities. Manage and mentor the communications team, defining department resources, budgets, and key performance indicators. Oversee the development of standards, templates, and guidelines related to branding and communications, such as Pact's Brand Policy, Brand Standards Manual, and Social Media Handbook.
• Lead internal communications, fostering connection to Pact's mission and vision among staff. Foster a culture of communication and collaboration across the organization, including building strong relationships with country office staff and providing guidance on communications-related topics. Support business development by serving on proposal review teams and providing feedback on communications and outreach plans. Select and manage agencies, consultants, and vendors in support of communications activities.
• Creating Policy and Advocacy Communications: Identify significant media and public policy issues that can be leveraged to support Pact's work, and create and implement plans to capitalize on them. Develop communication campaigns that align with policy and advocacy strategies targeted at specific audiences and stakeholders. Disseminate written and oral communication of Pact's policy positions in a timely manner, including initiating policy-relevant social media across Pact's social media channels. Author policy recommendations, policy briefs, congressional testimony, op-eds, press releases, talking points, and other advocacy materials as necessary.
• Organizational Spokesperson: Serve as a primary organizational spokesperson and external expert on Pact policy priorities including public speaking at panels, high-level meetings, media engagements, and serving as a thought leader in the broader community. Lead media engagement, pitching media and actively engaging with journalists. Identify and develop reputational risk mitigation and communications strategies, working closely with Senior Legal Counsel to provide guidance on responding to crises, as needed.
• Managing Coalitions: Lead Pact's policy and advocacy engagement across the development community. Build and maintain relationships with non-governmental and advocacy organizations. Organize and lead meetings, roundtables, and events, and represent Pact at high-level engagements. Review and recommend whether Pact should sign on to advocacy and coalition letters with partner organizations and other stakeholders around these issues. In addition, identify and oversee opportunities for Pact to draft and lead on coalition letters.
• Internal Coordination: Provide policy updates across Pact departments to ensure all are aware of relevant activities and events. Provide advice and counsel to CEO and other Pact leadership on advocacy and public policy issues. Identify and track relevant Federal legislation, manage reporting on progress, and alert and support internal staff in responding appropriately. Work with CEO and Business Development to develop proposals and engage with private sector funders on policy and advocacy opportunities
• All other duties as assigned

Basic Requirements

• Master's degree (international affairs, public affairs, or related field preferred) and 13+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, including 9 years of management experience. Bachelor''s degree and additional years of experience may be substituted.
• Increasing responsibility for managing teams and strategic priorities; experience in an international NGO preferred.
• Demonstrated passion and commitment to international development.
• Capitol Hill, Executive Branch, or other federal policy experience related to international development and/or foreign policy is required.
• Evidence of policy leadership and networks across critical governmental agencies.
• Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of development policy, including an understanding of issues confronting non-profit international organizations and their local partners, as well as federal legislation, executive, agency, and administrative policies.
• Record of accomplishment of effective public-speaking and ability to clearly communicate complex issues to general audiences; exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and/or implementing a policy agenda.
• Visionary and strategic leader who can anticipate future consequences and trends and incorporate them into strategic planning.
• Clear ability to problem-solve with creativity, good judgment, political astuteness, tact, and decisiveness.
• Outstanding ability to work "both sides of the aisle," broker coalitions and alliances, and achieve success through influence. Deep understanding of differing political perspectives.
• Ability to develop and articulate a long-term policy and advocacy strategy that aligns with the overall priorities of Pact, while at the same time implementing short-term solutions.
• Exceptional capacity for managing and leading people; a team builder who works collaboratively, empowers team members, and serves as a thought partner and advisor to the President and leadership.
• Solid experience in recruiting, managing, mentoring, and developing teams, including remote employees.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing organizational and business environments, encouraging innovation and responsiveness within strategies and teams.
• Understanding of and respect for diverse perspectives and backgrounds, fostering an inclusive environment that values cross-team expertise and contributions.
• Experience overseeing or leading strategic communications, brand management, or integrated communications functions, including digital and media engagement, within an NGO or similarly complex organization preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience overseeing and coordinating with international field offices preferred.