Principal Advisor, Food Policy and Environment

Position description

Resolve to Save Lives’ (RTSL) Cardiovascular Health unit works with partners to eliminate artificial trans fat from the global food supply, increase global control of high blood pressure to 50%, reduce the global intake of salt by 30% and recently began work in the area of lead poisoning elimination. The Nutrition team focuses primarily on passing and implementing policy solutions to eliminate trans fat and reduce sodium intake. We work globally with offices in China, India, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, as well as projects in additional countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, the PAHO region, etc. 

The Principal Advisor, Food Policy and Environment is a key member of the Cardiovascular Health team, supporting the CVH program’s core goals of sodium reduction, trans fat elimination and emerging work in the area of lead poisoning prevention. The primary focus is to provide support for policy development and advocacy across the CVH nutrition and lead portfolios. The role will also help position RTSL in the global food policy conversation. Additionally, the position will contribute to creating policy development and advocacy resources across the organization. This position reports to the Director of Nutrition and works collaboratively with members of the nutrition team across the organization, as well as collaborating closely with the Legal Public Health Director. The incumbent also collaborates closely with and supports in-country and global implementation partners working on food policy development and advocacy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead a process to improve the policy and advocacy skills and tools available to RTSL’s nutrition team and partners including: 
  • Developing and implementing a policy/advocacy needs assessment 
  • Adapt existing policy/advocacy tools based on findings of the needs assessment 
  • Provide capacity building, either through training or mentorship, to both grantees and RTSL staff on policy advocacy 
• Conduct in-depth policy landscaping to analyze existing nutrition and environmental policy environments, especially on trans fat, sodium, and lead in priority countries, including analyzing policy trends, legislative developments (in coordination with the legal team), and stakeholder positions to inform strategic advocacy initiatives. 
• Provide technical support for developing advocacy strategies in RTSL priority countries and serve as an internal resource to team members 
• Provide leadership on positioning RTSL in the global advocacy space/at international fora for maximum impact on key policy goals around food policy and environment 
• Lead/implement RTSL’s strategy on engaging with Codex, developing necessary partnerships and projects to meet key policy goals 
• Lead the development and implementation of a strategy to promote low sodium salt globally and in priority countries. 
• Provide strategic guidance to RTSL team members and sub-grantees on how best to counter industry interference in the passage and implementation of key food and environment policies in coordination with the legal team. 
• Build and maintain relationships with local policymakers, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to identify entry points for policy interventions in priority countries. 
• Provide high-level input to RTSL on resources and tools to serve the organization as a whole 
• Represent the CVH team in organizational discussions around policy and advocacy.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications Education

• Master’s or other advanced degree in public health, nutrition, public policy, law, or international development 

Experience

• 15 years of relevant global health or development experience 
• At least 8 years working on policy development and advocacy in low- and middle-income countries 
• Experience with global fora such as World Health Assembly, UNGA, Codex, etc. preferred 
• Proven experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating policies related to the prevention of non-communicable diseases through addressing risk factors such as food, tobacco, alcohol, etc. 

Skills & abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English 
• Excellent partner and project management skills 
• Excellent skills in building and maintaining relationships with government agencies, regulatory bodies, civil society organizations, and multilateral institutions at global and country levels 
• Adept at navigating complex political and institutional landscapes, identifying key entry points for policy change, and fostering coalitions to drive public health priorities forward 
• Ability to adapt or develop high-quality tools and materials 
• Teaching, coaching and mentoring skills to support capacity strengthening of staff and partners 
• Ability to conduct landscape analyses and use the results to develop effective advocacy plans and materials 
• High degree of initiative, adaptability, problem-solving skills, and creativity 
• Time-management skills with the ability to work in a deadline-oriented environment, including the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks independently 
• Knowledge of best practice food policies for the prevention of non-communicable diseases preferred but not required

Other

• A passion for the mission and values of Resolve to Save Lives  
• Ability to convene for periodic in-person team meetings and to travel internationally up to 25% of the time

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree; Juris Doctor or PhD is preferred but not essential 
• Ability to speak/work in Spanish or another language is preferred but not essential

Application instructions

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