External Relations and Advocacy Advisor

About the Role

The External Relations and Advocacy Advisor will support delivery of MSI's External Relations and Advocacy strategy within the Chief Executive Office, working closely with fundraising and communications departments. The role contributes to MSI's advocacy, thought leadership, fundraising, partner engagement, communications, and events to ensure MSI effectively influences global policy and funding decisions, and shares political and situational analysis, evidence and data as a generous and strategic partner to governments, donors, and the wider sector.

This role will contribute to the design and co-ordination of MSI's external representation in key sector spaces, strengthening MSI's visibility, reputation and influence in global and regional fora and helping to build and nurture strong relationships with key sector and donor stakeholders. This will be approximately 60% of the role.

This role also includes a strong operational component (approximately 40%), supporting the smooth running of the team's work. Responsibilities will include managing reporting processes, building and managing budgets, raising and tracking purchase orders, coordinating travel and logistics, supporting events, and working across internal functions such as finance, operations, donor compliance and IT.

About You

For us, it's vital that every MSI team member believes in and is committed to our organisational mission, vision and values. This means that we will only accept applications from candidates who are unequivocally pro-choice. Our values act as guiding principles, providing us with a clear direction. They set the tone for how we approach our work, interact with others and align ourselves as 'One MSI'. It's important that our team members truly resonate with our values and demonstrate them consistently, in all that they do.

We recruit talented, dynamic individuals with diverse backgrounds who share our mission and are focused on delivering measurable results. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can participate and contribute meaningfully. We value open-mindedness, curiosity, resilience, and a solutions-oriented mindset, alongside a commitment to promoting equality and safeguarding the welfare of both team members and clients.

We seek exceptional communicators who are self-motivated, solutions-driven, and aligned with MSI's mission and entrepreneurial mindset. You should be dedicated to driving social change in an environment focused on sustainable impact, both locally and globally, and comfortable working with diverse teams in an ambiguous setting.

Skills Required

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; fluent in English
• Ability to organise large scale events
• Strong collaboration across the global team and ability to manage a high level and diverse workload and meet tight deadlines across time zones
• Excellent analytical and research skills, with ability to provide concise summaries of complex documents
• Ability to provide high-quality policy analysis and translate complex information into clear recommendations for diverse audiences
• Ability to multitask and work under pressure when needed
• Team player and self-starter with high levels of initiative
• Highly advanced knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite, Power Point and Canva
• Familiarity with SRHR, highly desirable
• Fluency in French, desirable

Experience Required

• Demonstrated experience of working and supporting diverse priorities across varied teams
• Demonstrated experience of analysing and synthesising complex documents
• Demonstrated experience of representing an organisation externally
• Demonstrated experience of initiating and maintaining support systems in an office environment
• Demonstrated experience in administrative functions including managing budgets, purchase orders, and logistics for external events

Formal Education/Qualification

No formal educational requirement, qualification through experience is sufficient for the role.

Location

London, UK (minimum of 2 days per week in the office) or any country programme where MSI operates in.

Contract Type

Permanent.

Salary

£34,200 - £42,750 for UK candidates. For other countries, the salary will be banded within the national context.

Salary band: BG 7

Closing Date

30th July (midnight BST). Interviews may take place before this date for exceptional candidates.

For internal employees applying from an MSI country programme, the role will be positioned within the existing salary structure of the country. Local terms and conditions of the country will apply.