Senior Program Officer, Agriculture Policy Advocacy & Strategic Communications

Job Posting Organization:
The organization is the largest nonprofit dedicated to combating poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Founded on the principle that everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life, the foundation emphasizes diversity among its employees to reflect the populations it serves. It offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, generous paid time off, family leave, retirement contributions, and opportunities for employee engagement in various communities. The foundation is committed to fostering a supportive work environment that promotes both personal and professional growth.

Job Overview:
The Senior Program Officer will focus on issue communications and advocacy, specifically related to the foundation's Agricultural Development strategy and Economic Opportunity agenda in Nigeria and across Africa. This role requires a seasoned professional with extensive experience in policy advocacy, political economy, and programmatic communications. The successful candidate will be responsible for translating complex agricultural and economic priorities into actionable strategies that influence policy, strengthen partner ecosystems, and drive narrative change. The position is critical for advancing the foundation's goals in agricultural transformation, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, and economic empowerment, particularly for women and marginalized communities. The officer will work closely with various teams to ensure alignment with the foundation's objectives and will engage with stakeholders to promote innovative solutions and partnerships.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead Nigeria-specific advocacy communications strategies that align with agricultural development and economic opportunity priorities.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive Nigeria agriculture advocacy communications strategy that identifies key policy windows and decision-makers.
• Shape compelling narratives that connect agriculture to broader economic issues such as jobs, food security, and women's empowerment.
• Build and maintain a strong advocacy communications ecosystem among Nigerian and African partners to support policy reform.
• Design and manage advocacy communications grants, ensuring they align with the foundation's strategic priorities.
• Monitor and address misinformation and disinformation that could impact agricultural policy reform.
• Coordinate with various foundation teams to ensure coherence in advocacy communications across different initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess at least 7 years of experience in policy advocacy communications, strategic communications, or public affairs, ideally within the agriculture or economic development sectors. A strong understanding of Nigeria's political and policy landscape is essential, along with the ability to navigate complex reform environments. Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in translating technical evidence into impactful advocacy narratives and possess experience in managing advocacy-oriented grants. Strong strategic thinking, writing, and stakeholder management skills are also required, along with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and geographies.

Educational Background:
A relevant educational background is required, typically including a degree in communications, public policy, international development, or a related field. Advanced degrees may be preferred, particularly for candidates with extensive experience in advocacy or policy work.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in policy advocacy communications, with a focus on agriculture, food systems, or economic opportunity. Experience in managing advocacy grants and working with partner-led advocacy ecosystems is highly desirable. Familiarity with agricultural transformation and public investment in agriculture is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in additional languages relevant to the African context may be advantageous but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is remote, and candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country where the position is located without requiring visa sponsorship. The role may involve travel up to 30% domestically and internationally. The foundation is committed to providing an inclusive hiring experience and will accommodate candidates with disabilities or medical conditions as needed. The hiring process will include a background check.