Washington Director

Overview and expectations of the position: 

Crisis Action’s Washington Director plays a key role in crafting and delivering strategies for impactful collective advocacy campaigns to protect civilians from armed conflict. The Washington Director is responsible for building and nurturing Crisis Action’s network in Washington and across the USA. This includes the humanitarian, human rights and conflict prevention NGOs that are our partners, policymakers, the media as well as a wider network of allies, from faith groups to business, academics to the arts in the United States, They are expected to work closely with colleagues across the world to build effective advocacy campaigns. The Washington Director must be a passionate and dynamic advocate who understands how to make change happen, and who is an exceptional strategist and a powerful networker who strengthens our Washington presence and ensures we are ever more effective in our mission to protect civilians affected by conflict.  

Reporting to: Strategic Engagements Director  

Start Date: 1 August 2024

Key Responsibility Areas of the position: 

The principal duties of the Washington Director include: 

• Leading the development and implementation of campaigning towards US government: You will lead US-based partners and allies to develop, coordinate and drive forward collective campaigns and impactful advocacy to protect civilians and prevent and halt conflict. This will involve advising on strategy, proposing tactics and then implementing diverse advocacy activities. These could include campaign stunts and events, insider and high-level advocacy tactics, preparing reports and briefings, using traditional and new media and identifying and building relationships with potential allies inside and outside the US government.   
• US political analysis and US government engagement: Focusing on particular conflicts, you will provide sophisticated intelligence and exceptional analysis on the position of US government policy makers to our partners to assist in the development of first-class campaign strategies. You will also be responsible for incorporating this intelligence into development of global campaign strategies and analysis. As a formidable political operator, you will sustain and build political relationships at the highest level, across political parties, and quickly win trust and respect.  
• Contributing to the strategic development of Crisis Action in Washington and globally – You will play the lead role in continuing to build the Washington office. This will include, consolidating and expanding Crisis Action’s relationship with key policy makers, journalists, core partners and other allies to add to our global network. You will bring an ambitious entrepreneurial attitude and design and help implement our Washington office strategy that will shape what we do in Washington and with whom we work. You will also be a core part of the Crisis Action team, jointly strategizing around both regional and international policy and how to change it. You will be asked to advise on devising and implementing our fundraising plan, and to input into our organizational strategy and vision.  
• Leadership of Washington office – You will manage the Advocacy and Campaigns Manager and Advocacy and Campaigns Associate and will be responsible for ensuring that the work of the team is conducted to the highest professional standards. You will advise and guide the team members on their campaign work and foster their professional development. You will also be responsible for the financial management and running of our operations in Washington.    
• Fundraising – Crisis Action’s Directors play an active role in fundraising for the organization. 

Person Specification  

Essential skills and experience:   

• Commitment to Crisis Action's mandate.  
• An experienced and skilled political operator with 10+ years of experience in US government policy influencing, advocacy or campaigns whether in civil society, business or government. 
• Established relationships with key US officials in the Administration and Congress, relevant to Crisis Action’s mandate.  
• Excellent political judgement and instincts especially with regard to foreign affairs. 
• High levels of ambition, energy, drive, dynamism, determination, and focus.  
• Ability to identify advocacy opportunities and suggest innovative campaign activities and a proven track record of impact.  
• Proven ability to analyze complex political issues and to define sophisticated strategies for achieving policy change.  
• Knowledge and experience of using a range of popular campaigning tactics, including stunts, photo ops, social media, advertising etc. to achieve campaign aims.   
• Expertise in media and communications; including knowing what different audiences need to hear, crafting media stories, producing high-quality media materials, and working across media platforms, including new media.  
• Knowledge of and familiarity with conflict issues and serious human rights violations.  
• First-rate project management and organizational skills.  
• First-class interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent writing skills and the ability to cultivate and maintain high-level contacts within governments, the media, and the NGO community.  
• Ability to work as a collegiate member of a small team and lead and encourage team members.  
• Resilience and an ability to cope with multiple internal and external demands.  
• Fluency in written and spoken English.  
• Excellent administrative and information technology skills.  

Preferred 

• Experience of working with global teams and with people from varied cultural backgrounds.  
• Established relationships with media.  
• Understanding of the challenges involved in organizing NGO coalitions.  
• Additional languages.  

Salary and Benefits 

$105k based on experience and skills 

25 days of paid annual leave, rising to 30 days after three years, and three months’ sabbatical after five years.  Health/dental insurance paid in full; 403(b) matching contribution and other benefits. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement:  

Crisis Action values and nurtures an inclusive culture that sees the diversity of its board, staff, partners, and all we work with as a strength and source of innovation and creativity. We welcome applications from anyone no matter your background, gender identity and expression, nationality, language, ethnicity, colour, caste, race, sexual orientation, ability, religion or belief, age, marriage, civil partnership, or parental status. Equality among all is a driving force in our work and a feature of our recruitment. We strive to ensure that all employment decisions are made entirely on merit. 

How to Apply

Please upload your CV and a short cover letter in English, explaining your interest in working with Crisis Action and why you are a good fit for the role, based on examples in your current or past positions, by clicking on the ‘Apply for this job’ button. 

References will not be contacted without permission. . We regret that due to the volume of applications we cannot respond individually to each applicant. 

Application deadline: 27th May 2024 at 11:59 PM (GMT)