Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response June 2022
The Elders Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response
About The Elders This is an exciting time to join The Elders. The motivated commitment and the sense of urgency amongst the Elders, the Advisory Council and the Secretariat is extremely high.
The Elders The Elders is chaired by Mary Robinson, former President of
Director-General of the
Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for
World Health Organization; Hina Jilani,
Human Rights. Mary Robinson is The Elders’ third Chair since
international human rights defender from Pakistan; Ricardo
Alistair joined in 2021 and has been mandated by The Elders
the group was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, following
Lagos, former President of Chile; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former
to develop a new five year strategy for approval in October
the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2007-13) and the late Kofi
President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Juan
2022. The Elders will have a Pandemic Preparedness and
Annan (2013-2018).
Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia and Nobel
Response Programme for the first time in the new strategy.
Peace Prize Laureate; Zeid Raad Al Hussein, former UN High
This role will lead implementation of the new programme,
Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, and Graça
Commissioner for Human Rights; and Ernesto Zedillo, former
ensuring the theory of change remains relevant, that clear
Machel, former Education Minister of Mozambique and co-
President of Mexico.
objectives are set, annual workplans developed and a robust
founder of The Elders, serve as Deputy Chairs.
monitoring and evaluation implemented.
The Secretariat The other members of The Elders are Gro Harlem
The Secretariat is a small London-based team of highly skilled
The Elders’ Secretariat offices are near Green Park station in
Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and former
and service-oriented team players, led by CEO Alistair Fernie.
London, UK, with a high level of remote and hybrid working.
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The Elders Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response
About The Elders
The Elders’ ways of working The Elders’ main way of working can be generally described
The means The
as political engagement and advocacy. The Elders occupy
Elders employ include: writing letters to
a space between the most senior levels of governmental
heads of state and government; quiet diplomacy and bilateral
The role of the Secretariat is to support the Elders’ work, and
decision making and civil society. The Elders have access to
meetings; writing op eds, blogs, statements; delivering
to propose what they might do. This calls for a staff team with
heads of state and government, yet they have close working
keynote speeches and participating in panels, roundtables
a combination of initiative and humility, and the ability to
relationships with civil society organisations and stand in
and podcasts, in person and digitally; country visits including
accept and implement others’ decisions, to high standards.
solidarity with the most vulnerable people and communities.
meetings with political leaders and civil society activists;
Programmatic activities often involve close collaboration
This positioning and the personal reputations of the
sharing platforms with young people; media interviews; social
with colleagues in the communications team, to deliver and
individual Elders is their collective currency and must be used
media campaigns.
maximise the impact of programmatic work.
wisely and carefully.
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The Elders Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response
The Role
Role: Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Benefits: •
Location: UK (with international travel)
Salary: £60,000 per annum plus benefits
private pension scheme with 10% employer contributions on top of the annual salary
Job Summary:
•
optional private medical and dental insurance
•
•
group life assurance equivalent to 5 x annual salary
implementation, monitoring, impact and evaluation of
•
25 days of paid annual leave (with 3 of these days on
the Pandemic Preparedness and Response programme,
stipulated dates between the Christmas/New Year
working collegiately with other staff members of the
holidays) plus all UK bank holidays and public holidays
Secretariat.
Responsible for managing the development,
Line Manager: Programme Director
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The Elders Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Principal Responsibilities
Strategic leadership •
Lead a new five year pandemic preparedness and
such as drafting
response programme for The Elders, based on a theory of
statements, op-eds and tweets. Assist and collaborate with colleagues leading other
Relationship building and representation
robust monitoring and evaluation approach.
programmes (climate change, nuclear and conflict)
•
Undertake horizon-scanning to identify opportunities
to identify synergies between programmes and
strategic expansion of The Elder’s external relationships
where The Elders may be able to have influence and
opportunities for collaboration.
on pandemic preparedness and response with the
change, clear objectives, annual programme plans, and a •
become engaged to bring about change in line with the •
•
•
Assist and collaborate with the lead on cross cutting issues
global policy community, international organisations,
programme strategy.
to ensure these issues (multilateralism, gender equality,
governments, civil society organisations, policy experts and
Keep abreast of complex and fast changing public policy
human rights and intergenerational approaches) are
influencers, to maximise support and potential for Elders
debates and monitor emerging global trends to ensure
effectively integrated into the pandemic preparedness and
to have influence.
Elders policy positioning on pandemic preparedness and
response programme.
Other Responsibilities:
response is responsive to latest developments.
Policy analysis and reporting Development of initiatives •
•
the Elders strategy on pandemic preparedness and
for the Elders’ consideration for initiatives to support
response through undertaking policy analysis, research
Lead implementation of agreed initiatives through, for
and expert consultations. •
impact within the pandemic preparedness and response
accompanying Elders on visits and to events, briefing
programme, providing written contributions to the
of country visits, drafting letters for the Elders and the CEO, consulting and coordinating with key partners, and
Contribute to a positive and supportive working environment for the programme team.
•
Manage specialist consultants providing advice to The Elders.
•
Track and monitor progress against objectives and
example, arranging meetings and country visits and Elders orally and in writing, preparing detailed reports
•
Lead the development of policy position papers to support
Building on research and networking, develop proposals achievement of programme objectives.
•
Building on your existing network of contacts, lead the
Prepare internal briefings and reports for SMT members and colleagues, such as notes of meetings and updates on key developments.
•
Undertake other duties as required by the organisation.
Secretariats regular impact reporting cycle. •
Prepare and present board papers for The Elders six monthly board meetings.
assisting with preparation of communications materials, 5
The Elders Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Candidate profile
We are looking for an experienced, senior policy public health professional with at least 10 years of relevant experience.
plans and activities, and
They must be analytical, collegiate and collaborative, flexible, adaptive and energetic, and committed to the mission and
achieving results. •
Experience of serving high-profile individuals, and
values of The Elders. Candidates should possess a high level
collaborating with a range of organisations, to develop and
of personal initiative, have the ability to think strategically
influence policy.
and to lead initiatives and manage all relevant aspects of
•
implementation. This role calls for the following experience, skills and qualifications:
•
and sensitive information from a variety of sources to highlevel and public audiences. •
A flexible, collegiate style and willingness to work in a
levels, across a wide range of different kinds of organisations,
small, collaborative team.
with effective influencing and negotiating skills.
Strong diplomatic skills and keen international political
•
acumen, experience of analysing complex global political •
Post-graduate degree in Epidemiology, public health or
situations, and the ability to operate with diplomatic
global health with international experience, preferably in
finesse and agility across different cultural environments
epidemic/pandemic preparedness and response. •
•
An extensive network of senior policy and political contacts,
Confident in managing conflicting priorities and
Permitted to work in the UK. Able to travel internationally, sometimes at short notice.
•
Excellent written and spoken English, including writing and editing documents for high-level audiences. Fluency
and world views. •
Good communication and listening skills with people at all
in other languages is desirable. •
A strong commitment to ethical leadership and
particularly in international institutions in the area of global
deadlines, and the experience and capabilities to handle
upholding, promoting and practising The Elders’ vision,
health and pandemic preparedness and response.
high ambiguity and pressure successfully.
mission and values.
A track record of developing strategies, leading policy development and implementation of programme
•
Analytical, research and communication strengths, with the ability to understand, interpret and present complex 6
The Elders Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response
How to Apply
All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job
Timeline
advert page, complete our online application form, and
Closing Date:
submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents,
First stage interviews:
which should be prepared before applying as they will be
Expected start date: early October 2022 (or sooner if possible)
25th of July 2022 week of the 15th of August 2022
considered in the application process. The cover letter should
Selection Process All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to
be no more than two pages long and explain why you are
Equality Statement
add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly
interested in this post and how your skills and experience
The Elders is committed to creating an inclusive working
check their spam folder.
make you a good fit.
environment that values diversity and equal opportunities.
The documents should be saved in MS Word in the following
We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse
Queries
backgrounds.
If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment
format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-
process, need additional information, or would like to have an
Date (mmyyyy) e.g., Malika Cook-CV-062022The-Elders.
informal discussion, please email at the-elders-programmeadvisor@oxfordhr.com in the first instance.
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The Elders Programme Advisor Pandemic Preparedness and Response
About Oxford HR
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