Senior Program Manager, Tobacco Industry Interference

Are you seeking an opportunity to bring your professional expertise to a global organization focused on re-imagining public health?

Vital Strategies is an international public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury, and death. We currently work in 73 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include non-communicable disease prevention and commercial determinants of health (tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods); injury prevention (including drug overdose, road safety, and gender-based violence prevention); and environmental health (including air quality and lead poisoning). Our programs are primarily concentrated in low-and middle-income countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

Vital Strategies is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) organization. We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences, whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity or expression), partnership status, arrest or conviction record, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws.

Read about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Vital Strategies: https://www.vitalstrategies.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-vital-strategies

Job Purpose:

The Senior Program Manager works closely with Vital Strategies’ TII project team and country-based teams to execute a Tobacco Industry Interference grants program, translate resources and campaigns into country actions, and implement countering industry work at the Tobacco Control Division. They will help drive partner communication and engagement strategies, provide direct support to country staff and sub-grantees, and implement advocacy strategies.

This is a full-time remote position that can be based anywhere in the UK. Through its local employer of record in the UK, Vital Strategies provides a comprehensive benefits package. The salary range is GBP 40k to GBP 44k.

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Provide direct support to Vital Strategies’ Tobacco Control Division country and regional teams in three-four priority countries to implement countering industry work:

• With support from the Director – TII, oversee deliverables of two to three country-based independent contractors in assigned countries to implement program activities.
• Work with key partners and country leads/focal points to identify and advance agreed upon strategies to expose and counter the tobacco industry at a country level.
• Support the development of new tools that directly support country actions and adapt existing resources for country utilization (e.g. letters, policy briefs, wiki entries, factsheets, toolkits, etc.).

2. Collaborate with Director – TII to implement the TII grants program:

• Support outreach efforts to engage relevant organizations to apply to the TII grant program.
• Review new grant applications and contribute to funding decision-making.
• Manage a portfolio of 10-15 sub-grants, providing technical assistance to sub-grantees through the duration of their projects and ensuring that outputs meet Vital Strategies’ standards.
• Develop and disseminate stories of grantee success.

3. Facilitate coordination and collaboration between global partners and country stakeholders:

• Communicate regularly with country partners about STOP’s resources and activities.
• Coordinate with STOP communications team on TII grantee outputs in support of global communications campaigns.
• Serve as Vital Strategies Tobacco Control Division representative for partner working groups and campaigns as assigned.

4. Support TII team project management and administrative activities including report writing; meeting planning and facilitation; and workplan development and execution.

Qualifications:

Education & Degree –

● Bachelor’s degree in public health, public policy, or relevant subject area.

Skills & Abilities –

● Excellent communication and writing skills, including experience writing for a general audience. Prior media advocacy or storytelling experience a plus.

● Skilled in creating advocacy tools and/or translating technical research into action.

● High-level proficiency in French, Urdu, Hindi or Arabic strongly preferred.

● Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across time zones and platforms.

● Ability to manage multiple tasks and thrive in a fast-paced work environment.

Experience:

Required –

● At least eight years of experience of relevant experience, including demonstrated experience writing and/or managing grants.

● Previous experience with tobacco control/NCD policy, corporate accountability and/or advocacy campaigns highly preferred.

● Demonstrated experience communicating and coordinating with a diverse set of stakeholders. Prior coalition or relationship management experiences a plus.

● Experience working in international settings, ideally in low and middle-income countries.