Senior Policy Analyst, International Programs

(June 24, 2009) The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) seeks a Senior Policy Analyst to serve as a Knowledge Translation (KT) Coordinator for the Measurement, Learning, and Evaluation (MLE) project, a six-year project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to evaluate urban family planning initiatives in four countries. The staff member will undertake technical and logistical activities related to evaluation research translation into policy-relevant documents that can be used to inform local, regional, and global family planning programs. The MLE project is a major project in the International Programs department. The International Programs (IP) mission is to improve the well-being of current and future generations and contribute to positive social change, with an emphasis on the developing world. IP staff serves as a bridge between the research and policy communities by helping to ensure that the research results and the best practices are understood and used. We believe that information empowers individuals and institutions to make better policy decisions about population and health. The Senior Policy Analyst will work in a team-oriented environment with both technical and management responsibilities for content and materials development and country-level technical assistance and capacity-building activities.

Responsibilities will include:

• Assist to develop comprehensive MLE disseminating strategy for urban reproductive health data use in policy and programs.
• Assist partners to frame the issues and create evidence-based messages from the MLE evaluation results.
• Write new materials on family planning/reproductive health for global and regional audiences. 
• Coordinate workshops and plan events.
• Provide technical guidance and editorial input on various MLE materials on family planning/reproductive health. Tasks could include strategic planning, budgeting, review and editing of manuscripts, and coordinating with various PRB staff involved in production and dissemination.
• Contribute to other aspects of the IP department's work, including facilitation of policy communication and data use workshops, contribute to audience outreach, participate in working groups, monitoring and evaluation activities, and responding to ad hoc requests for information and presentations.

Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will have an advanced university degree (master's or Ph.D.) in public health, demography, sociology, or related field, with a strong substantive background in reproductive health, family planning, or maternal and child health.
• Six to eight years of demonstrated experience with "on-the-ground" interventions and the challenges of a program implementation required.
• Understanding of the principles of policy communication and advocacy, data use for improving policies and program audience assessment techniques, and strategic planning methodologies are a plus.
• Excellent English writing skills and oral communication skills are essential.
• An ability to work in French is desirable. 
• Up to 30 percent travel to selected countries.

PRB offers a collegial, stimulating work environment with the opportunity to work with professionals from a variety of development fields who are well regarded in their areas of expertise.

Salary and Benefits: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. PRB has an excellent benefits package, including generous health, leave, and retirement plans.

Applications: Please send a cover letter, plus a resume with salary requirements, and a brief writing sample to "Senior Policy Analyst position," HR Specialist, Population Reference Bureau, 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 520, Washington, DC 20009, USA; or e-mail to: jjackson@prb.org; or fax to: 202-328-3937. All application materials must be received by July 24, 2009, though PRB will interview qualified applicants as the materials are received.

All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.

PRB is an equal opportunity employer.