Policy, Advocacy, Research & Communications Officer

Organisation: Qub Solutions
Location: Malawi, with potential regional and remote assignments
Employment Type: Project-Based / Short-Term Employment
Recruitment: Rolling
Application Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis

ABOUT QUB SOLUTIONS

Qub Solutions is a Malawian professional services company providing research, technical support, capacity building, communications, project management, occupational health and safety, risk management and other professional services to organisations and institutions.

Qub Solutions works across multidisciplinary areas and supports organisations with professional technical services, research, documentation, stakeholder engagement, project implementation and development of high-quality technical and funding proposals.

As our portfolio of work continues to grow, we are building a Talent Pool of qualified professionals who may be engaged on short-term and project-based assignments in Malawi and across the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

We are therefore inviting applications from experienced, technically capable and motivated professionals to join the Qub Solutions Policy, Advocacy, Research & Communications Talent Pool.

AREAS OF WORK

Policy, Advocacy & Government Engagement

• Policy research and analysis
• Health policy and public health
• Policy advocacy and campaign development
• Political economy and stakeholder analysis
• Stakeholder mapping and engagement
• Government and institutional relations
• Government policy and budget engagement
• Public-sector and regulatory engagement
• Advocacy strategy and theory of change
• Coalition and network engagement

Research, Evidence & Data

• Social and qualitative research
• Rapid evidence reviews and evidence synthesis
• Primary and secondary research
• Interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions
• Public opinion and perception research
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
• Data analysis and visualization
• Research documentation and reporting
• Policy and programme assessments

Health & Development

• Health systems and public health
• Health financing
• Public financial management
• Domestic resource mobilization
• Global health
• Global health security
• Digital health and health data systems
• Artificial intelligence and technology in health
• Non-communicable diseases
• Climate and health
• Environmental health
• Community health and development

Strategic Communications

• Strategic communications
• Advocacy communications
• Public relations and media engagement
• Media strategy
• Policy briefs and positioning papers
• Technical reports
• Op-eds and press materials
• Data storytelling and visualization
• Presentation and briefing materials
• Documentation and knowledge products
• Digital and social media campaigns

Project & Programme Support

• Project coordination and management
• Workshop and meeting facilitation
• Stakeholder consultations
• Event planning and coordination
• Capacity building and training
• Field assignments
• Programme implementation and reporting

Proposal & Resource Mobilisation

• Funding proposal development
• Grant writing
• Advocacy proposal development
• Donor concept notes
• Investment cases
• Technical proposals
• Expressions of interest
• Research and consultancy bids

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Depending on the position and project assigned, successful candidates may be responsible for:

• Conducting research and analysing information from multiple sources.
• Undertaking policy and stakeholder analysis.
• Identifying key decision-makers, institutions, interests and opportunities for influence.
• Developing advocacy strategies, theories of change and stakeholder engagement approaches.
• Preparing policy briefs, technical reports, research reports, presentations and other professional documents.
• Conducting interviews, consultations, focus group discussions and other data-collection activities.
• Supporting government, institutional and community engagement.
• Facilitating workshops, meetings, consultations and stakeholder events.
• Analysing and presenting data in clear and accessible formats.
• Translating complex technical information into clear policy and advocacy messages.
• Developing communication and advocacy materials.
• Supporting media and public communication activities.
• Supporting project planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting.
• Developing funding proposals, concept notes and technical submissions.
• Preparing presentations, briefing notes and decision-making materials.
• Maintaining professional relationships with clients, government officials, development partners and other stakeholders.
• Contributing technical expertise to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Performing other duties relevant to assigned projects.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Applicants should have:

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher qualification in Public Policy, Public Health, Environmental Science, Economics, Health Economics, International Development, Communications, Journalism, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Monitoring & Evaluation, Data Science or another relevant field.
• Relevant professional experience in at least one of the technical areas listed above.
• Strong written and spoken English.
• Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent report-writing and documentation abilities.
• Strong communication, presentation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good organisational and project-management skills.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and adapt to changing project requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to produce professional, high-quality technical outputs.

ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGE

Experience in any of the following will be an advantage:

• Working with government institutions and public-sector agencies.
• Ministry of Health or Ministry of Finance engagement.
• NGO and development-sector programmes.
• Donor-funded projects.
• International organisations and multilateral institutions.
• Health-sector programmes.
• Policy advocacy and government engagement.
• Health financing and public financial management.
• Community engagement and mobilisation.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.
• Strategic communications and media.
• Data analysis and visualization.
• Environmental and climate programmes.
• Climate and health.
• Digital health and technology.
• Research and evidence synthesis.
• Proposal and grant development.
• Public opinion research.
• Working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience within Malawi or the wider Sub-Saharan African region.
• Experience with international donors and development financing mechanisms.
• French or Portuguese proficiency.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Qub Solutions is particularly interested in professionals who can think beyond routine implementation and contribute technical expertise to complex assignments.

We are looking for people who can:

Research → Analyse → Develop Strategy → Engage Stakeholders → Communicate → Influence → Deliver Results

Candidates with demonstrated experience working directly with government officials, policymakers, development partners, NGOs, donors, research institutions, civil society organisations or private-sector stakeholders are encouraged to apply.

Professionals with specialist expertise in health policy, health financing, public health, environmental policy, climate and health, strategic communications, research, advocacy, data or development programming are particularly encouraged to apply.

WHAT WE OFFER

Selected candidates may be engaged on project-based employment contracts depending on the availability and requirements of specific assignments.

Assignments may involve:

• Short-term project employment
• Technical assignments
• Research assignments
• Field assignments
• Remote work
• Project coordination
• Stakeholder engagement
• Policy and advocacy assignments
• Communications assignments
• Regional assignments where applicable

Candidates who demonstrate strong performance and technical capacity may be considered for future employment and project opportunities within Qub Solutions.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Interested candidates should submit:

1. Updated CV – maximum 3 pages
2. Cover letter – maximum 1 page explaining your qualifications, experience and area(s) of expertise
3. Two professional referees, including their contact details
4. Current location
5. Availability to start
6. Applicants should clearly indicate their primary area of professional expertise

Candidates may also include examples or links to relevant research, publications, reports, campaigns, policy work, projects or other professional outputs where applicable.

HOW TO APPLY

Send your application to:

Email: qxxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com

Subject:
APPLICATION – POLICY, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH & COMMUNICATIONS – [YOUR NAME]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Qub Solutions is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages qualified professionals from diverse academic and professional backgrounds to apply.

QUB SOLUTIONS

We Build Capacity, Systems and Leaders