Global Advocacy Manager, International Development at Unilever

Location: London, UK
Last Date: September 1, 2011

Global Advocacy Manager, International Development
Full/Part Time: Full-time
Description: Unilever Global Advocacy Manager (International Development
Location – Unilever HQ, London Blackfriars
Salary up to £43,800 depending on experience, £3,500 London Allowance, 40% bonus potential, BUPA and pension.

Background:

In November 2010 Unilever launched its Sustainable Living Plan, setting out an ambitious agenda of increasing the positive social benefits of the business while reducing its environmental impact. While many of the outcomes can be delivered through Unilever’s own actions, there are a significant number which require specific stakeholder collaboration, and in some cases changes in the overarching public policy frameworks to support the delivery of the sustainable living agenda.

The Global Advocacy team is a new unit within Unilever’s External Affairs team, which in turn is part of Unilever’s Global Communications function. The role of this unit is to drive change within the public policy space in a way that supports the delivery of Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan goals and therefore the growth of the business.

Main Job Purpose:

The Global Advocacy Manager (International Development) will lead the development of an opinion former focussed advocacy and campaign plan focussed on making the case for a greater public policy focus in developing countries on preventative healthcare (such as hand washing) which we believe will be a key enabling condition for us reaching our sustainable living plan target of taking action to help 1 billion people improve their health and well-being.


In addition, s/he will have responsibility for supporting the development and activation of our advocacy plan for favourable trade conditions for sustainably sourced crops working closely with the External Affairs Director – Sustainable Sourcing who leads our work in this area.
Through the development and delivery of these advocacy campaigns, the individual will play a crucial role in achieving Unilever’s ambition to be a thought leader and genuine innovator in the sustainability agenda and in achieving Unilever’s commitments to tackle the sustainability issues that present the greatest threat to sustainable growth.

The Global Advocacy Manager will be expected to build, develop and maintain excellent relationships with key external stakeholders relevant to the public health and hygiene agenda in developing and emerging markets, as well as the aspects of preventative healthcare in overseas development assistance provided by developed country governments. These include international non-governmental organisations, think-tanks, academia and appropriate Government representatives in priority countries.

The Global Advocacy Manager must ensure that Unilever is a positive, active and influential advocate in the agreed sustainability debates. S/he will lead the charge in developing both Unilever’s knowledge of the external political and policy environment in relation to their advocacy areas and, with the support of the Global Advocacy director, identify the most effective intervention points for making change happen.

The Global Advocacy Manager will also be expected to support the Global Advocacy Director in the delivery of collaborative work with external bodies such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Economic Forum. The aim is to ensure that these relationships deliver high-quality outputs that accelerate progress towards the identified external affairs goals.

Key Accountabilities:

- Development of key opinion former advocacy strategy and associated campaigns to drive external change on issues of public health and hygiene in developing countries.
- Development of tools and resources (briefings, presentations etc) to enable local communications team to activate both the hygiene and trade advocacy campaigns with key opinion formers in their markets.
- Build internal and external support for Unilever’s advocacy efforts.
- Ensure that Unilever’s advocacy efforts are constructive and innovative.
- Monitor the effectiveness of these advocacy campaigns and capture learnings, sharing best practice across MCOs.
- Lead the identification of relevant international governmental bodies, regulators, and NGOs relevant to the advocacy area and build excellent relationships with key individuals.
- Provide input to briefings for the CEO, Board Members and UEX as appropriate on the relevant sustainability agendas, ensuring alignment with Unilever strategy and sustainability policy positions.
- Support the extension, where relevant, of these key opinion former campaigns into the consumer facing Unilever Brand campaigns

Key stakeholders:

- Global Advocacy Director
- International Public Health/Hygiene NGOs
- International and Intergovernmental organisations working in the public health arena
- Other Global External Affairs Directors and issue leaders
- Unilever Partnerships/Foundation Team
- Relevant Category and Brand Teams (esp. Lifebuoy brand)
- Digital, Media & Campaigns Team
- Global Sustainability Team
- Unilever Corporate Brand Team

Skills/ Experience/ Qualifications:


Skills:

- An effective manager and team player with sound interpersonal skills
- Ability to establish good working relationships internally and win the respect, interest and buy-in of senior colleagues
- Ability to credibly represent Unilever, and fully exert our influence, with external stakeholders
- Ability to implement public affairs strategy and a strategic approach to issues management
- Ability to analyse and interpret external trends and their implications for the business.
- Ability to leverage relationships with regional and international stakeholders
- Proven presentational and advocacy skills including ability to hold constructive bilateral meetings.
- Exceptional communication skills in written and spoken English
- Other languages desirable.
- Project management skills and the ability to plan and deliver against tight deadlines
- The ability to self-start
- A team player who is willing to work across communications disciplines

Essential experience:
 - Extensive experience in a communications or external affairs role
- Some experience of advocacy or campaigns in public policy context
- Strong intellect combined with an track record of influencing change – for example in public affairs, strategy consulting, or national government and policy-making
- A skill for strategy, business acumen and policy formulation is of critical importance as is influencing and negotiating at a high level and understanding long-term policies and their impact

Desirable:
- Previous Unilever and/or FMCG experience
- Knowledge of public health/hygiene agenda from a public policy perspective
- Knowledge of developing country trade issues
- Experience of developing resources and materials for use by others
- Experience of working with international development organisations.
- Experience gained in think-tanks, non-government organisations or possibly government.
- Established network of international external contacts relevant to this role.

For more information and to apply please visit http://www.unilever.co.uk/careers/apply/experiencedprofessionals/index.aspx