Government Relations Advisor, Africa - Vital Strategies

Job Grade: 5 Effective Date : April 15, 2026 Exempt or Non-Exempt: N/A Core or Embedded: Core Office Affiliation: Ethiopia Location: One position to be based in either of the following locations: Ethiopia Ghana, Rwanda, or Tanzania  About Vital Strategies: 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, tobacco control, road safety, obesity prevention, overdose prevention, environmental health, and vital statistics systems building. 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. Lead Poisoning Prevention Program  Vital Strategies is expanding our program that addresses the issue of lead poisoning in low- and middle-income countries. We plan to build upon existing efforts and interest by collaborating with governmental agencies in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen health systems and build local expertise in childhood lead exposure to enact sound, cost-effective policies to address exposures.  Job Purpose The position of Government Relations Advisor, Africa will facilitate regional exchange and coordinate high-level engagement and partnership building for the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program across multiple countries in Africa. The role will focus on managing and strengthening relationships with key government and program partners, stakeholders, facilitating regional exchanges and strategy development, and ensuring program alignment with countries’ priorities and global objectives. The incumbent will work closely with country teams to support government engagement, partnership building, share updates on implementation progress, and ensure exchange and coordination among government and consortium partners across the regional portfolio. The role will also provide representation at regional events, support policy engagement, and ensure effective collaboration among regional stakeholders and technical partners.  Duties and Responsibilities: Regional program coordination and strategic vision:  In coordination with the global team, facilitate regional exchanges and development of regional partnerships and a consistent strategy for government engagement and partnership building in the region; Initiate and/or sustain government partnerships with ministries, regulatory bodies, and other national and regional institutions in priority countries;  Support project launches and startups in new countries within the region, including support for staff recruitment; Support country teams in translating strategy into implementation plans, including identification of key capacity gaps to be filled, and government engagement needed to ensure quality and timely delivery of program activities; Identify and participate in regional opportunities and events that help elevate lead poisoning on national agendas; Promote multisectoral collaboration and partnership-driven approaches to environmental health policy development; Manage relationships with regional organizations engaged in lead-related activities, and develop, where appropriate, formal or contractual relationships for discrete programmatic activities in support of the initiative. Partnership Management: Support country teams in managing key government and institutional partners across the region, as well as non-government organizations in relevant sectors; Represent Vital Strategies in regional lead poisoning prevention meetings, technical forums, public hearings, and governance bodies in the region; Support the development and review of reports, policy briefs, and training materials developed in the region; Promote cross-sector dialogues that support the development of integrated, evidence-based public policies; Facilitate knowledge exchange across the region;  Coordinate work with national and international partners, ensuring alignment across local and global strategies; Assist with other duties as specified by the supervisor.