The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), an initiative of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, draws on lessons from tobacco control and other public health advocacy campaigns in more than 50 countries to drive policy change campaigns around the globe to improve health. The Legal Advisor will join a dynamic and growing team that supports local civil society organizations in low-and middle-income countries working to change policy to improve public health across a variety of issues.

The GHAI seeks a Legal Advisor, Data for Health (D4H) Project, to lead GHAI legal efforts in collaboration global partners, to assist low and middle income countries to strengthen their public health data to inform policy and public health investments.  The D4H Initiative supports governments to improve the collection and use of crucial public health information with a particular focus on the establishment of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems, including birth and death registries, in line with global best practices.

Position Overview

The Legal Advisor will lead and manage the legal components of the Data for Health Program, including overseeing CRVS legal assessments (which can include legal assessments of identification (ID), marriage, divorce and medico-legal death investigation systems), conducting workshops for lawyers and relevant decision-makers, and assisting with subsequent legal reform in the identified countries. They will work collaboratively with the GHAI team, as well as with global and local partners and governments.

The Legal Advisor should have substantial experience in analyzing laws from different countries, identifying, evaluating, and managing in-country consultants to conduct legal analyses, managing large global projects, and working with a range of stakeholders. Experience working on health policies, especially CRVS, or ID systems is highly desirable.  This position reports to the Associate Legal Director, is based in Washington, DC, and is open to U.S. citizens and other applicants who already possess U.S. work authorization.

Responsibilities

The Legal Advisor will lead and oversee the legal component of the Data for Health Initiative and will work closely with the GHAI team and global partners.

Key areas of focus for the position include:

• Identifying in-country and regional legal consultants.
• Overseeing the legal consultants in conducting legal analyses, or conducting the legal analyses where necessary.
• Coordinating with relevant government agencies and international stakeholders, participating in coordination meetings and technical working groups, and providing ongoing legal technical assistance.
• Coordinating and facilitating relevant trainings, meetings and workshops.
• Contributing to legal articles, case studies, toolkits and other reports related to the Data for Health Initiative.
• In collaboration with partners, developing country legal strategies as an integrated part of an overall strategy for CRVS (and possibly ID) reform and implementation.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree (or the equivalent first-level legal degree awarded by a law school accredited by the national authority responsible for accreditation).
• Five to ten years of relevant legal, legislative and international experience working on public health or broader development issues, including analyzing laws.
• Knowledge of and experience in using legal analysis to advance policy change objectives.
• Experience with developing training seminars and programs for government lawyers and local advocates on public health legal issues.
• Demonstrated experience as project officer or manager of international projects.
• English language proficiency.
• Excellent analytical skills, legal writing and research ability.
• Experience in legal analysis of public health or public policy issues, particularly in the area of CRVS or ID systems, strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication and in working with peoples from diverse cultures and countries.
• Familiarity or work experience outside the United States preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment while juggling and coordinating multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently with only general supervision.
• Ability to travel internationally up to 40%.
• Foreign language proficiency highly desirable.

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