External Relations and Advocacy Advisor in Colchester
ReliefWeb Colchester About the role
About MSI
MSI Reproductive Choices is one of the world’s leading providers of sexual and reproductive healthcare. We believe that everyone should have the right to choose. From contraception to safe abortion and life‑saving post‑abortion care, we are committed to delivering compassionate, affordable, high‑quality services for all. Today, our organisation has around 10,000 team members working in 36 countries across the world. Our success lies in the fact that MSI teams are locally led, entrepreneurial and results‑driven, and are passionate about delivering high quality, client‑centred care in their own communities. As a social business, we focus on sustainable delivery, efficiency, and funding models that are built to last, so that the women and girls we serve today will have a choice in the future too.
We know that access to reproductive choice is life changing. For some, it can mean the ability to complete an education or start a career. For others, it means being able to look after the family they already have. For everyone, it means the freedom to decide their own future, creating a fairer, more equal world.
About the Role
The External Relations and Advocacy Advisor will support delivery of MSI’s External Relations and Advocacy strategy within the Chief Executive Office, working closely with fundraising and communications departments. This role contributes to MSI’s advocacy, thought leadership, fundraising, partner engagement, communications, and events to ensure MSI effectively influences global policy and funding decisions, and shares political and situational analysis, evidence and data as a generous and strategic partner to governments, donors, and the wider sector.
This role will contribute to the design and coordination of MSI’s external representation in key sector spaces, strengthening MSI’s visibility, reputation and influence in global and regional fora and helping to build and nurture strong relationships with key sector and donor stakeholders. This will be approximately 60% of the role.
This role also includes a strong operational component (approximately 40%), supporting the smooth running of the team’s work. Responsibilities include:
- Managing reporting processes
- Building and managing budgets
- Raising and tracking purchase orders
- Coordinating travel and logistics
- Supporting events
- Working across internal functions such as finance, operations, donor compliance and IT
About You
Pro‑choice commitment is essential. All candidates must be unequivocally pro‑choice. We seek exceptional communicators who are self‑motivated, solutions‑driven and aligned with MSI’s mission and entrepreneurial mindset. You should be dedicated to driving social change in an environment focused on sustainable impact, both locally and globally, and comfortable working with diverse teams in an ambiguous setting.
Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; fluent in English
- Ability to organise large‑scale events
- Strong collaboration across the global team, and ability to manage a high level and diverse workload and meet tight deadlines across time zones
- Excellent analytical and research skills, with ability to provide concise summaries of complex documents
- Ability to provide high‑quality policy analysis and translate complex information into clear recommendations for diverse audiences
- Strong communication skills – both written and verbal
- Ability to multitask and work under pressure when needed
- Team player and self‑starter with high levels of initiative
- Highly advanced knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite, PowerPoint and Canva
- Familiarity with SRHR – highly desirable
- Fluency in French – desirable
Experience
- Demonstrated experience of working and supporting diverse priorities across varied teams
- Demonstrated experience of analysing and synthesising complex documents
- Demonstrated experience of representing an organisation externally
- Demonstrated experience of initiating and maintaining support systems in an office environment
- Demonstrated experience in administrative functions including managing budgets, purchase orders, and logistics for external events
Location and Working Conditions
London, UK (minimum of 2 days per week in the office) or any country programme where MSI operates. Full‑time: 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Contract type: Permanent. Salary: £34,200 – £42,750 for UK candidates. For other countries, the salary will be banded within the national context.
Salary Band: BG 7
Closing Date: 30th July (midnight BST). Interviews may take place before this date for exceptional candidates.
EEO Statement: For internal employees applying from an MSI country programme, the role will be positioned within the existing salary structure of the country. Local terms and conditions of the country will apply.
How to Apply: Please apply via our website:
Your tasks
Support advocacy strategies and manage external relations to influence global policy.
Your profile
Strong communication skills and a commitment to pro-choice values required.
What's also included
Competitive salary, flexible working, and the chance to drive social change.
Tech stack & ways of working
External Relations and Advocacy Advisor in Colchester employer: ReliefWeb
MSI Reproductive Choices is an exceptional employer dedicated to empowering individuals through access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. With a strong commitment to social change, our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and personal growth, allowing employees to thrive in a supportive environment. Located in London, we offer competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on global health policies while working alongside passionate professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Your perspectives
Make a real impact on reproductive rights and empower communities worldwide.
StudySmarter Expert Advice
Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by ReliefWeb.
Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like ReliefWeb.
Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at ReliefWeb.
Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at ReliefWeb. Apply directly through us to stand out!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause
In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of ReliefWeb. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience
When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role
For a full-time role like External Relations and Advocacy Advisor, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration
Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at ReliefWeb
Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of ReliefWeb. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
Locations
- Colchester
