Advocacy Lead – Health Innovation Policy

About the role

The ALIGN Consortium, supported by Duke Global Health Innovation Center (DGHIC), is looking for an experienced Advocacy Lead to shape and drive its global influence agenda. The role turns evidence, country experience and emerging lessons into advocacy products and thought leadership that moves the needle on health innovation policy, with a strong focus on empowering government voices across Senegal, Kenya and South Africa. It sits at the intersection of policy, communications and diplomacy, working closely with advocacy leads across consortium partners and the ALIGN Secretariat at Duke University. Preferred Personnel Africa acts as Employer of Record.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and refine consortium-wide advocacy strategy aligned with ALIGN's goals and learning agenda, and coordinate partners for consistent messaging and external engagement
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, donors and key influencers
• Oversee policy briefs, issue papers, position statements, donor briefings, blogs and opinion pieces, and set quality standards for advocacy content
• Turn technical evidence into clear, actionable messages that influence policy and funding decisions
• Lead roundtables, workshops, webinars and policy dialogues, and prepare consortium leaders for speaking engagements and donor meetings
• Disseminate consortium learning through high-impact platforms and track policy and financing landscapes to spot influence opportunities
• Position ALIGN as a recognized global thought leader in health innovation

Required profile

• Kenyan national or citizen
• Master's degree in public policy, public health, political science, international development, communications, health economics or a related field
• 8+ years in advocacy, policy engagement, government affairs, public sector reform or health policy
• Experience working with governments in low- and middle-income countries and/or global multilaterals (e.g. Global Fund, UNITAID, UNICEF)
• Track record of influencing policy, regulatory, financing or health system decisions
• Nice to have: experience with national health decision-making bodies, health technology assessment or guideline development, French proficiency, and networks in African regional health institutions

Required skills

• Strong grasp of health product development, health systems and health financing
• Excellent relationship management, facilitation and communication skills