JOB SUMMARY: 

As an essential member of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital team, the Public Affairs Manager is responsible for developing public awareness and education campaigns to help draw attention to the issue of avoidable blindness, raise the public and policy makers’ consciousness of eye health problems and their impact, and help ORBIS partners gain access to the human, material and financial resources needed to bring about improvements in eye health. This position requires approximately 45 weeks of worldwide travel per year.

REPORTING & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

The Public Affairs Manager reports to the Director, Global Communications and Branding, with an administrative reporting relationship to the Director, Flying Eye Hospital. This position also liaises closely with ORBIS DC-10 colleagues, especially the FEH Communications Manager, International Program Department, communication teams in New York, country and affiliate offices as well as the local hosts of the Flying Eye Hospital programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Work in close partnership with New York colleagues and the Flying Eye Hospital Communications Manager to develop a public affairs program that facilitates ORBIS’s access to the human, material and financial resources needed to bring about improvements in eye health and eliminate avoidable blindness. This includes:  

• Participating in the development and implementation of strategies focused on building support and alliances with government leaders, health officials, peer organizations and NGOs who can support ORBIS-sponsored programs and initiatives.

• Researching the social and political impact of eye health problems and assessing the effectiveness of strategies to overcome these issues.

• Preparing messaging tailored to the target audiences that defines the issue, states solutions and describes the actions that need to be taken to advance the promotion of eye health and blindness prevention.

• Choosing the appropriate channels of communication to speak with and deliver targeted messages to policy makers, community leaders, health professionals and the general public.  

• Participate as a member of a planning team prior to a program to assess and work with local partners in the development of a public awareness and education campaign in support of the sight-saving training program.  

• Develop local sponsorship opportunities in-country and manage the relationship in coordination with fundraising colleagues in New York, country and affiliate offices.

• Manage the invitation and coordinate all logistics in preparation for the attendance of VIPs (heads of state, ministers of health, ambassadors, major donors and corporate partners) to a Flying Eye Hospital program.

• Ensure timely distribution of program background information and related advocacy/public affairs materials to media and ORBIS staff. 

• Work with representatives from the International Program Department to devise and implement a monitoring and evaluation plan for public awareness and education programs.

• In coordination with Flying Eye Hospital Communications Manager, prepare the public affairs section of the final program report, including an in-depth analysis and reports on campaign achievements.

• Work in close partnership with the Flying Eye Hospital Communications Manager and provide assistance to develop a comprehensive communications and advocacy strategy that supports all Flying Eye Hospital programs. 

• Represent ORBIS, on and off the plane, at fundraisers, goodwill tours and host-sponsored social events.  

• Comply with approved Flying Eye Hospital policies and procedures.

• Assist in the daily cleaning, set-up and packing of the aircraft.

• Participate in special projects and take on other duties as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in public health, government relations or advocacy related field.

• Minimum 3-5 years public affairs, government relations or advocacy work experience.

• Demonstrated awareness of global health and human interest issues.

• Prior experience working in a non-profit environment or with policy-development initiatives is a plus.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Outstanding presentation and written communications skills in English – working knowledge of a second language is a plus.   

• Demonstrated ability to strategize, organize and articulate the mission and vision of an organization.

• Excellent interpersonal and diplomacy skills; the ability to interact effectively with people of diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

• Team-oriented work style, with a pro-active, open-minded and flexible approach.

• High level of professional integrity and discretion.  

• Exceptional tolerance to stress: ability to function effectively in a demanding, fast-paced and constantly changing work environment.

• High degree of computer literacy (Windows XP, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and the Internet).

• Ability and desire to travel to developing countries up to 10 months a year — including no significant disqualifying factors that would preclude approval of entry visas in the countries on the Flying Eye Hospital travel schedule.

To apply for this position, please forward your resume and cover letter to HR@orbis.org.