Director, HIV Programmes and Advocacy At International AIDS Society

About the IAS:

IAS – the International AIDS Society – leads collective action on every front of the global HIV response through its membership base, scientific authority and convening power. Founded in 1988, the IAS is the world’s largest association of HIV professionals, with members in more than 170 countries. Working with its members, the IAS advocates and drives urgent action to reduce the impact of HIV. The IAS is also the steward of the world’s most prestigious HIV conferences: the International AIDS Conference, the IAS Conference on HIV Science, and the HIV Research for Prevention Conference.

The IAS promotes and invests in advocacy and research on key issues in relation to HIV and global health through our strategic programmes, initiatives, and campaigns. Current focus areas include HIV vaccine and cure research; optimizing treatment and care for infants, children and adolescents in resource-limited settings; stigma-free and person-centred care; and expanding access to prevention, treatment and care services for all through evidence-informed policies and practices, including protecting human rights and combatting punitive laws and discriminatory policies.

More information on IAS can be found at www.iasociety.org.

Details of Employment:

The Director, HIV Programmes and Advocacy is based in Geneva, Switzerland and reports to the Executive Director. The position is open-ended and full-time to start as soon as possible.

Purpose of the Position:

The IAS HIV Programmes and Advocacy department convenes experts to define research agendas and improve methodologies, analyses good practice models and makes them accessible to service providers and policy makers, and works with partners to advocate for evidence-based policy change and adequate investment in comprehensive HIV and other services for people living with and most vulnerable to acquiring HIV.

The work of the HIV Programmes and Advocacy department spans the biomedical, behavioural and implementation sciences. The Journal of the International AIDS Society as a key conduit for the dissemination of evidence from a wide range of disciplines is also part of the department, while maintaining editorial independence.

The Director, HIV Programmes and Advocacy leads a team of approx. 15 technical and project management specialists and is responsible for the development and implementation of operational plans for the department that enable full delivery against commitments. As a member of the IAS Senior Management Team, the incumbent will ensure close collaboration between the HIV Programmes and Advocacy department and other departments of the organization to ensure achievement of the outcomes set out in the IAS’s organizational strategy.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of research promotion and advocacy activities to operationalize the IAS’s organizational strategy through high-quality, scientifically sound programmes
• Manage a multi-disciplinary and diverse team, ensuring excellence in delivery and effective relationships with IAS colleagues and external partners
• Identify urgent advocacy priorities and shape and deliver suitable activities
• Serve as a senior spokesperson and thought leader for the IAS on HIV science and its implementation and a key technical resource for the development of programme content for IAS meetings and conferences
• Develop and manage relationships with existing and potential new partners for the IAS’s programmatic and advocacy work
• Manage the budget of the department
• Work with the Director, Development and Partnerships to identify and shape new business opportunities and secure funding for ongoing and new programmes
• Work with the Director, Communications and Public Affairs to ensure that the IAS’s advocacy messages reflect current debates and trends while remaining grounded in robust science
• Work with the Executive Director, the IAS Governing Council and Executive Board to identify additional priority areas for IAS engagement, and develop plans to address these.

Perform any additional tasks requested by the Executive Director.

Academic Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in public health or life sciences is a minimum; a terminal degree in public health, life sciences, or medicine is preferred.

Work Experience:

• At least 8 to 10 years of successively responsible roles in the promotion and communication of HIV science, working across a range of HIV thematic areas and disciplines
• Proven experience in programme design, implementation and monitoring, including budgeting
• Proven experience in people management.

Skills/Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of HIV research and science as well as an understanding of the regulatory and normative processes that guide HIV policy implementation worldwide
• Strategic and analytical thinking combined with the ability to translate IAS member priorities into concrete, relevant programmes and advocacy actions
• A track record of achievement and leadership in the field and an active network across the HIV science, policy and advocacy domains
• Ability to inspire and engage with a wide range of relevant audiences; personal presence; excellent influencing skills
• Strong people management skills, with a demonstrated ability to successfully manage for results across teams and hierarchies, and to empower and mentor staff
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment with a dynamic range of people
• Improvement mindset, committed to monitoring, evaluation and learning to constantly strengthen the work of the department
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively to external and internal deadlines.

Languages:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with full professional fluency in English. Additional languages are an asset.