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Policy Director, Beijing, China

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The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) is seeking applications for a strategic, seasoned, and politically astute Policy Director to help design and implement CTFK's efforts to promote strong tobacco control policy in the People’s Republic of China. CTFK is a leading civil society organization dedicated to the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in the United States and around the world. Qualified candidates will understand and have proven experience with policy development or policy promotion, and will be a strategic partner to grantees, partners, and funders in preventing the devastating health impacts of tobacco use. This position is based in Beijing, China and is supervised by the Director of China Programs in Washington.

The Policy Director will be responsible for developing a strategy to support the adoption and implementation of effective tobacco control policies consistent with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in China. This includes conducting and/or coordinating necessary decision-maker-/stakeholder- mapping and identifying opportunities to promote and influence tobacco control policies. The Policy Director will serve as the primary liaison with Chinese non-governmental organizations and government actors to identify strategic political opportunities to advance tobacco control. S/he will work closely with the Director of China Programs in Washington, DC to develop targeted policy campaigns and strategies and work with other members of CTFK’s in-country team to ensure implementation of country strategies and work plans and provide technical support to partners and grantees.

The Policy Director will have a track-record of designing and implementing effective policy initiatives; eight or more years’ experience in public policy development, promotion and implementation in the government, or in the area of government relations of the private sector. The Policy Director will have deep knowledge of China and its political processes. S/he will be a strategic and analytical thinker who partners effectively with grantees and stakeholders on the ground and has the gravitas and personal agility to navigate a complex policy making process. Fluency in English as well as Mandarin is required.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids works to prevent children from smoking, to help smokers quit, and to protect everyone from secondhand smoke by changing public attitudes and public policies on tobacco. Established in 1996, the Campaign envisions a world free from the death and disease caused by tobacco. The Campaign promotes public policies that have been proven to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, including higher tobacco taxes, comprehensive smoke-free laws, strict bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and graphic warning labels on tobacco products. Internationally, CTFK supports governments and non-governmental organizations in promoting and implementing these policies in low- and middle-income countries where more than 80 percent of tobacco-related deaths will occur in the coming decades.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has been designated as one of five partner organizations to coordinate activities under the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, working with governments and non-governmental organizations to implement effective measures to reduce tobacco use. CTFK has active initiatives among the world, including the United States.

One third of the world’s smokers, around 350 million smokers, live in China. Another 738 million Chinese are exposed to secondhand smoke. Every year, 1.2 million Chinese die from tobacco use. China’s non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer have risen sharply and are now representing 80 percent of deaths in China compared to 63 percent globally (Bloomberg News, 2012). The Chinese population remains largely unaware of the harms caused by smoking and secondhand smoke. China ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005 and in January 2006, the treaty entered into force. An inter-agency group, led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), has been tasked to coordinate implementation of China’s FCTC obligations. MIIT’s chairmanship of the group has been controversial because it also oversees the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the development of China’s tobacco industry. Ultimately, the attitude of top leaders could play a pivotal role in shaping China’s tobacco-control policies. One area of promise is smoke-free. Smoke-free has enjoyed the biggest momentum, with the NPC’s historic passage of tobacco control language in the 12th Five-year Plan and the issuance by MOH of a strengthened smoke-free policy. Some cities, such as Harbin and Tianjin, have strengthened and passed smoke-free laws.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE POLICY DIRECTOR

The Policy Director will work closely with the Director of China Programs in Washington, DC and the Beijing-based in-country team to develop and implement the Campaign’s tobacco control policy promotion strategies and provide Chinese partners and grantees with strategic, communications, legal, and research support to support the adoption and implementation of effective tobacco control policies consistent with FCTC in China. S/he will work with other members of the in-country team to shape and advance targeted tobacco control policy promotion initiatives, focusing on the priority areas of smoke-free public places, tax and price increases on tobacco products, comprehensive bans of advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and mandating pictorial warnings on all tobacco packaging.

Developing effective strategies to support the adoption of effective tobacco control policies consistent with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in China.
The Policy Director will work with the Director of China Programs to formulate strategies and detailed work plans to overcome barriers and advance tobacco control policies. S/he will conduct regular policy mapping, stakeholder analysis, and SWOT analyses; s/he will apply a strong working knowledge of the Chinese political systems, process and players to identify, assess and create intervention opportunities to advance tobacco control.

Identifying and developing partnerships with government officials, public intellectuals or other elite opinion leaders to advance comprehensive advocacy campaigns.

The Policy Director will play a central role in identifying partners in China to advance tobacco control policy change.

S/he will support, coordinate, and energize these partners to build a strong tobacco control movement to support the enactment and implementation of tobacco control policies. The Policy Director will be politically savvy and will seek appropriate strategic alliances both within the public and the private sector in China to promote swift and strict compliance to the FCTC.

Serving as the primary liaison on government relations and provide technical support in coordination with other members of the in-country team.

The Policy Director will be a central point of contact with Chinese partners and grantees on government relations to identify strategic political opportunities to advance tobacco control. S/he will coordinate with other members of the in-country team to provide technical support to Chinese grantees and partners and report on program activities to the headquarters and donors, and coordinate site visits as appropriate.


Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

This position is based in Beijing, China. The Policy Director will understand, have experience with, and be excited by the challenge of inspiring public policy in China. The successful candidate must therefore appreciate the unique challenges of working in China and be an inspiring, effective, and strategic partner to the Campaign’s stakeholders. While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

  • A minimum of eight years’ work experience in China in public policy, governmental relations, program management, media, public health, business, or other related field;
  • A proven track-record of designing and implementing projects or initiatives that have achieved policy change;
  • High level of familiarity with the political system in China and understanding of the complex formal and informal relationships that go into policymaking;
  • The political savvy to capitalize on opportunities for change and the capacity to build and nurture strong partnerships across geographical divides to achieve the Campaign’s bold agenda;
  • Keen understanding of Chinese civil society, including GONGOs, grassroots NGOs, domestic and international charitable organizations, trade and business associations, etc.;
  • Strong strategic and analytical thinking skills and the ability to leverage creative partnerships in a challenging political climate;
  • The gravitas and personal agility to navigate a variety of relationships across multiple levels of society;
  • Exceptional organizational skills and comfort working collaboratively in networks or coalitions to create shared vision and set complementary work objectives;
  • Experience executing advocacy campaigns on other issue areas in the region;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills; Personal presence necessary to passionately convey the importance of tobacco control, the confidence to command the spotlight when appropriate, and the wisdom and savvy to know when to direct the spotlight elsewhere;
  • Master’s degree or higher in political science, public health, economics, or law is desirable;
  • Fluency in spoken and written English and Mandarin, and
  • Ability to travel within China and internationally.


Contact Details


Application Instructions

TO APPLY

More information about the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids may be found at: http://www.jobstobaccofreekids.org.

Applications accepted through: June 30, 2012

Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications should include: a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), and salary history, to: jobs@tobaccofreekids.org. Please reference the position code PDC-08 in the subject line of your application.

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