This is a new and strategically important position in a small but mighty team. Our advocacy – the use of information and evidence to drive change in policy, practices and attitudes – and the effective engagement of target audiences to stimulate action, are at the core of our success in forging a fairer water future. To scale our positive impact, Water Witness is therefore strengthening its capabilities through the creation of this key position. The post holder will be responsible for high impact advocacy and engagement to deliver our 2030 Strategy and will work with the team and partners to ensure: rigorous stakeholder, landscape and political economy analyses; collation, synthesis and packaging of evidence; and development of clear strategic priorities, change objectives, advocacy messages, targets, and tactics. They will be responsible for coordinating, overseeing and leading the delivery of our advocacy, including through creating and presenting content and authoritative reports, organisation of events and cultivation and management of relationships and partnerships. They will ensure that we learn and adapt, and can attribute the impact of our advocacy.
As a senior member of the Public and Political Engagement team, the Advocacy and Engagement Manager will work closely with our Research and Operations teams, and partners across Africa, Asia and South America. They will engage with decision makers in government, business, financial institutions, multi-lateral and network organisations, local and international NGOs, and the media to advance evidence-based solutions to the conjoined global crises of water, climate, nature and inequality. In particular, they will play a key role in our Fair Water Footprints Campaign and the wider delivery of the Glasgow COP 26 Declaration. With new funding from the UK Government’s Just Transitions for Water Security Programme, these game changing initiatives seek to end the abuse of water in our supply chains, and to establish responsible water stewardship as the global business norm by 2030 so that trade and business accelerate, rather than undermine, shared water security. This will be achieved through mobilising the power of scientific evidence and citizen voices to trigger change in government policies, corporate practices, financial disclosure, and political and public expectations. The choreography and delivery of this change will be a core focus of the successful candidate’s work.
We are keen for the post holder to be based at Water Witness’s Edinburgh offices where they will help to mentor and nurture the next generation of water leaders, though some flexibility may be considered. This role will involve travel within the UK and internationally. It would suit an exceptional communicator who is fluent in the technical and policy aspects of water and climate justice, and who has several years of demonstrable experience in using advocacy, communications, and stakeholder engagement to drive change. If you’re a team player that shares our passion for our mission, with proven political nous, and the ability to translate complex evidence into the right asks to the right people at the right time to secure systemic change, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.