Co-Founder Learning Officer

 About Malala Fund

Registered in the U.K., U.S. Nigeria, and Pakistan, Malala Fund is working toward a world where all girls can learn and lead. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy changes needed to give all girls a secondary education. The girls we serve have high goals for themselves and we have high expectations for leaders who can help them. We invest in local education leaders and front-line organizations, the people who best understand girls in their communities in regions where most girls are missing out on secondary school. We give girls the tools they need to advocate for education and equality in their communities and a platform for the world to hear their voices. We believe girls should speak for themselves and tell leaders what they need to learn and achieve their potential.

About the position

Design and launch a pilot programme focused on Co-Founder Ziauddin Yousafzai’s learning and advocacy. Through this programme, we aim to build on Ziauddin’s profile as an activist, a father and teacher, and a Muslim man who proudly supported his daughter’s right to education and challenged patriarchal norms and systems of power in a very conservative environment. This Learning Officer will lead efforts to deepen his understanding of wider social norms literature and best practice; introduce him to thought leaders in this space; grow his prominence as a male ally in the global girls’ rights space; and explore ways for him to mobilise other male actors around shared objectives that advance girls’ education and rights. 

Specifically, we will build on Ziauddin’s past travels to and engagements in Nigeria, one of Malala Fund’s country programmes. Over the next 18 months, this Learning Officer will work with the Chief Advisor in building a comprehensive advocacy agenda for Ziauddin that builds from his learnings and tests new ways for him to engage in activities towards our mission. All work focused on Nigeria would be developed in deep partnership with Malala Fund’s Nigeria Chief to ensure that any of Ziauddin’s advocacy or media engagements contribute towards wider in-country advocacy goals and strategic objectives. 

Fixed-Term: 18 months

Location: Preferred Location - London, UK/Hybrid. Will consider candidates in New York, USA.

Responsibilities:

Primary

• Work within Malala Fund’s Executive Office to plan and build a new workstream of learning for Malala Fund’s Co-Founder Ziauddin Yousafzai as he seeks to deepen his knowledge of critical topics related to Malala Fund’s global advocacy work.  
• Specifically, develop a structured learning agenda focused on existing scholarship, programs, thought leaders, and advocacy efforts to shift patriarchal norms in global south contexts and address specific barriers to girls completing secondary education
• Identify and prioritise key topics and sub-topics for learning
• Identify and cultivate expert informants and speakers; process honorarium payments and support follow up as part of wider networking
• Identify supporting materials and opportunities for deeper learning (articles, papers, podcasts, events, webinars, etc)
• Work with the Chief of Staff and Executive Office Coordinator to inform travel, calendaring and scheduling decisions to ensure sufficient time for preparatory reading, learning sessions, and any follow up 
• Support the organisation of dialogue circles or events in Abuja and Northern Nigeria with Ziauddin and male Education Champions (Malala Fund grantees), local faith leaders, and other partners and influencers to mobilise and help shift norms around girls' right to go to school. 
• In support of Malala Fund Nigeria objectives and in coordination with our Nigeria team, seek targeted meetings for Ziauddin with government officials– particularly male leaders from key states– with whom he can raise the importance of norms, policies and resources to support girls’ education. 
• Test and capture how efforts to shift or improve norms around male support for girls’ education can have a positive influence on wider policy-advocacy efforts underway Nigeria.  
• Together with the Executive Office’s Communications and Voice Director and the Nigeria team’s Communications Officer, explore targeted traditional and social media engagements for Ziauddin tied to his meetings with partners and government officials, designed to maximise the reach of his key messages and learnings.
• Work with Malala Fund’s global teams to synthesise information and develop additional products and materials that would further deepen the Co-Founders’ familiarity with Malala Fund’s priorities, grantees, and country programs. 

Secondary

• This officer should reserve roughly 10% of their time to support both Co-Founders’ learning or Executive Office research needs on new or emerging priorities and topics that are not the primary focus of Malala Fund programming but could be the focus of or relevant to future Co-Founder advocacy. This could include topics such as girls’ education in conflict and humanitarian settings; AI, tech, and digital learning; and girls in sport.
• This officer should reserve roughly 5% of their time to support ad hoc administrative needs for the Executive Office team in surge moments.

Qualifications

Essential

• At least 5-7 years of professional experience in and familiarity with the global development sector and related ecosystem players (UN institutions, government agencies, civil society actors, etc) or related policy/advocacy/communications work.
• Strong preference for a candidate with specific knowledge of and relationships with key stakeholders working on global masculinities/male allyship or with experience around shifting patriarchal norms in global south contexts. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Ability to synthesise and present complex topics in straight-forward, user-friendly ways. Demonstrated experience presenting information to senior leaders and stakeholders through a variety of formats including memos, briefing notes, content summaries, and powerpoint presentations.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous and evolving work contexts; willing to adapt to feedback and work flexibly within a new and growing team whose work streams are being designed and iterated in real time. Thrives in a fast-paced, detail-oriented, creative environment. 
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder groups and build meaningful networks.
• Comfort and experience working across multi-cultural settings.
• Ability to operate with highest degrees of diplomacy, confidentiality and discretion.
• Upholds the values of Malala Fund and actively contributes to making Malala Fund a diverse and equitable workplace through inclusive practice and openness to different perspectives, cultures, and ideas. 
• Maintains behaviour and conduct which uphold the highest standards for safeguarding and professionalism.

Desirable

• Familiarity working with a high-profile principal or organisation 
• Specific relationships with relevant Nigerian stakeholders working to advance global development priorities or shift norms through male allyship/engagement
• Lived or professional experience in Nigeria or Pakistan
• Written or verbal proficiency in any additional language(s) relevant to Malala Fund’s work

Why work at Malala Fund?

• Make an impact: Malala Fund works for a world where all girls can learn and lead. 
• Great company culture: We are a collaborative, global team with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, London, Islamabad and Abuja. Our values inform our fun, welcoming work culture and the work we do for girls:
• We set ambitious goals
• We dare to be brave
• We seek and amplify diverse perspectives
• We think creatively
• We act with integrity
• Flexible hybrid work models: Hybrid work options with one or two days in the office and a monthly stipend by country to support work from home expenses.
• Fully paid health, income protection and life benefits: Based on country and legal requirements.
• Retirement plan options: Based on country and legal requirements.
• Rest and relaxation: Generous paid time off and country-specific paid public holidays including sick leave and birthday leave.
• Paid parental leave: Generous paid parental leave.
• Employee assistance and mental health benefits
• Give back: Get paid to volunteer in your community.
• Professional development and educational benefits: Annual company contribution towards professional development or higher education and free LinkedIn Learning access to 20,000+ online courses.

If fighting for girls’ education excites and inspires you, we might be the perfect fit!

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Malala Fund is an equal opportunity employer and inclusive organisation that welcomes applications from under-represented and intersectional groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are seeking people with different backgrounds, cultures, ages, experiences and identities to provide a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights into the strategy, policies, culture and ambitions of Malala Fund.

Malala Fund is also committed to ensuring the safety of those involved in our work. Our first priority is protecting everyone who comes in direct or indirect contact with our organisation.

Malala Fund has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and exploitation by any of our staff, representatives or partners. We commit to ensuring that those who work with Malala Fund or on our behalf are able to work in an environment that is free from harm. To this end, Malala Fund reserves the right to conduct background checks on prospective and current employees.