Job Title: Senior Associate
Contract Type: Full Time
Salary: £38,000
Deadline: Preference will be given to applications received by May 27, 2023
Location: New York, London, Washington DC, or remote

Are you passionate about making a tangible impact on a global scale?
Would you be excited to work alongside disruptors who are transforming the way mental health programs are funded and delivered?
Are you interested in working in a dynamic start-up that is well-connected to leaders in the non-profit sector with the potential to make a significant difference?
Are you a great communicator with huge initiative, curious about the world, who thrives in a positive work culture and always looks to exceed expectations?

Reporting to: Senior Advisor – Business Development
Location: Remote working
Salary: Competitive, see below
Main objectives: To develop, administer and support all external-facing activities

This role will support and also lead crucial projects and tasks to ensure the effective functioning of the organization. In particular, the role will focus on the external engagement of the organization, with a focus on external communications and related projects and their administration.
The responsibilities below represent starting needs that are likely to grow with the organization, and the individual post holder. We are a start-up now, and will always remain a lean organization. You must be flexible and happy with uncertainty and change – you will certainly be asked to do things outside of your job description!

Interested in Applying?
If you are interested in either or both roles, please submit a three-page max CV/resume and a one-page max cover letter, in English, describing your fit and your interest, to opportunities@hbgi.org. Please state the job title in the subject line. Please note that the opportunity closes on 2 June and we will evaluate all applications on a rolling basis.
We will acknowledge all applications but anticipate a large response. We will follow up further with those who are the closest fit, with the next steps of the selection process, involving a written assessment, an interview (including a short presentation), and a meeting with members of the LEC.
Please note: we are interested in hearing only from potential candidates who did not previously apply for the HBGI roles advertised as Communications & Projects Officer and Executive & Projects Officer. Previous applicants will not be reconsidered.

About HBGI
The Healthy Brains Global Initiative (HBGI) aims to transform the way poor mental health is perceived, prevented and treated globally. We use performance-based financing to fund high-impact mental health programs, focusing on the most underserved populations. By contracting service providers on the basis of outcomes, we incentivize innovation and localization — trusting that the people on the ground are the ones who know best how to effect real change — rather than funding processes in a top-down manner. We either contract/fund programs directly, or work as a technical partner with governments.
The programs we fund will be diverse and address mental health in different ways, from surf therapy for youth with PTSD, to music-making sessions for individuals in early recovery from substance use disorders, to helping new mothers bond more effectively with their babies, to oversight of supply chains to get essential medicines to the clinics that need them. With governments, we might assist them to tackle homelessness or to replace institutions with community care.
In every case, we will look to pay for the results not just throw money at problems with grants. We will pay for tangible improvements in mental health as well as in day-to-day life, such as a return to school or someone finding a job.
To achieve such change in the world requires a special team with the ability to think differently, communicate brilliantly, and work collaboratively, with each other and our wider external partners. The team will also have respect at its core, for each other and for everyone we partner with, from the girl missing school in rural Uganda, to the health care worker on the frontline in America, to the head of a global institution backing us.
We know that we can only deliver meaningful impact for a variety of people if we have a variety of people in our team and are committed to recruiting the best, most diverse HBGI team – geographically and in background and life experience.
We welcome people with lived experience of mental health challenges. Many of our current team and Board have lived experience of mental health conditions and our Lived Experience Council (LEC) members are an integral part of the organization.
We do not tolerate any form of negative discrimination, abuse, office politics or bullying.

General roles and responsibilities
This role will:

• Lead on research (for example, to feed into program development, proposals/pitches and presentations)
• Assist with tender/funding proposals, including identifying new opportunities and writing/preparing responses;
• Manage new projects as they arise, including developing ideas, project planning and coordinating the team’s activities;
• Support colleagues with related tasks, as required, in particular supporting and covering for the Senior Associate (Strategic Operations).

 

Specific role focus
As a small start-up, HBGI does not have a communications department. This role will be responsible for both the overall strategy and approach to our communications, as well as shaping our message and executing the deliverables, including specific campaigns. They will receive support from the Senior Associate (Strategic Operations) as required. They will:

• Bring together all our disparate communications to date, to shape a coherent and compelling message;
• Own and improve utilization of existing communications channels (website, social media accounts, newsletter) and associated audience lists where relevant. This will include a refresh of the current approach, including the website;
• Lead and own the development of public-facing communications products (both general and program-specific), including press releases and presentations and pitches to funders;
• Build a network of communications contacts across our existing partners and beyond;
• Project manage and execute HBGI-led events, also maintaining an ‘events calendar’ identifying key external events for HBGI to attend/present at/partner with;
•  Where needed, procure and manage third party partners, designers, consultants, and vendors to successfully deliver against priorities, plans, and expectations;
• Liaise with the LEC Communications workstream to ensure their input on relevant materials and approaches.Skills and Experience Requirements
  Requirements for the role include:
  ● A good degree from a well-regarded university;
  ● At least three years of interesting, relevant work experience (post university);
  ● Excellent written and spoken English (and an eye for detail when presenting);
  ● Curiosity and an open mind and ability to adapt to a changing environment;
  ● A self-starter with strong multitasking abilities who likes to get things done;
  ● A global outlook and awareness of the world and its challenges;
  ● Proven interest in one or more of the following:
  ○ mental and/or brain health
  ○ services targeting excluded communities
  ○ international development
  ○ performance-based contracting, and
  ○ impact investing.
  Not required but strongly preferred is experience of:
  ● Website design and maintenance;
  ● Project planning and reporting;
  ● Proposal writing.

Terms of Employment
Salary, Hours, and Benefits
The salary will depend on location and will be around, for example, $28,000 for someone Ghana-based, £38,000 for someone UK-based, $55,000 for someone USA-based.
To make sure you can participate actively in our largely virtual business, you’ll need to organize your own technology, including a laptop, internet, and telephone. We’ll factor this in when we determine your salary, and we’re happy to provide guidance if you need help getting set up.
We work a 40-hour week. You can plan these hours to suit you (around the working week of Monday – Friday) but you have to take the needs of the business into account, i.e. be available for meetings when needed, and must keep your team and line manager informed of your plans. At HBGI, we care about your wellbeing and want you to take time for yourself. It’s important to switch off at the end of the day and over the weekend to recharge your batteries. That’s why we keep Fridays free of internal meetings, so you can end your week on a positive note with your to-do list clear.
We believe in investing in your growth and development and if you want to continue learning, we are happy to cover the cost of your studies.
You will have 33 days holiday, including HBGI leave and nationally-set holidays. After the first year of probation, this then increases by a day a year until it reaches 38 (including nationally-set days).

Length of Contract
The contract runs for an initial term of 12 months with the aim then to move these to permanent positions. Employment at HBGI is always contingent on our funding.
The start date is ASAP.

Location
The individuals in these roles could be located anywhere. However, our time zones right now (where we have team members already located) are West Africa, Northern Europe and North America. We work largely from home but may take shared working space for some days each month when more than one member of staff is located in the same place.

Review and Support
We will provide you with a comprehensive onboarding process to ensure a smooth transition into your role.
Your job goals will be agreed in advance each quarter and reviewed quarterly with your line manager.
On a quarterly basis, as a minimum, you will also talk with your ‘buddy’ on the LEC. On an annual basis, you will have a personal development review with your line manager.

To apply for this role or for more information please visit the Healthy Brains Global Initiative Website.