Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager (Digital Inclusion and Gender)

Department: Mobile for Development

Team: Digital Inclusion & Gender

Location: London (hybrid working)

Position type: Fixed Term Contract until March 2027

"This job is a great opportunity for someone who cares about improving the digital future for billions of people in low- and middle-income countries. As Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager, you will work with a variety of national and global stakeholders on creating a more favourable policy environment to accelerate digital inclusion and gender equality. This role sits within a team of passionate and ambitious people that deliver meaningful impact at scale."

Melle Tiel Groenestege, Senior Director Digital Inclusion

The Digital Inclusion team comprises the Connected Women and Connected Society programmes and works with mobile operators, tech innovators, the development community and governments to realise mobile impact in low- and middle-income countries.

As Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager your responsibility will be to shape and progress evidence based digital inclusion advocacy messages and policies. This includes engaging a diverse group of stakeholders, such as national governments and international organisations. Your work will focus on the digital inclusion of a broad range of underserved communities (e.g. women, rural, urban poor, persons with disabilities) across low and middle income countries, in particular Asia and Sub Saharan Africa.

You will author policy content that will become reference material for policymakers and private sector actors. You will conduct policy and regulatory analyses at the national level and will be responsible for producing written submissions for various policy processes.

You will work with policymakers and regulators on capacity building workshops and the implementation of policies and projects that improve digital inclusion. This will include a focus on key issues such as affordability (especially handsets), digital skills, online safety and security, connectivity and gender equality.

You will have the opportunity to represent the GSMA externally at events and in meetings to ensure effective dissemination of GSMA's messages on the issue of digital inclusion and gender equality. You will also draft high quality content, briefings and speaking notes for the team and senior management and support on organising events.

You will work in collaboration with a number of internal stakeholders such as GSMA policy teams, our regional offices, and other Mobile for Development programmes.

We welcome applications from professionals with the following demonstrated qualifications:

• Strong understanding of the role of digital technology in international development. This may be gained through working for a relevant organisation such as a mobile network operator, tech company, policy or international organisation, think tank, research agency, or a development partner. Experience with the mobile industry is ideal.
• Very good understanding of policy and regulation issues related to digital inclusion. Expertise in gender equality and issues is ideal.
• Proven policy research, advisory and advocacy experience
• Excellent grasp of the English language, with compelling written and oral communications skills, including the ability to summarise, structure and tailor complex content into clear messaging for different internal and external audiences. French language skills are desirable.
• Experience in designing and delivering advocacy campaigns through stakeholder engagement, building evidence and delivering results.
• Ability to work across different cultures with senior officials, policy professionals and others.
• Strong project management skills, ability to work independently, entrepreneurial and organised to deliver high impact outputs. We're looking for someone who is conscientious and creative, with a can do attitude.
• Excited to travel internationally to emerging markets.
• Existing authorisation to work in the UK.

The candidate should exhibit the following key skills:

• Communication - Critical for shaping policy positions and influencing external decision makers. This role requires the ability to translate complex policy issues, market data, and industry perspectives into clear, concise, and compelling narratives tailored to policymakers, international organisations, and other relevant stakeholders. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for developing policy briefs, consultation responses, and thought leadership that enhances credibility and supports advocacy objectives.
• Delivery - Essential for progressing policy and advocacy priorities from development to impact. The role demands strong project and delivery management skills to coordinate multiple advocacy initiatives, manage inputs from internal and external stakeholders, and ensure timely production of high quality outputs.
• Influence - Central to advancing policy outcomes in complex and often ambiguous environments. This skill enables the role to engage and persuade policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders through evidence based arguments and strategic positioning. Influence includes the ability to navigate political and institutional dynamics, build coalitions, and align internal and external stakeholders behind shared policy objectives.
• Stakeholder Management - Fundamental to successful advocacy in a multi stakeholder environment. This role requires the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with government officials, international organisations, industry partners, and internal teams. Effective stakeholder management ensures alignment of interests, facilitates collaboration across sectors and geographies, and supports the development and advancement of credible, well informed policy positions.
• Commercial Awareness - Strong commercial understanding ensures that priorities and impact are grounded in business realities and are commercially sustainable. This skill enables the identification of regulatory and policy opportunities that drive both business value and broader societal impact. It ensures that advocacy positions reflect market dynamics, operational constraints, and partner priorities, strengthening credibility with both policymakers and industry stakeholders.

Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)

Employee