Head of Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE:

Humanitarian response represents roughly half of Save the Children International’s global portfolio. Typically Save responds to circa 100 global humanitarian crises each year. Building our humanitarian affairs, influencing and policy capability is at the core of our strategy to achieve immediate and lasting change for the most deprived children.

The purpose of this role is to ensure that the organisation leverages evidence and analysis on children’s rights to influence changes in policy and support the delivery of consistent high-quality advocacy in humanitarian crises.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work and be available at short notice and beyond the normal working hours.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Higher level education degree, Masters or above, in a relevant field (e.g., International Development, International Relations, Peace building, or Security Studies)
• At least 10 years experience in leading development of advocacy strategies and approaches; direct experience working at country or regional level humanitarian and development structures
• Minimum of 5 years senior management experience driving results and impact, while fostering a supportive and positive work environment.
• Significant experience in humanitarian affairs, advocacy and policy and knowledge of children’s rights
• Strong track record in humanitarian response settings in policy or analytical roles in complex or rapid onset emergencies
• Extensive knowledge of humanitarian policy trends, debates and issues and the place of INGOs in these debates
• Proven ability to manage multiple and competing demands, work to tight deadlines and brief senior staff
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Excellent project management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross-functional teams with a proven history of delivering results
• Ability to work effectively in a complex networked organisation across functional and geographical boundaries, and deliver results
• Exposure to and understanding of humanitarian field realities and an ability to work in demanding and fast-moving contexts
• Willingness to travel regularly overseas, often at short notice, to security constrained environments and sometimes for periods of up to six weeks
• Ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse setting
• Understanding of and commitment to Save the Children’s mission, vision, values and ways of working