Head of Humanitarian Programming

War Child’s Humanitarian Response aims to reach more children quickly in ‘real’ time humanitarian settings, when their lives are torn apart and when they need our support most. We intend that our humanitarian work is undertaken primarily through partnerships, innovation and technology, and we aim to transform War Child’s collective capability to be a quick, effective and principled humanitarian agency.

Since 2019 we have developed a framework and tools to advance our humanitarian capability, with a focus on our existing niche areas, i.e. Child Protection, Education, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and Youth Engagement, while complimenting it with relevant and context specific activities. During COVID-19 and several other crises in 2020 and 2021, we strengthened our humanitarian response and organizational readiness work. Such an organic step involving actions BEFORE (Preparedness and resilience), DURING (humanitarian assistance) and AFTER (resilience and preparedness) helped to improve our Impact, Influence, Identity and Income.

War Child is currently providing emergency support to children and families affected by the war in Ukraine. Initially, War Child worked with partners in Moldova and Romania to assist them respond to the refugee influx from Ukraine during the first few weeks of the war. As many Ukrainian refugees either dispersed to other countries or returned to Ukraine, War Child now plans to shift its main focus to working with partners inside Ukraine. We aim to support partners who are assisting displaced children and families within the country, as well as those who are affected by the war in their home communities. An important next step will be the development of a strategy, programmes and partnerships to assist war-affected children within Ukraine.

Place of Work:

Our office is in Kentish Town, London, Amsterdam or any War Child country office (dependant on the successful candidate’s eligibility to work in that location)

Working Hours:

Full-time is 37.5 hours if UK-based

Reports to:

Director of Programmes & Advocacy in War Child UK or the Director International Programmes at War Child Netherlands

Salary:

Circa £63,000 per annum, full-time equivalent if UK-based. If based in Amsterdam or War Child country offices, local salary scale and T&Cs will apply.

Your role

You are a dedicated and dynamic head of humanitarian programming with excellent hands-on experience in leading humanitarian responses and humanitarian functions within organisations, and working with multiple stakeholders in humanitarian affairs.

You will lead the joint humanitarian function for both War Child Holland and War Child UK and be responsible for leading the further development of War Child’s humanitarian policies, strategies and framework for humanitarian action, in consultation with War Child colleagues in country, regional and headquarters offices.

In close coordination with Country Directors, and based on assessments, you will recommend whether and how War Child should respond to humanitarian emergencies, and you will have authority to direct the nature, scale and methodologies for response within agreed overall parameters.

You will be expected to lead the first phase/scale-up of certain War Child emergency responses as necessary including leading the emergency response team on the ground. At this time, the priority focus is on leading War Child’s humanitarian response to the Ukraine crisis.

You will report directly to one of the Directors International Programmes in either War Child Holland or UK and will work closely within both organisations to fulfil the role.