Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Manager

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Manager is responsible for the development and implementation of humanitarian advocacy strategy and supporting policy work, in coordination with regional and global stakeholders to influence decision-makers to uphold and protect children’s rights. The HPAM will also provide technical support to the Education Cluster in the development of its own advocacy strategy, particularly as it relates to attacks on education, and engage frequently with the MRM, other accountability mechanisms, write periodic reports, briefing papers and develop policy work on issues related to Safe Schools Declaration, Children and Armed Conflict and Violence Against Children.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE: The Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Manager will be responsible for the development of products on issues affecting children in Ukraine, including policy briefs, briefing papers, reports and original research.

Reports to: Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media Director

Staff reporting to this post: TBC

Budget Responsibilities: N/A

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Advocacy development and implementation

• Coordinate and sometimes lead development of crisis advocacy plans and messages within the Ukraine Country Office Advocacy, Campaigns, Media and Communications team and the Save the Children International regional and global Humanitarian Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns;
• Draft regular advocacy products, including regular reports on attacks on education, children and armed conflict, children in detention and violence against children.
• Support and advance the Ukraine Country Office policy objectives during emergencies, including drafting and distributing plans, advocacy-policy messages, policy briefs, and letters to governments, policymakers and other stakeholders,
• Support thematic directors/advisors to articulate their top priority advocacy objectives in line with the new Country Strategic Plan
• Identify key opportunities and events for the Ukraine Country Office to position itself as the leading organisation for children’s issues in the country
• Draft and otherwise support the production of advocacy products as outlined in the advocacy strategy for use at the country, regional and international levels including supporting the Advocacy and Campaigns strategy in country.
• Ensure that all advocacy messages, documents, and strategies are evidence-based, drawn from field experience and assessments, of high quality and effective, and are approved by the Country Director, the Regional Advocacy Media and Communications Director, and the Humanitarian Advocacy Working Group (HAWG). When necessary, ensure advocacy products are signed-off according to the SCI sign-off procedures.

Campaign Coordination

• Provide coordination and communication support around Save the Children’s humanitarian campaigning, staffing internal working groups
• Monitoring and reporting on relevant policy developments
• Producing policy and advocacy materials as needed
• Networking with external players in both the policy makers and INGO communities

Partner and ongoing support

• Provide project management, communications, policy and administrative support to the Advocacy, Media, Campaigns and Communications team, Save the Children Ukraine Country Office partners,
• senior management, and other departments around priority initiatives and events including humanitarian appropriations.

Representation

• Represent emergency- and response-related policy views of Save the Children in meetings with other departments within Save the Children as well as with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and policymakers stakeholders
• Contribute meaningful input into initiatives and communiqués; report on and track all relevant joint initiatives.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters

• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength

• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• University degree or equivalent experience in journalism, media, communications or similar discipline
• Experience as a news journalist or in media handling
• A strong track record of success in developing strategies on own initiative to obtain significant media coverage in a variety of outlets
• A sound grasp of what different media outlets want and an understanding of where to seek out newsworthy stories
• Good contacts for generating news stories in international outlets with news journalists, editors and wider media
• Experience of working within budget constraints
• Commitment to Save the Children’s mission, values and approach (includes child focus, equal opportunities)
• Commitment to team working and understanding of how to contribute
• Flexibility to act reactively and make the most of breaking stories to maximise opportunities for coverage
• Ability to work fast, effectively and independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor to a range of audiences and media
• Ability to influence and work cross-organisationally (e.g. with senior managers and volunteers) at all levels to persuade others to a point of view
• Ability to communicate effectively and empathetically with people we support and who support our work, including children, young people and their families
• Ability to confidently interrogate data (scientific, technical, economic) to find stories and develop news lines.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and make decisions on what to prioritise when working under pressure on a number of projects
• Ability to operate within a predominantly administratively self-servicing environment
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to set priorities and evaluate progress
• Ability to travel internationally

Desirable

• Previous INGO experience

In the case of a Category 1 and Category 2 response, the candidate must reflect the experience and qualifications of a Grade 2. This must include the following proven behaviour/experience:

• Demonstrate leadership and management skills in a complex international setting.

Previous experience as member of Senior Management Team.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This Role is offered on the basis of International terms and conditions. Also, interviews will be held on ongoing basis, adverts will be closed once a person is identified.

For non- EU citizens; Visa is to be obtained.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.