Lead, Humanitarian Advocacy

About the role

Save the Children International is looking for a Lead, Humanitarian Advocacy to join its global team. The role supports the humanitarian advocacy agenda globally, working closely with and under the direction of the Head of Humanitarian Advocacy to shape organisational positioning on major crises, contribute to thought leadership on humanitarian advocacy, policy and practice, and advance influence with governments, UN agencies, donors and humanitarian leadership bodies. The postholder works across humanitarian responses, regions, Country Offices, thematic teams, Members and the CEO's Office.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic humanitarian advocacy support and lead advocacy in major emergencies, including Category 1 and 2 and cross-regional crises, drawing on evidence and country priorities.
• Deploy as surge capacity in the early stages of new or escalating Category 1 and 2 emergencies.
• Help Country Offices, Regional Offices, Members and Global Teams develop and implement advocacy strategies, influencing plans and messaging during emergencies.
• Lead horizon scanning and strategic analysis to identify emerging risks, trends and opportunities, and feed humanitarian evidence and field perspectives into policy and positioning.
• Contribute to organisational positioning on protection, displacement, humanitarian access, conflict and international humanitarian law, adapting global positions to context.
• Represent Save the Children in global humanitarian forums and engage governments, UN agencies and other stakeholders, and act as a spokesperson on specific issues and major crises.
• Support senior engagement with inter-agency humanitarian leadership and emergency coordination fora, preparing analysis, briefings and talking points.
• Coach and give technical guidance to advocacy colleagues across the movement and engage in global advocacy networks and working groups.
• Promote diversity, equity and inclusion across all work.

Required profile

• Extensive experience leading humanitarian advocacy in major and complex emergencies, including cross-regional or system-wide crises.
• Experience developing and implementing advocacy strategies, positioning and messaging in fast-moving humanitarian contexts.
• Demonstrated experience representing organisations in senior external forums, high-level consultations and policy dialogues with governments, UN agencies, donors and multilateral institutions.
• Experience acting as a spokesperson or public-facing representative on humanitarian issues, including with media.
• Experience coaching, mentoring or giving technical guidance to colleagues across a large, matrixed organisation.
• Demonstrable commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, with experience advocating for marginalised groups.
• Advanced degree (Master's or higher) in International Relations, Human Rights, International Development, Law, Political Science or a related field, or equivalent professional experience; knowledge of international humanitarian law, human rights or child protection is highly desirable.
• Right to work in the country where the role is based; English required.

Required skills

• Horizon scanning and strategic analysis to identify emerging humanitarian risks, trends and advocacy opportunities.
• Ability to turn complex evidence and analysis into clear, actionable advocacy positioning.
• Technical knowledge of humanitarian access, protection, displacement, conflict and international humanitarian law.

The role is permanent, hybrid or remote with flexible working, with up to 30% international travel. Applications are submitted online with a CV and cover letter; only shortlisted candidates are contacted.