Head of Policy and Advocacy

Head of Policy and Advocacy

Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time.

Location – UK - HALO’s Carronfoot or Wilton offices or home based within the UK (but with travel to UK offices and Europe)

Salary – £60,000 - £68,000 depending upon experience

About us           

HALO is the leading global NGO addressing the impact and drivers of conflict in 28 countries and

territories, with over 12,000 staff. Most of our staff are local employees and include a growing number of

women. Our primary duty is to serve people affected by conflict, clearing landmines and the explosive

remnants of war that threaten lives and livelihoods long after fighting has finished. We make land safe

where war has ended, while also assisting those affected by active conflict and endemic violence. HALO addresses human suffering caused by armed violence in some of the world’s most fragile places, securing weapons and ammunition and working with both state and community actors to reduce the prevalence of armed violence.

Strategy Group
The Strategy Group encompasses four core functions of the organisation: Donor relations and partnerships with all of HALO’s government and multilateral donors outside the USA, Partner organisations; Policy and Advocacy; Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL); and organisational strategic planning.

The Head of Policy and Advocacy leads HALO’s work on policy and advocacy and manages the Policy team, comprising of a Policy and Advocacy Manager (UK) and a Policy and Advocacy Manager (Europe and the UN).  As a member of the Strategy Heads Group, the Head of Policy and Advocacy reports directly to the Director of Strategy and provides advice and support to the Director and other key members of HALO’s senior management team.

Role key Responsibilities

• Design and oversee the delivery of HALO’s global policy and advocacy strategy in support of the organisational strategy.
• Ensure a rolling programme of policy engagement in the UK, Europe, UN and other relevant forums, with structured engagement of relevant internal stakeholders.
• Undertake high-level representation of HALO, including in the UK, Europe and at the UN, speaking with authority about HALO’s policy positions, partnerships and programmes.
• Lead the development and delivery of HALO’s policy and thought leadership agenda, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure HALO remains engaged and relevant to conflict and other geographic and thematic issues.
• Ensure HALO’s policy and advocacy engagement is in line with contextual developments in the mine action, development, humanitarian, environment and stabilisation sectors.
• Provide high-quality and expert policy advice to internal stakeholders during crises and emergency response.
• Oversee the coordination of the HALO Ambassador Programme, providing line management to the HALO Ambassador Lead and working closely with the CEO, Leadership Team and key stakeholders in the Communications, Philanthropy and Strategy Groups.
• Oversee HALO’s policy engagement with international disarmament forums, including the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and Convention on Cluster Munitions.
• Ensure HALO’s structured input to the Mine Action Review, including representation on the Review’s Advisory Board.
• Work closely with Programmes and Capability Groups to support the embedding of policy and advocacy within HALO’s operational and training activities.
• Support the development and update of HALO’s Gender and Diversity, Conflict Sensitivity and Environmental policies and guidelines.
• Deputise for the Director of Strategy as required.
• Provide constructive and empowering line management to the Policy and Advocacy Team.

All HALO staff are expected to undertake the following general duties:

• Work within the framework of HALO’s core values, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
• Work towards achieving programme and/or group business plan objectives.
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all HALO policies and procedures and keep informed of HALO activities.
• Travel overseas as and when required.
• To discharge duties and responsibilities under HALO’s Health and Safety Procedures which may include Risk and COSHH Assessments and participation in evacuation procedures as necessary. 
• This job description is intended to summarise the main duties and responsibilities of the post; this is not intended to be a full and exhaustive list of tasks. All HALO staff are expected to demonstrate flexibility and willingness to perform appropriate tasks when the need arises.
• The HALO Trust strongly encourages people from diverse backgrounds to apply to this role.

Requirements

Who we're looking for:

Experience and Attributes

Essential

·       Senior policy and advocacy experience

·       Solid understanding of the humanitarian and development aid sector and policy networks within it

·       Solid understanding of 2 of the following: UK, European political systems and structures and UN diplomatic processes

·       Understanding of relevant policy platforms, networks, think tanks to learn, share and establish policy positions

·       Proven ability to build relationships and engage with external stakeholders at all levels

·       Proven experience of providing policy advice to senior leaders

·       Demonstrable experience in building external relationship and working with influential individuals.

·       Demonstrable experience in developing and communicating policy positions

·       Experience representing and speaking at high level forums

·       Ability to understand risks and assess impact of policy positions and public statements

·       Experience in managing staff

·       Experience in developing a cohesive, collaborative and happy team working environment

Desirable

·       Experience working in/ alongside the demining sector  

·       Experience driving organisational strategic change

·       Knowledge of multilateral institutions

Benefits

• Salary: £60,000 - £68,000 depending upon experience
• Annual Leave: 25 days plus 8 statutory holidays
• Non-contributory life assurance
• Pension contributions matched by HALO up to 5%
• Emergency medical insurance when travelling overseas
• Flexible working policy

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and supporting statement (no more than 2 pages) detailing why you are suitable for this role, before the closing date for applications which is Thursday 7th December 2023.

Interviews will take place (via Teams) on the 11th, 12th and 15th December 2023.  If there is a sufficient calibre of applicants, we reserve the right to close the role earlier than the date noted.

The HALO Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

The HALO Trust is committed to a culture that is both diverse and inclusive and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

The HALO Trust is committed to ensuring that it provides a safe and trusted environment which safeguards and promotes the welfare and wellbeing of anyone who comes into contact with, or is part of, the Charity, with a zero-tolerance approach to behaviours which challenge this.