Head of humanitarian technical and partner support jobs

Government, Multilateral and Climate Funding Manager

Permanent. Full Time. Hybrid working (minimum of 2 days in the office per week)

Location: This role can be based in any one of our UK offices - Edinburgh, London, Warrington

Salary: £49,062 per year for Edinburgh, and Warrington. £53,994 per year for London (including London allowance)

About us

Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and recognise the value this brings in forming strong, creative and high performing teams. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and from those with experience from outside of the voluntary sector. And no, you don’t have to be Christian to work here – we encourage people of all faiths and none to apply. We just ask that everyone lives out our values of dignity, equality, justice and love. We value a good work-life balance, so we’re open to part-time and flexible working. We also offer hybrid working for our office-based colleagues. 

About the role

Reporting in to the Partnership and Business Development Lead, the Government, Multilateral and Climate Funding Manager is responsible for driving sustained growth in income and impact outcomes by actively engaging and cultivating strong relationships with existing and new institutional and climate funding partners.

The role co-creates and leads bidding with MCCs and Global Programmes teams, securing multi-year, multi-million government, multilateral, and climate funding awards.

The post-holder will co-lead and deliver the government, multilateral and climate funding strategy, positioning Christian Aid and its partners to access and scale climate finance, including adaptation, resilience, loss and damage, and nature-based solutions funding.

The role ensures a strong long-term pipeline of funding opportunities, aligned to organisational priorities and climate justice commitments, maximising both income and programme impact.

Some of the main areas of responsibility for the Government, Multilateral and Climate Funding Manager include:

• Working with the Partnerships and Business Development Lead and Heads of Impact to implement an ambitious long-term strategic framework to enhance engagement and build strong partnerships with Government, Multilateral and Climate Funding Partners (including Global Climate Funds such as the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund, UN agencies, World Bank climate windows, Regional Development Banks, and bilateral donors including UK and devolved Governments, European and other Governments), setting clear objectives and key areas for collaboration, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and climate justice priorities.
• Acquire, develop and retain key Government, Multilateral and Climate Funder relationships and strategic partnerships by building a wide network of contacts across Government Departments, development finance institutions, and climate finance mechanisms, ensuring sustained engagement and strong positioning over time.
• Build and maintain a forward-looking, multi-year pipeline of institutional and climate funding opportunities, identifying emerging climate finance trends and positioning Christian Aid to access strategic funding, collaborating closely with CA Ireland and global teams to maximise funding growth.
• Oversee agreed Supplier Framework Agreements, including those linked to climate and environment programming, working with MCC Business Development Managers in taking forward pipeline opportunities.
• Collaborate across the Partnerships and Business Development Team and MCC BD Team on tenders and grants, leading bid preparation and ensuring alignment with funding requirements, including integration of climate considerations and compliance with donor requirements (e.g. climate rationale, safeguards, and reporting).
• Collaborate with Impact colleagues to onboard new programmes, including those funded through climate finance mechanisms, working with MCC Contracts and Portfolio Managers to ensure readiness for delivery and compliance requirements.
• Develop and proactively pitch new strategic Signature Programmes, including climate-focused and climate-integrated programmes, in agreement with Directors and MCCs.
• Strengthen internal capability by supporting colleagues to integrate climate considerations into programme design and funding approaches, sharing knowledge and best practice on climate funding requirements.
• Represent Christian Aid externally, strengthening organisational visibility and positioning within climate finance spaces.
• This level role may include line management responsibilities of an adviser level role.

Role Characteristics

• Permanent, income-generating role aligned to multi-year institutional and climate funding cycles
• Focus on sustained pipeline development and relationship management
• Requires long-term positioning with government, multilateral, and climate funders
• Builds and retains organisational expertise in complex and competitive funding mechanisms
• Critical to delivering predictable income growth and scaled programme impact

Strategic Context

This role is critical to ensuring Christian Aid can:

• Compete effectively in an increasingly climate-focused and competitive funding landscape
• Build and sustain high-value institutional and climate funding partnerships
• Access and scale climate finance as a core income stream
• Deliver long-term, impactful programmes aligned to climate justice priorities

The permanent nature of this role reflects the long-term horizon of institutional and climate funding, and the need for sustained engagement, expertise, and strategic positioning.

Integration with Senior Leadership

This role will be complemented by senior strategic oversight, ensuring strong alignment between operational delivery and high-level engagement with key funders, strengthening Christian Aid’s positioning, influence, and ability to secure large-scale funding opportunities.

About you

Who we are looking for:

Essential:

• Highly developed communication, networking, consulting and relationship-building skills, including but not limited to Government Departments, INGOs, NGOs and Private Sector and country missions
• Highly developed interpersonal skills at senior levels with advanced negotiation and conflict resolution
• Highly developed research skills for identifying strategic funding and partnership
• Highly developed organisational, planning, and prioritisation
• Substantial knowledge and experience of humanitarian programming and humanitarian donor funding modalities with UN, EU and bilateral donors and/or international climate funding architecture, Global Climate Funds, donor accreditation and management modalities
• Developed skills and experience in strategy development, decision-making, and managing high-pressure
• Substantial experience and a proven track record of securing multiple multi-million-pound
• Substantial experience with project design, as well as monitoring and evaluation
• Substantial experience in developing, writing, and budgeting technical grant and service contract bids, and strong excel and budgeting skills.
• Detailed understanding and knowledge of institutional donor programming and partnership models, especially with Governments and Multilateral donors.

Desirable:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Developed in synthesising complex information
• Demonstrable experience in line management and managing teams remotely and providing coaching support.
• Medium level proficiency in speaking and writing in French or Spanish
• Understanding in negotiating government grant and supplier contracts, including compliance agreements.

Further information

At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.

We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams. 

We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity. 

All successful candidates will require a DBS/police check appropriate to the role and location and a Counter Terrorism Sanction check as part of your clearance for commencing your role with us. We also participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this. 

Salary:                £42,180 - £43,290 per annum
Location             London, United Kingdom (hybrid – min. one day per week in the office)
Team:                 Strategic and Commercial Partnerships Team
Line Manager:    Strategic and Commercial Partnerships Senior Manager     
Line Reports:      None
Hours:                35 hours per week
Contract:            Fixed term 24 months
Grade:                3A
Safeguarding:    Basic

The Vacancy

The Strategic and Commercial Partnerships Senior Adviser will support one of Start Network’s most exciting new areas of work. This role will be part of a new team, created in 2025, to scope, engage and manage relationships with strategic partners across the humanitarian ecosystem and beyond that will bring non-monetary added value in pursuit of our mission and vision for a locally led and proactive humanitarian system. Our ambition is to leverage partnerships to maximise the impact of our work, enhance our ability to influence system change, improve operational effectiveness and engage in the exchange of knowledge around our innovation ambition. The team will focus on strategic partnerships in areas such as – but not limited to- system change, innovation, disaster risk finance, humanitarian insurance, digital transformation, AI, and capacity strengthening. The team will also explore the value offer and commercialisation potential behind specific initiatives and services.

Based in the Business Development directorate, the Adviser will work closely with the Strategic and Commercial Partnerships Senior Manager to further strengthen the new function. The role will support on the external facing partnership development and management, whilst also playing a central role in ensuring the value-add catalyses inward impact at Start Network. As such, the role will engage with colleagues across the organisation and gain full insight into the full breadth of Start Network’s portfolio of programmes and initiatives. The role will also contribute to researching and analysing commercialisation potential and options for Senior Leadership consideration.

The successful candidate will have a strategic mindset and leverage their ability to creatively identify opportunities to maximise impact. They will be motivated by the opportunity to be proactive and take initiative. It will be key for the candidate to build strong relationships internally and externally, with excellent communication skills and an ability to convey complex ideas simply. They will also have strong organisational skills and be comfortable balancing multiple priorities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Manage and Maximise Partnership Impact

• Build and manage a portfolio of strategic partners, including external engagement and  internal coordination with relevant teams
• Develop plans to maximise the impact of current partnerships, in line with our strategic priorities and mission, in collaboration with relevant teams
• Develop partnership governance agreements(e.g. contracts, Statement of Collaboration, and Memorandums of Understanding)
• Develop joint proposals to advance partnership potential, and manage subsequent budget and reporting obligations
• Manage delivery and project management of strategic partnership initiatives
• Act as key focal point to lead on communications related to partnerships, liaising with the Communications Team as necessary (e.g. develop case studies, briefs and external-facing material)
• Monitor partnership performance and strategic value-add

Prospecting & Partnership Development

• Research and identify prospective partners and engagement opportunities - particularly in the global south - that will add non-financial value to our mission and will help us accelerate our impact and system change ambitions
• Liaise with teams to identify gaps and opportunities for leveraging strategic partners in priority areas  
• Secure opportunities for engagement with prospective partners by developing and pitching ideas for collaboration. Prepare supporting material as needed and coordinate with relevant internal teams (presentations, pitches, briefings, engagement plans, etc)
• Build relationships and collaboration with academia, think tanks and other organisations that can strengthen our work and influence
• Manage the partnership assessment process for prospective partners by assessing strategic alignment, coordinating appropriate risk assessments/assurance reviews, and facilitate discussions with colleagues from relevant teams to guide decision-making
• Identify key events, forums and engagement opportunities for the team, and coordinate participation with managers, heads and directors based on strategic priorities and partnership needs
• Support the Senior Manager to manage, develop and formalise new partnerships

Research & Analysis of Commercialisation Potential

• Support data collection and analysis of key areas in which there may be potential for commercialisation, liaising with internal and external stakeholders
• Support the Senior Manager to undertake a competitor and stakeholder analysis, and feasibility assessment in shortlisted areas
• Contribute to the articulation of value offers and a menu of options for Senior Leadership consideration
• Support the Senior Manager in developing the commercial partnerships strategy and implementation plan
• Scope prospective partnerships in line with commercialisation ambitions

Elevate Function Service Offer 

• Act as primary focal point for socialising and advising on partnership processes across the organisation (engage team focal points, organise trainings/inductions, etc.)
• Support the continuous strengthening of the strategic partnership service offer and partnership development processes to guide internal ways of working, aligned with the Start Network mission and culture
• Maintain knowledge management systems to enhance visibility, coordination andinstitutionalisation of partnerships (e.g. ASANA Partnership Tracker and dedicated strategic partnership pages)
• Develop tools, templates and frameworks to support teams engaging with strategic partnerships
• Support the preparation of value offers for capacity strengthening internally, including but not limited to how strategic partnerships can be mobilised to support the Hubs
• Identify opportunities to collaborate across teams to amplify the effectiveness and visibility of our partnerships. For example:
  • Liaise with the assurance team to standardise partnership agreements and templates
  • Work with the communications team to develop innovative communication strategies and outputs to attract prospective partners, expanding outreach
  • Liaise with the MEAL team to do co-develop case studies to evidence impact
  • Coordinate with advocacy colleagues around sector-wide events and publications, identifying opportunities for strategic partnership engagement and outreach
• Promote a positive culture around strategic partnerships
   

START NETWORK CULTURE

· To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children

· A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach

· The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.

PERSON PROFILE

Essential Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in a related field
• Experience in the humanitarian or development sector
• Experience managing or coordinating partnerships, contracts, or stakeholder relationships, particularly in a nonprofit, social enterprise, or business development setting
• Team player with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, and with a flexible and adaptable approach to working across teams and functions;
• Ability to adapt to evolving priorities and timelines, responding effectively to opportunities and stakeholder needs’
• Proactive self-starter and entrepreneurial mindset, with a willingness to organise own work and take initiative to identify opportunities
• Strategic thinker with the ability to interpret and synthesise information for decision-making
• Confident speaker with the ability to present complex information adapted for different audiences and represent Start Network externally to build partnerships
• Experience writing communication pieces or reports for external audiences
• Experience developing and maintaining knowledge management systems and templates/tools to strengthen processes
• Passion for Start Network’s mission and for developing partnerships in the Global South

Desirable

• Project management skills, or experience in coordinating programmes and projects.
• Experience working with commercialisation or social enterprise models and approaches
• Subject matter expert and/or experience working within priority strategic areas, such as system change, innovation, disaster risk finance, humanitarian insurance, digital transformation, and AI
• Experience in negotiating Memorandums of Understandings/contracts/partnership agreements
• Experience working in a multi-cultural or international setting
• Masters or equivalent in relevant subject

The Company

Start Network is made up of more than 90 non-governmental organisations across five continents, ranging from large international organisations to local and national NGOs. Our programmes allow members to deliver humanitarian action around the world.

Our mission is to create a new era of humanitarian action that will save even more lives. We aren’t driven by media headlines or political will, we’re here for the communities affected by and at risk of crises.

We are an organisation committed to doing things differently. For some roles, we need more technical humanitarian expertise, but for other roles, we are looking for relevant transferable skills, the right attitude, and a passion to bring change.