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About the Role

The Strategic Director is responsible for overseeing Reprieve’s casework, litigation, and advocacy in service of our mission to end the death penalty and abuses carried out in the name of “counterterrorism” or “national security”. This is a senior management position that combines strategic vision with operational delivery. The Strategic Director will ensure Reprieve’s work achieves maximum impact across multiple jurisdictions, while keeping our clients, their families, and their communities at the centre of our strategy.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, the Strategic Director manages the Deputy Directors and Heads of teams. They are responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of Reprieve’s regional casework and thematic projects by providing the necessary resources, oversight, and strategic direction to senior staff.

The Strategic Director leads the development and implementation of the organisation’s strategy, manages the annual operational planning cycle, and oversees robust monitoring and evaluation processes. Working collaboratively across the senior management team, they help build Reprieve’s case portfolio and support an international network of partners and fellows, ensuring the interests of clients, families, and communities remain at the heart of all activity.

Key responsibilities include identifying cross-team strategic opportunities and challenges, maintaining high-level oversight of budgets, and ensuring all teams are sufficiently resourced and operate with rigorous processes for project and personnel management.

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the post-holder will coordinate closely with Reprieve’s Fundraising, Finance, and Operations teams to ensure casework is ethical, sustainable, well-resourced, and effectively communicated to funders and stakeholders.

The Strategic Director will combine significant litigation, casework and advocacy experience with proven strategic leadership and a track record of achieving measurable impact and system change.

As a small legal NGO, Reprieve punches above its weight, and this role is key to making that possible.

About Reprieve

About Reprieve Reprieve is a leading international human rights organisation working to end the death penalty and abuses committed under the banner of national security. Founded in 1999, our mission remains critically relevant as governments worldwide increasingly adopt authoritarian tactics, expanding executive power at the expense of civil liberties.

You can best judge a society by how it treats prisoners, criminal defendants, and the far-flung targets of an ever-changing counter-terror policy. To us, the rule of law means little if we selectively apply it to people we agree with. It is for all of us. Liberty is always eroded at the margins.

Reprieve’s staff is made up of courageous and committed human rights defenders. We provide vital legal and investigative support to those facing execution and victims of rendition, torture, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killing, and citizenship stripping. Our work spans multiple jurisdictions, challenging states' most egregious human rights violations through strategic litigation, investigations, and advocacy.

We support cases in courts worldwide while building the legal and political momentum necessary to consign these practices to history.

Based in London with Fellows and partners globally, Reprieve operates at the intersection of law, policy, and human rights, working alongside governments, senior legal practitioners, and civil society to advance systemic change. 

We collaborate closely with our independent partner organisation Reprieve US.

Reprieve is an equal opportunity employer, and we particularly welcome applicants from Black and minority ethnic communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities. Reprieve is committed to fighting racism and advancing racial justice, both in our work and within Reprieve.

Terms

The role is a full-time (five days per week) permanent position. The annual salary is £71,378 per annum less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance.

This role is based in Reprieve’s London office. Reprieve operates a hybrid working model and we require staff to work 2 days per week from the London office and the rest of the week from home. Applicants must have the current right to work in the UK, which will be checked prior to interview.

Your presence is important during core office hours, whether remotely or in the office. You will also be available outside of office hours in the event of an emergency, for example case developments that require urgent action. This is a role that may require travel and work outside of core office hours from time to time.

How to apply

To apply, please read the job description and submit a supporting statement and CV addressing your interest in the role, and how you meet the criteria (both no more than 2 pages) via the application form on our website by 23:59 BST Wednesday 15 April 2026. Please note that no other documents will be considered for this role and should not be submitted. We are also not able to accept applications via email.

Programme Lead - Maternity Cover (London and South East)

Salary: £34,237-£36,853 depending on experience, skills and qualifications* (see below for more details on remuneration)

Contract: Temporary position linked to maternity leave cover

About Voice 21 

Voice 21 is the national oracy education charity. We exist to empower every child to use their voice for success in school and life. Our work transforms learning and life chances through talk by increasing access to a high-quality oracy education for those that need it most. Follow the links to find out more about why oracy is so vital and the impact Voice 21 has. 

Your purpose

To lead professional development and school improvement programmes facilitating the Voice 21 approach in our Voice 21 Oracy Schools by delivering our high impact learning experiences and materials for teachers and school leaders. To be part of the team, designing and reviewing programme content.

Your opportunity 

Tackle a vital challenge, with great people. Voice 21 exists to transform children' s learning and life chances through talk and we are currently working with 1100 schools.  To reach this goal we recruit great people and give them real responsibility, training and support. 

Output focused culture, with flexible working opportunities. We have an agile and flexible approach – our team can work when and wherever works best to deliver the requirements of their role. For staff working at home, we support them to create a workspace and provide technology that enables them to work effectively. 

Real development opportunities. We believe in supporting people to develop the skills they need to be excellent – whether this means funding external training, finding a mentor to support them or giving them the time to learn from others in the organisations through our regular CPD sessions. We also offer paid study leave for team members taking part in formal studies outside of work. 

Great benefits. 36 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays and Christmas closure period). Holiday entitlement increases linked to length of service, 5% employer contribution to pension, interest-free season ticket, cycle and technology loans, employee assistance scheme. 

Remuneration. Our pay is a band and spine point approach where there is up to 7 years progression available (depending on starting point) 

Your responsibilities

Quality programme delivery

• Lead high quality professional development and school improvement programmes in our Pathway programmes and Open Learning for groups of teachers. These may be delivered in person, online or in school. 

• Deliver transformative consultancy support, working with teachers and school leaders to design and implement bespoke improvement plans for their oracy provision, including through in school and online consultancy support, and one-to-one advice.

• Build credibility and purposeful relationships with programme participants, both at programme days and touchpoints, and on an on-going basis to drive impact in our schools.

• Be responsible for participant learning and experience on your programmes, upholding high standards for all elements such as preparation, adapting to participant needs, content and rigour, on-going interactions and support, and participant feedback.

Learning content & programme development

• Proactively share insights and learning from the programmes you deliver, proposing and shaping solutions to enable Voice 21 to continually improve its programme offer.

• Apply and share expertise through varied outputs such as teaching materials, online learning content, resources, written or video outputs. Proactively identify and respond to opportunities or gaps and fulfil briefs or commissions. 

• Contribute to the continual improvement of Voice 21’s programmes, through development and review cycles, based on first-hand learning from our schools, content expertise, programme insights and external research and evidence. 

Team and organisational contribution

• Act as an ambassador for Voice 21’s national oracy expertise, communicating the value and impact of our approach at conferences, events and through publications.

• Embody and communicate oracy teaching and learning expertise within the organisation, acting as a resource for the wider team and making contributions to organisational priorities, projects, campaigns and events, outputs and publications etc. 

• Continually and proactively develop your own and others’ expertise in Voice 21’s approach to a high quality oracy education, and use this to leverage impact for our schools through tangible learning outputs.

• Identify and carry out other tasks commensurate to the level and spirit of the role as required.

Your experience

• You are an excellent teacher (primary or secondary)

• You are passionate about teaching and learning, and the role of talk in learning. You have used talk to support learning in your classroom.

• You have experience leading whole-school change and inspiring teachers to embrace new approaches and ideas.

• You have a knowledge of a range of speaking and listening techniques and contexts for oracy, these could include: debate, dialogic teaching, storytelling, public speaking or communication and language development. 

• You are a strong communicator both when working in a small team and when facilitating learning for large groups of adults. 

• You are flexible, can think on your feet and can bring your own experiences to the work we do.

• You are highly-organised, look for solutions and can prioritise and manage a varied workload. 

• You are enthusiastic, willing to learn and feel you would be energised by our mission. If you do not fully meet all the above criteria, but are happy to work towards developing into the role, we would be happy to consider your application.

• You are willing to travel nationally on a frequent basis (3 days a week) during term time; this will include regular overnight stays. 

Further details 

Start date: September 1st 2026 

Terms: Temporary, linked to maternity cover and subject to successful probation review.

Contract: This is a full time post

Location: Home-based with frequent national travel, including overnight stays, to work with schools and attend meetings. Applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a car they can use for work. 

Application details 

To apply: 

Please submit your most recent CV and a document answering the questions below:

• Tell us why you want to work at Voice 21. What is it about us and our mission that excites you? (Max. 400 words)

• Making direct reference to the job description, please tell us the three main reasons why you would make an excellent Programme Lead (Max. 400 words).

• Tell us about something you have achieved recently that you are proud of? (Max 200 words)

Please do not apply for this position if you are not based in this area of the UK

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd April

Interview date: Provisional dates for initial phone interviews week commencing Tuesday 5 May, with second round interviews on Zoom week commencing 11th May.

Questions: If you have any questions before applying for the role, please contact Catherine Pass

Valuing every voice

Voice 21 believes that every voice should be heard and valued. We are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Voice 21.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

The External Relations (ER) Department mobilizes external audiences to raise the requisite funds, influence policies and achieve practice changes to improve outcomes for our clients, while growing and protecting our global brand. The Global Policy & Advocacy team is a dynamic part of the ER Department that leverages the power of IRC’s ideas to solve the biggest challenges facing IRC’s clients across the “arc of crisis” and influence external stakeholders, in particular governments and multi-lateral institutions, to enact these solutions to ultimately make meaningful change for our clients. From addressing the drivers of conflict to meeting the needs of displaced people, the team partners with innovative thinkers, experts and those with lived experience to identify solutions and bring them to life. We take pride in being solutions-oriented and creative. We are precise in our goals, tactics, and messages. We drive change year over year, knowing that system change takes dedicated focus while maintaining the flexibility to respond to emerging needs across the globe. Finally, we are collaborative, constantly seeking new ideas and perspectives from others in our sector and beyond as we work side by side with programs, strategy, communications and research and innovation teams across the IRC.

IRC UK

IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England.
In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm. 

The Purpose of the Role

Scope and Authority 
 

Authority:
As the Program Advocacy and Engagement Director, you serve as a strategic leader shaping IRC’s global influence across crisis response contexts, guiding advocacy efforts that are integral to advancing IRC’s mission. You are responsible for strengthening our advocacy strategies and practice, providing strategic oversight, coordination and strategy building across national, regional and multilateral advocacy efforts. You will work with regionally based teams and collaborate with senior regional and country leaders, technical experts, and global counterparts to optimize IRC’s advocacy reach, advocate for systems change policies and impacts and ensure coherence. This role will be critical to ensure focus, alignment and strategic oversight to maximize IRC’s advocacy impact at a time of stretched resources and expanding humanitarian need.  

This individual will play a critical role in coordinating and identifying the strategic opportunities to cultivate relationships and influence policies at the highest levels across IRC’s advocacy priorities, implementing creative influence strategies, including targeting non-traditional stakeholders on key crisis work. This individual will ensure the global advocacy team is informed by and responsive to trends at national/regional levels, connecting our Advocacy & Influence work to the experiences and needs of our clients and programs, and providing advocacy guidance, skills development and best practice sharing.  

Key Working Relationships

Internal contacts: Regional CRRD Policy, Advocacy and Communication; Global Advocacy & Influence colleagues; Best Use of Resources Advocacy Specialist; Policy & Solutions team; Technical Excellence leads; Crisis, Response, Recovery and Development teams; Country Programs; Communications; Awards Management; President’s Office, External Relations Department 

External contacts: Legislators; government officials; critical decision makers in multilateral institutions; peer NGOs; local/regional advocacy and/or operational organizations

Key Accountabilities

Advocacy Strategy (45%)
•  Advance IRC influence by leading or supporting the design and execution of integrated advocacy strategies, including power maps, for crisis response issues in line with organizational priorities and in partnership with regional, national and technical leaders and global policy, advocacy and communications teams. 
•  Lead efforts to advocate for system change at the country level, engaging with IRC regional advocates, and Spot and capitalize on external opportunities to advance IRC’s influence objectives including with non-traditional partners. 
•  Work with regional advocates to provide expert strategic guidance and support to country programs and emergency response teams in the development of advocacy strategies. 

Policy and Advocacy Prioritization and Contextualization (25%)
•  Contribute to policy generation and prioritization by providing advocacy insights from program regions and country contexts as well as multilateral institutions, collaborating with policy colleagues to increase the credibility and efficacy of our solutions.  
•  Support the identification of policy and advocacy priorities that meet the three criteria of impact, feasibility and added IRC value. 
•  Work closely with regional and national advocates to understand critical legislation and policy impacting clients and IRC’s programmatic teams in countries where we operate. 

Multilateral Strategy (15%)
•  Build strategic relationships and maintain diplomatic engagement with multilateral institutions such as the UN, leveraging IRC’s presence to influence multilateral policy and funding decisions.  

Senior Leadership Engagement (15%)
•  Identify and shape high-impact external engagements for IRC’s senior leaders, including message development, briefings, and event positioning to elevate IRC’s global thought leadership. 

Steward Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 
•  Steward gender equality, diversity and inclusion both in the culture of IRC, as well as in the policy solutions we develop and the ways we wield influence. 

Teamwork (% N/A)
•  Support a positive team culture by acting openly and collaboratively, supporting colleagues in their work and sharing credit with others where appropriate.

Person Specification

Essential

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:
•  Graduate degree or equivalent experience in relevant field such as Public Policy, International Development, Politics, Economics, Law or International Relations **
•  Demonstrable track record of leading advocacy strategies that generated tangible policy change, ideally in more than one context. **
•  Ability to think strategically and creatively, being oriented towards solution development when traditional advocacy means do not suffice and especially in fluid and politically sensitive environments, exercising sound judgment under pressure.**
•  Extensive knowledge of humanitarian aid and refugee issues, particularly around long-term displacement. **
•  Exceptional verbal communication and interpersonal skills: strong presenter, facilitator, public speaker and trainer. Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate successfully with experts, high level decision-makers, and colleagues in the humanitarian and development fields. **
•  Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex material and data into compelling narratives that resonate with decision-makers and mainstream audiences.
•  Ability to work within short timelines to a high degree of accuracy.
•  Initiative and ability to work independently on fast-moving issues, and juggle competing demands.
•  Experience working in a development or humanitarian context is preferred. 
•  Fluency with IRC’s strategy and advocacy agendas is preferred. 

Experience:
•  Demonstrated experience in leading advocacy strategy development and execution with a focus on creativity and strategic thinking.
•  Extensive  experience working on complex humanitarian and/or development issues particularly at the multilateral or systems-change level, in more than one geographic or political context. International NGO or multilateral/intergovernmental body experience preferred. National legislative or executive branch experience is an asset.