Senior Safeguarding Specialist

Senior Safeguarding Specialist

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Role Title: Senior Safeguarding Specialist
Salary: £49,370 to £50,797 
Location: Hybrid: London
Tenure: Permanent Part time, 28 hours

ActionAid UK is a member of the ActionAid Federation, an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty. We work with our partners and dedicated staff in 43 countries to end violence and fight poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want

Are you a keen advocate of women and girls’ rights in emergencies? 

Do you have the expertise to lead safeguarding strategy, strengthen organisational culture, and ensure robust protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment?

Then we'd love to hear from you!

Reporting to the Director of People and Organisational Development, the Senior Safeguarding Specialist will provide expert leadership, advice and operational direction for the continuous development and delivery of ActionAid UK's safeguarding strategy, policies, systems and culture.

This is a pivotal role that will drive safeguarding excellence across the organisation, ensuring strong safeguarding standards, effective compliance, and a culture where safeguarding is understood as everyone's responsibility. The postholder will lead the implementation and ongoing development of safeguarding policies, processes and standards, supporting the protection of staff, rights holders, partners and the communities with whom ActionAid works.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the delivery and ongoing development of ActionAid UK's safeguarding strategy.
• Provide safeguarding expertise and operational leadership across the organisation.
• Ensure compliance with all Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and safeguarding policies, protocols and commitments.
• Drive the integration of safeguarding principles into all areas of ActionAid UK's work, including new funding initiatives and programmes.
• Strengthen safeguarding systems, processes, learning and organisational culture.
• Work closely with senior leaders, trustees and safeguarding stakeholders across the ActionAid Federation to promote best practice and continuous improvement

About You

We are looking for a safeguarding professional who:

• Has significant experience of leading safeguarding initiatives, frameworks and investigations within a complex organisation.
• Possesses strong knowledge of safeguarding, PSEAH and organisational risk management.
• Can influence and engage senior stakeholders with confidence and credibility.
• Demonstrates excellent judgement, analytical ability and decision-making skills.
• Is committed to feminist values, anti-racism, equity and the rights of women and girls.
• Has a passion for creating safe, inclusive and accountable organisational culture

At ActionAid UK, you'll be part of a global movement working to achieve a world free from poverty, injustice and gender inequality. Every day, our staff work alongside women and girls around the world to challenge the systems and structures that perpetuate discrimination and violence.

As our Senior Safeguarding Specialist, you will have the opportunity to shape and influence safeguarding practice across the organisation, ensuring that the safety, dignity and rights of staff, partners, rights holders and communities remain at the heart of everything we do. This is a highly visible role with the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders, trustees and safeguarding colleagues across the ActionAid Federation to strengthen safeguarding culture and drive meaningful change.

In return, we offer a supportive and collaborative working environment, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, and the opportunity to do impactful work that contributes to lasting change for women and girls worldwide.

Additional information

Diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging:

Diversity, inclusion and belonging are key to our organisational culture. We are on a journey to become not only an anti-racist organisation but one that proudly celebrates the diversity of all applicants and employees. We look forward to you bringing your full self to work, proudly sharing your unique perspective and helping us to shape our combined future. We especially welcome applications from those from under-represented/marginalised communities.

AAUK is a Disability Confident Committed organisation and as such any candidate that declares a disability will be shortlisted for interview if they meet the essential criteria for the role.

Referencing and safeguarding:

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, safeguarding, criminal records and terrorism finance checks. By submitting an application the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures. 

ActionAid UK is committed to preventing any form of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse (including child abuse and adult at-risk abuse) and responding robustly when these harms take place. We expect all ActionAid UK staff and ActionAid UK representatives to share this commitment. We will not tolerate our staff or other representatives carrying out any form of sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse towards anyone we come into contact with through our work. 

Working practices:

ActionAid is committed to supporting flexible working. If you would like to discuss flexible working options, including the possibility of a job share for this role, there will be space to do so during the interview process.

ActionAid UK has a hybrid working policy for many of our roles. The requirement will vary from team to team and the responsibilities of individual roles. As a minimum, all colleagues are expected to attend the office 12 days per year, plus additional time for induction, training, and company connection days. Some roles may require in-office attendance on all days and if so, these will clearly be marked as in-office roles.

Please note that ActionAid UK does not offer fully remote working options. We encourage you to discuss hybrid working expectations at interview.

Recruitment processes:

Please note that ActionAid UK may review, shortlist and interview candidates prior to the closing date so we encourage all candidates to apply as soon as possible. If we receive a very high response, we may close the vacancy early and will not accept further submissions. Vacancies close at 23:55pm