Head Of Development Jobs

SPANA - The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad is the global charity for working animals in low-income countries. Since 1923, we have supported the welfare of working animals, including donkeys, horses, camels and elephants, in communities that depend on working animals for water, transport, agriculture and their very survival. Today, we support working animals across 26 countries, through a series of global projects and partnerships.

This role will be a part of the Global Programmes team, working alongside colleagues responsible for Education & Social Behaviour Change Communication, and Programme Quality and Delivery. The succesful candidate will liaise with colleagues in the Global Resources, Global Fundraising, Marketing, and Communication departments, and in support of our colleagues across the majority world. The role will report to the Director of Global Programmes, and directly oversee three Technical Animal Health & Welfare Advisors.

You will be responsible for delivering SPANA’s technical animal health and welfare work, relatedly, against the 2023-2027 SPANA strategy and its key performance indicators. Your work will be supported by a nascent external animal health and welfare advisory panel, as well as that of your direct reports. You will be responsible for representing the organisation in relevant fora, amongst other responsibilities as required.

While we classify this role as hybrid, it's worth noting that the vast majority of your work can be done from the comfort of your own home. Occasional in-person visits to our London office (located in Borough High Street), and all-staff gatherings will be necessary. Our full time hours are 34.5 hours per week and we offer core working hours between 10am and 4pm.

Key responsibilities 

Strategy 

• You will have responsibility for developing and delivering the organisation's technical animal health and welfare strategy, plans and policies, with a primary focus on best practice and quality;
• You will lead the development of a global technical audit tool to ensure best practice is consistent across all partners & programmes supported by SPANA.

Leadership

• Promote the development of your immediate team, and the technical capacity and development of animal health workers across the SPANA network. Provide mentoring and targeted training and support succession planning and growth.
• Develop a high-performing team culture within the Animal Health & Welfare Team that demonstrates organisational values.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with all colleagues and SPANA partners.

One Health

• Lead on the development of SPANA’s One Health quality framework and support the Global Programmes Team in ensuring effective delivery.
• Provide technical input in veterinary health and education based on robust data and researched evidence.
• Develop a strategy focused on improving animal health systems specific to working animals.
• Lead on the development and delivery of all aspects of the technical provision of SPANA’s animal health and welfare.
• Monitoring epidemiological trends of working animal health and welfare data to 1) advise on and support appropriate health responses and strategies; 2) inform animal health surveillance goals
• Ensure technical support and advice is effectively managed and consistent with SPANA’s standards.
• Work with the Global Programmes Team in developing robust technical indicators to ensure evidence drives decision making
• Design and oversee research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, innovation and programme development;
• Ensure the provision of subject matter expertise, translational evidence and advice in support of policy development in the fields of animal welfare, and in parallel working closely with the Head of Education & SBCC on education materials. This will include the provision of or contribution to briefings, submissions and official and organisational reports

Advocacy, Policy and Representation

• Collaborating with coalitions, external working groups and stakeholders, advising on and coordinating SPANA’s contribution to these groups, chairing where relevant and reporting back to relevant teams in SPANA.
• Collaborate across teams to ensure technical input is included in all external advocacy work as and where needed;
• At a global level, build effective relationships with key stakeholders in the animal welfare sectors, such as WOAH, AUiBAR, and FAO etc;
• Represent our work to supporters, influencers, key stakeholders and partners.

About You

Training and Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified Veterinarian MRCVS a minimum of 12 years of veterinary experience.
• Clinical experience in mixed or large animal practice.

Desirable

• Further qualifications in the areas of animal welfare, herd health, surveillance, preventive medicine, epidemiology or One Health is highly desirable
• Further qualifications or proven experience in project management and/or leadership.

Experience

• Experience of working or living in low-income countries
• Experience working in the animal welfare, humanitarian and/or development NGO sector.
• Experience of developing, monitoring and/or auditing technical standards in veterinary medicine is highly desirable.
• Experience of working with governmental, animal health or agricultural organisations is desirable
• Experience of communicating and working with international stakeholder groups collaboratively.
• Experience with participatory or community-led interventions for animal or public health.
• Strong interest in One Health concepts and community-level interventions.
• Good understanding of the role and socioeconomic importance of working animals in low-income communities.

Skills and Attributes

• Ability to think holistically and apply technical knowledge within a One Health framework
• Strong knowledge and motivation for animal welfare.
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills as well as strong cultural sensitivity.
• High level of fluency in English (written and spoken). Basic level of French, Arabic or Spanish is highly desirable.
• Ability and willingness to travel to overseas projects independently as well as to SPANA’s head office in the UK as required.

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays. Further leave will accrue after two years of service up to a maximum of 30 days
• Company pension scheme (SPANA will contribute 10% of salary, if you contribute 5% of salary)
• Hybrid working with London Head Office (Borough High Street) attendance approx. 1 day a month (travel expenses not included)
• Health Cash Plan with Medicash which includes access to virtual GP appointments and a members discount portal
• Group Life Insurance scheme, which provides coverage at 3x your annual salary
• Group Income Protection scheme, designed to provide income if illness or injury prevents you from working for a period of time
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme including face-to-face counselling
• Paid Volunteer Day

Due to a high volume of applications, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding the status of their application. If you are selected for an interview, we will reach out to you directly. 

To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Brooke’s work across Africa, Asia and Latin America transforms the lives of animals and people in the communities we serve. With an exciting global strategy and ambitious plans for growth, we are looking for a highly change orientated business focused HR Manager.

Join the passionate People and Culture team at Brooke, offering high level HR support to our Programmes directorate by guiding them through re-structures and overall organisational change. Collaborating closely with Heads of Department, you'll foster a culture of continual improvement and collective change leadership. Conducting organisational change workshops, you'll empower staff with the understanding and skills needed to navigate change effectively, while partnering with the Internal Communications Manager to ensure seamless communication throughout.

Your responsibilities will also include offering expert day-to-day advice and guidance to Directors, Heads of Department, Managers, and staff on People & Culture matters. This entails providing policy advice, implementing best practices, and offering HR support across various aspects.

We are seeking a CIPD qualified candidate with substantial experience in business-focused or income-generating environments. As a change leader, you'll excel in embracing and facilitating change, instilling a mindset of continual improvement, and coaching managers through performance management processes. Your exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, coupled with your in-depth knowledge of current UK employment legislation, will be invaluable in driving forward our organisational goals.

If this sounds like you join us today and be a part of something truly meaningful!

At Brooke, we celebrate diversity and the creative new ideas it brings. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds, in particular global majority candidates, candidates from a social mobility background, disabled and neuro-diverse candidates, and candidates under 25 as these groups are currently under-represented at Brooke.

We are aware that studies have shown that women and global majority candidates are less likely to apply for a role if they feel they do not meet the full criteria of the job description. If you feel you meet the majority of the criteria, we would love to hear from you.

We offer a variety of flexible working options to best support our staff and to ensure our working practices are as inclusive as possible.