Humanitarian Policy & Advocacy Lead (Maternity Cover)

Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Lead (Maternity Cover)

12-month Fixed Term Contract (commencing July/August 2026)

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

Location: London

Salary: £66,218 per annum (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.

Learn about our vision, mission and values

About the role

Reporting in to the Head of Humanitarian, the Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Lead is senior position that will lead Christian Aid’s humanitarian programme policy and advocacy work, aligning with organisational values and goals to maximise impact.

The post-holder will be responsible for shaping, leading and promoting our humanitarian policy and advocacy, and will represent Christian Aid at the global level in raising the organisation’s visibility and influencing humanitarian policy and practice.

The role will be Christian Aid’s representative at the humanitarian leadership level within the DEC and will work with the Head of Humanitarian in engagement with the ACT Alliance, and will enable our Multi-Country Cluster (MCC) leadership team to develop and deliver humanitarian programming that brings about positive change in humanitarian action and practice.

Some of the main areas of responsibility for the Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Lead include:

• Lead on the development of Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy and ensure it is aligned with the overall Policy and Influencing strategy and connected across the Impact Department and wider organisation.
• Develop and implement best practice in humanitarian response across MCCs, providing sector experience to support teams and ensure an enabling culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Identify and source technical support for MCCs and partners where needed in our humanitarian signature priority programme areas, making the best use of limited resources.
• Act as a key influencer in sector policy and practice with regards to level of support to locally led responses amplifying impact.
• Drive an increased visibility of Christian Aid and the work of partners across regional and global platforms, looking for opportunities to share learning and amplify impact.
• Foster and build on our strong and dynamic relationship with the DEC, evidence of high performance across DEC appeals.
• Lead engagement with international humanitarian policy forums and stakeholders to drive meaningful change and improvements in the humanitarian eco system with reference to humanitarian advocacy priorities around localisation, accountability to affected populations, disaster resilience, anticipatory action, survivor-led response and cash-based responses to emergencies.
• Ensure learning and feedback is captured and promoted to enable a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Foster a culture of innovation where Christian Aid is on the front foot in developing and piloting new people-centred humanitarian approaches that build on existing progressive ways of working.
• Deputises for the Head of Humanitarian in their absence.

This opportunity is a Fixed Term contract for maternity leave cover commencing in July or August 2026. 

About you

Who we are looking for:

Essential:

• Post graduate or equivalent qualification in an emergency or development related subject.
• Significant knowledge of humanitarian issues and best practice in humanitarian action.
• Significant experience of leadership in a humanitarian context.
• Experience of leadership across a diverse range of humanitarian contexts.
• Significant experience of influencing policy and decision-makers globally, at UK level and in countries affected by crisis.
• Highly developed ability to build good contacts with senior officials and with organisations in the sector, including church-based organisations.
• Highly developed communication skills and experience of working with news media.
• Detailed understanding of humanitarian best practice and international standards including SPHERE and CHS.
• Understand of and commitment to Christian Aid’s people-centred humanitarian programming approaches including sclr, assess and assist, and anticipatory action.
• Highly developed ability to equip and encourage staff to take responsibility and promote empowered working within a complex organisation.
• Significant experience of managing performance to a high level.
• Highly developed ability to contribute to and work successfully as part of leadership and cross-organisational teams.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including preparation of assessment reports, project proposals including budgets and report writing.
• Highly developed ability to negotiate, influence and persuade others.

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.