Humanitarian advocacy advisor jobs
Government & Parliamentary Lead
Permanent. Full Time. Hybrid Working (2 days per week in the office)
Location: London
Salary: £57,977 per annum
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 UK Influencing Lead, the Government & Parliamentary Lead supports the management of Christian Aid’s government influencing and UK specific public policy development and delivery in line with policy, advocacy and campaigns strategies that maximises impact.
The post-holder will lead on the government and parliamentary aspects of the UK influencing strategy, and will ensure Christian Aid is engaged and develops and delivers excellent briefings on critical and current development issues in the UK.
The role will line manage the Parliamentary and Influencing Advisor, and matrix manage the Crisis Policy and Influencing Advisor.
Some of the main responsibilities of the Government & Parliamentary Lead includes:
- Cultivates and maintains influential relationships with influencers across Westminster, Whitehall, the Church, the private sector and the wider civil society sector, to maintain the organisation’s political and wider advocacy profile in the UK, to enable high-impact initiatives to maximise our impact.
- Leads the development and delivery of UK public policy, in collaboration with relevant policy leads, to deliver high quality internal and external briefing papers and analysis.
- Collaborate with others and communicate political influencing strategies and tactics, to ensure that our influencing work has political traction to maximise impact.
- Collaborates with the Faith influencing and Civil Society Lead and Campaigns Lead to ensure our overarching engagement and campaigns strategies have political impact and influence change in the UK, as well as with wider audiences such as the INGO sector, the private sector and the Church ensuring alignment with organisational values and goals.
- Jointly with the Faith influencing and Civil Society Lead Civil Society Lead supervises and allocates work to Influencing and Engagement Advisor
About you
Who we are looking for:
Essential:
- Degree level qualification in a relevant field.
- Substantial experience of working in public affairs, policy and or advocacy.
- Substantial experience of working in an NGO, public policy, government or the private sector.
- Substantial experience of working with stakeholders including, government, or the private sector.
- Significant experience in effective lobbying of decision making, including at highest levels of government.
- Detailed understanding of UK’s foreign policies and impact on international spaces.
- Detailed understanding of the development sector and a strong working knowledge of the policy areas that Christian Aid has
prioritised. - Understanding of civic space and faith networks, their policy positions and dynamic.
- Significant experience of high-quality political relationship management.
- Significant experience of public speaking.
- Highly developed skills in strategic planning, people management and project management.
- Detailed understanding of Westminster and Whitehall, and how to influence policy making and decision making in government
and parliament. - Developed ability to understand, analyse and interpret complex policy and advocacy policies and strategies.
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.
Registered Charity 
501 - 1000
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
We want a world where no one dies from hunger. Life-threatening hunger is predictable, preventable and treatable. Join Action Against Hunger and together we will stop it in its tracks.
Action Against Hunger is an optimistic, inspiring place to work. We want passionate and dedicated people to help build a better world. We’re a creative team made up of people with a wide range of talents, styles and expertise. But we are united in our relentless dedication to end world hunger. No challenge is too big. With you we can do it. Join us.
We are looking for a dedicated Advocacy Campaigns Manager to join Action Against Hunger UK's Advocacy Department. This is a great time to join our team as we broaden the reach of our public advocacy campaigns to a wider audience. This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead on developing and delivering our advocacy campaigns strategy and supporting with policy and parliamentary work. Our advocacy and campaigns focus on tackling the key drivers of hunger – conflict, climate change, poverty and inequality – and promoting improved response.
On the campaigns front, this role means spending around three days a week on designing and delivering creative and engaging online campaign actions in collaboration with skilled colleagues across teams, organizing campaign events and building the engagement of chef and food industry supporters in our advocacy. This also requires having a good understanding of the political landscape and opportunities and distilling policy asks into engaging public campaign messaging.
You will also get to spend around two days a week supporting with policy work, such as drafting position papers or letters and working closely with our Head of Advocacy and Parliamentary Relations Manager on MP engagement. The role is an opportunity to build a diverse range of skills, experience, and expertise on a range of policy themes. For more detailed information on the role and to see whether you have the necessary experience - please download the attached pdf Job description.
Closing Date: 21-Jan-2026 23:30
Planned date to begin interviews: 04-Feb-2026
Please read the following carefully before making your application: then all you need to do is send your CV and write a supporting statement explaining why you want the job and how your skills and experience make you the right person for the role and where you saw this vacancy.
- For further information on pay and employee benefits please visit our careers page on our website.
- As a UK based position, candidates must have the right to work in the UK
- We welcome applications from all sections of the community and we encourage as broad a range of candidates as possible. If you need any additional support to help you through this process, please let us know (contact details in the job pack)
- Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will only contact shortlisted candidates, within two weeks of the closing date Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual feedback
- If you experience any technical difficulties in submitting your application, please contact the charityjob helpdesk
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About MSF UK
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides life-saving medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF UK exists to maximise the support we provide to this work — by raising funds, advocating for patients, and ensuring our organisation is strong, effective and accountable.
MSF UK has grown significantly over the past 5 years, almost doubling our income to just under £100m. MSF UK is entering an ambitious new strategic period to 2031, with a clear goal: to significantly grow our income and maximise the financial contribution we make to MSF’s medical humanitarian operations. Finance has a critical role to play in achieving this.
The Role
This is a newly created senior leadership role and a rare opportunity to shape how financial insight drives humanitarian impact.
As Head of Financial Planning & Analysis, you will build and lead MSF UK’s FP&A function, ensuring that resources are used wisely, investment decisions are evidence-based, and financial insight empowers colleagues to make the best possible decisions for our patients.
You will work at the heart of the organisation — partnering with senior leaders, fundraising teams and budget holders — to translate strategy into robust financial plans and ensure every pound raised delivers maximum impact.
What You’ll Do
You will lead MSF UK’s FP&A function to support better decisions, stronger financial sustainability and greater humanitarian impact. This includes:
- Driving strategic insight: providing clear financial analysis, modelling and advice to inform investment decisions, income growth and value for money.
- Leading planning and forecasting: owning MSF UK’s budgeting, reforecasting and multi-year financial planning processes.
- Strengthening financial reporting: ensuring timely, accurate and meaningful management accounts, KPIs and commentary for senior leaders and trustees.
- Partnering with the organisation: acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, managers and budget holders, strengthening financial literacy and accountability.
- Identifying efficiencies: working collaboratively to uncover opportunities for cost savings and improved use of resources.
- Building capability: line managing and developing the Finance Business Partner and continuously improving FP&A processes, tools and ways of working.
About You
You are a fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with significant experience in FP&A and a strong track record of using financial insight to influence decisions at senior level.
You combine technical excellence with empathy and purpose. You are comfortable working in complexity, skilled at explaining finance to non-financial colleagues, and motivated by using your expertise to support a mission that truly matters.
Why Join MSF UK?
You’ll join a values-driven organisation where finance is seen not just as a control function, but as a strategic enabler of humanitarian impact. You’ll be trusted to shape a function, influence decisions, and help ensure MSF reaches more patients, more effectively.
If you are motivated by MSF’s mission, thrive in collaborative environments, and want your financial leadership to make a tangible difference in the world, we would love to hear from you.
Recruitment timetable
Application deadline: Sunday 25th January
Shortlisting: week of 26th January
First stage interviews: week of 2nd February
Second stage interviews: week of 9th February
How to apply:
Please send your CV and letter of motivation to via the link by Sunday 25th January. For an informal conversation about the role, please contact our exclusive partner, Bryony Thomas via the Allen Lane agency website.
MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About MSF UK
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides life-saving medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF UK exists to maximise the support we provide to this work — by raising funds, advocating for patients, and ensuring our organisation is strong, accountable and sustainable.
MSF UK has grown significantly over the past 5 years, almost doubling our income to just under £100m. As MSF UK enters a new strategic period to 2031, with ambitious plans to grow income further and increase our impact for patients, the strength, resilience and integrity of our financial foundations have never been more important.
The Role
The Financial Controller plays a critical role in safeguarding MSF UK’s resources so they can be used where they are needed most.
You will lead the financial accounting function, ensuring MSF UK’s finances are accurate, compliant and well-controlled, while also driving continuous improvement in systems and processes. Building on strong existing foundations, you will help modernise and streamline financial operations so they remain fit for a growing and increasingly complex organisation.
Working closely with the Director of Finance & Services, the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis and colleagues across MSF UK and the wider MSF movement, you will ensure that financial stewardship actively supports humanitarian impact.
What You’ll Do
You will lead MSF UK’s financial accounting function, balancing rigour, efficiency and service. This includes:
- Ensuring strong financial stewardship: leading statutory accounts, audit, tax compliance and regulatory reporting, including to MSF International.
- Maintaining robust controls: safeguarding MSF UK’s assets through effective internal controls, risk management and reserves oversight.
- Overseeing core financial operations: ensuring accurate, timely processing of transactions, payments and financial records.
- Managing funds and grants: overseeing restricted and unrestricted funds and MSF grant flows, ensuring donor and organisational requirements are met.
- Leading systems and process improvement: driving automation, system enhancements and improvement projects to improve efficiency and user experience.
- Leading and developing the team: managing and supporting a high-performing financial accounting team and fostering a collaborative, improvement-focused culture.
- Trusted technical advisor: providing clear assurance and expert accounting and tax advice to senior leaders, trustees and colleagues.
About You
You are a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with significant experience leading a financial accounting function in a complex organisation. You bring strong technical expertise, sound judgement and a commitment to integrity and transparency.
You are:
- Confident leading statutory reporting, audit and tax compliance.
- Experienced in improving systems and processes, including through technology and automation.
- A collaborative leader who values developing people and building strong relationships.
- Motivated by purpose, with a desire to use your skills to support a mission that matters.
Experience in the charity sector, managing complex VAT environments or working within international organisations is desirable.
Why Join MSF UK?
You’ll join a values-driven organisation where strong financial control is seen as fundamental to humanitarian impact. You’ll be trusted to lead, improve and innovate — ensuring MSF UK remains accountable, resilient and able to respond to the needs of patients around the world.
If you are motivated by MSF’s mission and want your financial leadership to make a meaningful difference, we would love to hear from you.
Recruitment timetable
Application deadline: Sunday 25th January
Shortlisting:week of 26th January
First stage interviews: week of 2nd February
Second stage interviews: week of 9th February
How to apply:
Please send your CV and letter of motivation via the link by Sunday 25th January. For an informal conversation about the role, please contact our exclusive partner, Bryony Thomas via the Allen Lane agency website.
MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community.
Thank you!
This is an exciting opportunity to steer Asylum Aid at an important time in its 30-year existence. As Executive Director you will be responsible for delivering on our strategy for impact. You will oversee our work to increase access to expert, trauma-informed legal representation to those in the asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems and lead our policy and strategic legal work to achieve systemic change that contributes towards our vision.
You will line manage the Director of Legal Casework to oversee the provision of supportive and enabling leadership to Asylum Aid caseworkers so that they can continue to deliver high quality expert advice in complex cases, while being supported in their professional development and wellbeing. You will also manage and develop the work of our welfare advice team within the Westminster Advice Services Partnership and beyond, and work collaboratively with colleagues in the sector to build capacity and increase our impact.
The ideal candidate, who may be legally qualified, will have experience of leadership in the charity/NGO sector and a sound understanding of the asylum, human rights and trafficking processes in the UK and the legal frameworks which govern the protection of refugees, survivors of trafficking and stateless people, and of the role of law in achieving system change.
We are looking for someone who is strategically minded and passionate about providing supportive and inclusive leadership to our expert team. You will be committed to our objectives and to the role which expert legal representation plays in enabling people in need of protection in the UK to obtain it.
As is the nature of this sector, the role may be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst they will be supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and surrounding team, the candidate should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment and dissemination of those principles to junior members of the team.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and strategy
·Be responsible, with the support of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO, for the development, implementation and monitoring of Asylum Aid’s organisational strategy
·Provide leadership and strategic direction at Asylum Aid in accordance with its aims and objectives, with the support of the Director of Legal Casework
·Act as external spokesperson for Asylum Aid, maintaining and strengthening Asylum Aid’s position as a leader in the refugee rights, statelessness and legal aid sectors;
·Work collaboratively with others in the sector to promote and strengthen Asylum Aid’s work, identify and establish potential partnerships, with the support of the Director of Legal Casework;
·Work collaboratively with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and Executive Leadership team to drive the implementation of the Group strategic framework;
·Ensure that all reporting and monitoring requirements are met to support fundraising, contract compliance and monitoring strategic impact;
·Support the cross collaboration of the Asylum Aid team with the Helen Bamber Foundation team and play an active part in the management of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group.
Governance
·Act as the Data Protection Supervisor with responsibility for data protection and cyber security within Asylum Aid
·Together with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and designated safeguarding leads, be responsible for child and adult safeguarding within Asylum Aid
·In collaboration with the Director of Legal Casework, ensure compliance by Asylum Aid with all legal and regulatory obligations, including the Legal Aid Agency contract, the Immigration Advice Authority and Solicitors Regulation Authority;
·Lead on the preparation and presentation of quarterly reports on Asylum Aid’s activities, strategy and risks to the Asylum Aid Board, the Finance and Fundraising Committee and the People and Governance Committee;
·Lead on the preparation of the Trustees’ annual report and ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are adequate to enable reporting on Asylum Aid’s activities and impact.
Management and Supervision
·Responsible for line management of the Director of Legal Casework and Welfare Advice service coordinator, and other team supervisors as required;
·Together with the Group Director of People, responsible for Human Resources and implementation of the People Strategy within Asylum Aid, including development and implementation of HR policies and procedures;
·Together with the Director of Legal Casework and team supervisors, drive the effective management and supervision of the Asylum Aid team and ensure that they comply with relevant professional standards and accreditation;
·Foster a supportive and inclusive team culture at Asylum Aid in which each member feels valued and supported to develop professionally and to perform to the best of their ability;
·Ensure the team’s well-being and that self-care practices are established and work in tandem with the Director of Legal Casework and supervisors to ensure trauma-informed ways of working.
Policy & Strategic Legal Work
·Together with the Group Director of Policy, identify policy priorities and coordinate the preparation of evidence and briefings drawing on Asylum Aid’s experience and expertise to influence system change;
·Build and maintain relationships and partnerships with sector colleagues to support joint strategic engagement including policy advocacy and strategic legal work;
·Work closely with the Director of Legal Casework and team supervisors to drive changes in the UK asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems through strategic legal work.
Finance & Fundraising
·Work closely with the CEO and the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Finance Team to set and manage budget(s) and general financial matters for Asylum Aid
·Together with the Director of Legal Casework and the Group Finance Team, establish systems for monitoring legal aid Work In Progress and billing, and securing casework income including legal aid, and inter partes income from judicial review cases;
·Work closely with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Fundraising and Communications Team to secure funding for Asylum Aid from a range of sources including trusts and foundations, corporate philanthropy and major donors;
·Ensure that Legal Aid and other income is maximised, and targets are achieved.
Other duties
·Manage the recruitment and supervision of volunteers where necessary in collaboration with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Volunteers Coordinator;
·Support the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Facilities team to ensure the smooth running of the office and that the facilities meet the needs of Asylum Aid;
·Work outside normal office hours as required and travel in order to carry out the responsibilities of the post.
·To undertake any task that may be requested from time to time that may be consistent with the nature and scope of this post.
Essential Experience, Skills and Knowledge
•Experience of running a small to medium sized charity/legal NGO and/or legal department within the NGO sector (or other equivalent senior management role);
•Demonstrable experience of managing and leading a successful team and the ability to manage a growing team with mixed roles from team supervisors to administrative support staff, working co-operatively with colleagues to maintain transparency and effective working relationships within the team;
•Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds
•Strong understanding of good governance including legal, regulatory and financial responsibilities;
•Ability to work with a range of stakeholders from trustees to external partners;
•Experience of leading and/or participating in organisational strategic planning;
·Experience of legal policy work within the human rights field and /or of strategic litigation, whether as an NGO claimant or legal representative;
•Experience of managing diverse funding sources and setting and implementing budgets;
•Experience of working in a service delivery partnership with other organisations;
•Experience of fundraising, especially grants from trusts and foundations;
•Sound working knowledge of the law and policy as it relates to immigration, asylum, human rights and modern slavery/trafficking;
•Demonstrable understanding of the asylum and human rights sector in the UK;
•An understanding of the barriers migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers face regarding access to legal advice, reasons why they may become destitute and why this makes it more difficult to access advice and support; and
•The passion for working empathetically and supportively with migrants, refugees, stateless people and asylum seekers.
Desirable Experience
·Experience of managing the delivery of frontline casework with people in the asylum or trafficking systems
·Experience of tendering for and delivering publicly funded contracts e.g. LAA or local authority funding;
·Working knowledge of Legal Aid Agency contracts, including the delivery of casework and billing under a legal aid contract in the immigration and asylum category and/or the public law category;
How to apply
The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 10am on Monday 26th January 2026.
The website form will ask you to:
1.Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.
2.Upload your current CV
3.Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional, and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.
For an informal conversation about the post before applying, please contact Alison Pickup, the current Executive Director.
Selection Process
We will invite candidates to an initial online interview on Tuesday 10th or Wednesday 11th February, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interviews at our office in Old Street on Tuesday 24th or Wednesday 25th February.
We offer a guaranteed initial interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they provide some evidence of relevant experience or skills in relation to the essential criteria.
We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.
Eligibility
Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).
Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.
Adjustments
We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.
We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.
We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from a range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma and of the housing and welfare system, who are under-represented in our organisation.
We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the advice sector. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK.
We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.
Please complete the form on their website to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.
