Advocacy and Policy Coordinator

Salary: £27,788 - £28,519
Location: London, United Kingdom
Team: Policy, Advocacy and External Affairs (PAEA)
Line Manager: Head of Advocacy and External Affairs
Line Reports: 0
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract : 6 months fixed-term contract with possibility of extension
Grade: 5
Safeguarding: Basic
Deadline9 October 2026

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you passionate about creating change in the humanitarian sector?

Are you looking to join a collaborative team working to influence policy, practice and decision-making across the humanitarian sector? As an Advocacy and Policy Coordinator, you’ll play an important role in supporting evidence-led advocacy, strategic campaigns and policy priorities that aim to create meaningful change.

Working within the Policy, Advocacy and External Affairs team, you’ll contribute to research and analysis, stakeholder engagement and campaign coordination, while helping the team identify new opportunities to increase its impact. This is an exciting entry-level opportunity for someone who is curious, proactive and passionate about making a difference.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about humanitarian issues and creating positive change.
• Has strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Is highly organised, proactive and able to manage competing priorities.
• Builds positive, trust-based relationships with colleagues, members and external partners.
• Is creative, collaborative and open to new ideas, technology and ways of working.
• Has experience in the humanitarian, development, human rights or a related sector.
• Pays close attention to detail while taking initiative and finding solutions.

WHAT IS START NETWORK?

Our purpose is to be a catalyst for system-level change that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian action. We do this by working as a network to develop, test & spread new ways of collaborating and resourcing locally-led crisis response and anticipation.

Our current membership is made up of nearly 130 local, national and international NGOs based all around the world. We also support 10 national and regional hubs made up of civil society organisations and NGOs as our vehicle for devolving power, resources and accountability.

OUR VALUES

WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST: Communities come first in our decision-making and programming.

WE ARE BRAVE: We have great ambition and are willing to explore new things and take risks to achieve it

WE OPERATE COLLECTIVELY: We leverage the value of working as a network, sharing risk and resources, and learning together.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE: We see the value in diverse perspectives and work to remove the barriers that prevent voices from being heard.

WE ARE OPEN: We work transparently and with integrity, building mutual trust in all levels of our work, from governance to programming.

WE ARE ETHICAL: We behave and operate based on key principles of anti-racism, non-discrimination, and anti-colonialism. This is a work in progress.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

• Being a part of a network involved in bringing change to the humanitarian sector.
• Hybrid working with options to work from home and remotely to support your work/life balance
• Employee Assistance Programme through Smart Health (depends on the country based)
• Family friendly policies, e.g., flexible working, maternity policy, parental leave and more!
• 25 days’ holiday (if UK based) plus company days over the End of Year period for all staff (depends on the country based)

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

Our roles are open to discussion about flexible working. For part-time working and job-shares, please get in touch with us before putting in an application.

Start Network is committed to protecting people, particularly children, at-risk adults and affected populations from any harm. We are also committed to safeguarding staff from any forms of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power as outlined in the Dignity at Work policy. Start Network embraces diversity, promotes equality of opportunity and eliminates unlawful discrimination. We are an equal opportunities employer and treat every application on merit alone. We particularly encourage applications from disabled, BAME, LGBTQ+ and non-binary candidates. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet our essential selection criteria set out in the Person Profile.