Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Lead

This role can be based in our London Head Office. You will be required to attend the office for a minimum of 2 days per week with the option to work remotely for the remaining 3 days. 

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 and the option of being a homeworker for most of our roles too. 

Learn about our vision, mission and values

About the role

The role is part of Christian Aid's humanitarian division leading Christian Aid's humanitarian policy and practice. This involves working with Christian Aid Humanitarian Leads in 5 countries to develop, implement and learn from innovative people-centred locally-led humanitarian programming modalities. It involves helping our regional hubs and local partners to understand and deliver our humanitarian signature programmes, focused mainly on survivor-and-community-led response, locally-led cash, locally-led anticipatory action and mutual aid interventions. It involves seeking to build new innovations onto our existing programming portfolio in the light of internal and external learning to nuance our approaches over time.

It involves working with like-minded peers to influence the humanitarian sector and peer organisations toward more people-centred and locally-led humanitarian action, including by engaging with and in forums like ACT Alliance, ALNAP, BOND, CALP, Charter for Change, DEC, Grand Bargain, IASC, ICVA, Pledge for Change, SCHR, Start Network and VOICE. 

About you

You will have significant knowledge of best practice in humanitarian action; significant experience of managing humanitarian programmes; detailed understanding of and strong commitment to Christian Aid's people-centred humanitarian programming modalities; and a highly developed ability to negotiate, persuade and influence others. You will have over 10 years experience in the humanitarian sector, some of it based in a programme country. You will have a strong understanding of and commitment to the localisation agenda.

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. 

You can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits, please refer to the benefits booklet for your location to see our full list of employee benefits. 

Interviews will be held on 10 & 11 December 2025