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 100 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 SOLUTIONS

DECENTRAISLING & LOCALLY-LED ACTION: Shifting power and resources and decentralising decision-making to locally led networks and organisations.

EARLY & RAPID FINANCING: Building a global financing system that reduces risk, anticipates, and acts ahead of predictable crises.

COMMUNITY-LED INNOVATION: Incentivising innovative, locally led, and contextual solutions and learning from them together with people affected by crises.  

For more information about Start Network and what we do, please visit our website. 

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.

JOB PURPOSE 

Working within the Impact and Change Directorate, the job holder is a strategic leader responsible for leading the thinking and implementation of Start Network’s advocacy and external affairs engagement to transform the humanitarian sector. This is to create a locally-led and proactive humanitarian system that is accountable to people affected by and at risk of crisis, that saves more lives, promotes dignity and protects people from loss and harm. 

Key responsibilities include:  

• Leading the delivery of the institutional advocacy and external affairs strategy to strengthen Start Network’s role as a leader in systems change within the humanitarian sector through locally led action, innovation and anticipatory action.  

• Leading the development and implementation of network-wide, targeted advocacy campaigns around Start Network’s core change areas. This role will work closely with other heads of teams within the Impact and Change Directorate as well as other directorates, the Start Network Senior Leadership Team (SLT), hub leaders and humanitarian directors within Start Network membership. The role will track and monitor the impact of its initiatives to demonstrate impact and systems change. 

• Facilitating partnerships through collaborating with hubs to shift the power to local actors. This is to enable local organisations to advocate for change in the humanitarian system, and for locally led humanitarian action. 

• Leading on Start Network’s external and public affairs engagement, including through key global and regional events, policy forums, parliamentary debates and other key influencing opportunities. This is through continuous engagement with thought leaders, the media, like-minded organisations, donors, networks, platforms and with the advocacy teams of our members. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES 

Strategic Leadership of our Policy, Advocacy, and External Affairs Team  

• Working with the Director of Impact and Change and other heads of teams within the directorate, lead on the scoping, development and implementation of advocacy initiatives as well as the advocacy and external affairs strategy; 

• Provide strategic advice to teams on emerging topics, trends, analysis, and key external discussions to amplify our reach and enhance the impact of our systems change vision; 

• Monitor the impact of Start Network’s advocacy and external reach to examine, adapt and improve our organisation’s external direction. 

Advocacy and Policy Development and Delivery 

• Work with the Director of Impact and Change and with senior staff across Start Network to develop operational coherence and long-term strategic planning for Start Network’s advocacy and external affairs working with colleagues, members and hubs, ensuring the effectiveness of the strategy through evaluation, innovation, and iteration; 

• Provide advisory support to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Start Network staff , members and other stakeholders on external and public affairs engagement at national, regional and global levels, to maximise Start Network’s visibility and influence; 

• Produce impactful messaging, briefing papers and articles for a range of audiences and platforms, working closely with other teams, members, allies and hubs; 

• Work closely with the heads of teams in the Impact and Change Directorate to ensure that our advocacy is evidence-led, innovative and impactful.  

• Work closely with Advocacy leads or their teams within the Start Network membership to initiate, drive and ensure alignment on key messages and campaigns. 

• Develop ways of working with hubs and members to enable them to strengthen their advocacy; 

• Create and agree a process to work across the membership to identify other potential issues for advocacy as they arise; 

• Create advocacy opportunities for Start Network and position our key asks at national, regional and global levels; 

External Affairs and Representation 

• Identify, represent and prioritise key external engagement  for  Start Network at regional and global levels, and support local and national engagements as needed; 

• Support the Start Network CEO and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to build senior-level relationships with decision-makers and influencers; 

• Work closely with the Resource Mobilisation team to coordinate advocacy and fundraising initiatives; 

• Lead and coordinate briefings, talking points and presentations to amplify our key messages and maximise sectorial buy-in; 

Partnership Development 

• Map, identify and prioritise allies and collaborators within and beyond Start Network’s membership, at different levels in the aid sector; 

• Collaborate with hubs and networks of civil society organisations in the Global South to enable those best placed to advocate to be heard directly in local national, regional and global debates; 

• Build and manage relationships with policy teams within governments and other donors, working collaboratively with the fundraising team to position our work with donor policies; and 

Internal Collaboration and Management 

• Contribute to the organisational strategy and vision as part of the senior management team of the Impact and Change directorate; 

• Manage and inspire a highly effective and accountable team providing leadership to the Policy and Advocacy Advisor and External Engagement and Advocacy Advisor to ensure a coordinated approach to advocacy, having an active role in building an inclusive team culture in line with our values; 

• Develop and manage the Policy, Advocacy and External Affairs budget; 

• Build relationships across the wider Start Network team, engaging directly with their work to understand key issues and emerging opportunities for advocacy; and 

Start Network Culture 

• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children; 

• A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach; 

The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture. 

PERSON PROFILE 

Essential Skills and Experience 

• Proven experience in a similar senior-level role, including on a senior management team or equivalent; 

• Proven experience in leading policy, advocacy in an inclusive and effective manner, as well as  external affairs engagement and relationship building; 

• Significant and demonstrable experience working in the humanitarian sector; 

• Excellent verbal and written communications; 

• Excellent networking and relationships management skills; including gaining buy-in from key stakeholders at different levels; 

• Demonstrable experience in engaging in policy fora and working groups; 

• Experience of successfully building, coaching, and motivating high performing, remote, diverse and inclusive teams; 

• Deep understanding of strategic organisational positioning and reputation management; 

• Sound leadership, strategic thinking, management and planning skills; 

• Competence and ability to research, analyse and to summarise complex technical issues to different audiences; 

• Able to work in complex environments; 

• Ability to manage external providers in delivering to agreed objectives; 

• Demonstrated ability to build, manage and reconcile budgets; and 

• Excellent prioritisation and time-management skills and an ability to work under pressure and to deadlines. 

  Desirable Skills and Experience 

• Educated to Masters degree level or equivalent; 

• Professional qualification in public and/or international affairs,  diplomacy, advocacy, marketing, PR or communications; 

• Well connected within international policy, advocacy and media circles; 

• Production and editing of audio-visual multimedia; 

• Professional language competency in Spanish or French. 

  Key Competences 

• Influence stakeholders to address difficult or complex issues by listening to diverse perspectives; 

• Engage confidently with senior leaders and policy makers across governments, aid organisations and private companies; 

• Flex communication style to convey complex information concisely to different audiences, avoiding jargon and using simple language; 

• Generate and support implementation of ideas that have impact at organisational, network and/or humanitarian systems-level by promoting these ideas to relevant internal and external stakeholders; 

• Set strategic direction and provides clarity of vision, purpose and culture, enabling space for the team, members, Hubs and other stakeholders to shape the journey; 

• Provide leadership by inspiring and unlocking motivation in others across the network to lead and hold them accountable for the results; 

• Create and promote a learning culture, authentically sharing own learning and supporting others to do the same at organisational, team and network level 

• Manage ambiguity by weighing up risks and uncertainties with opportunities in pursuit of our vision based on the evidence available 

• Inspire and motivate others by creating passion around our vision and focus, connecting with humility and empathy, and showing openness and resilience;