• Duration: Fixed term – 6 months

• Salary: Circa £48,000 per annum (pro rata)

• Job Level: 3

• Hours: 35 hours per week. Other flexible arrangements will be considered.

• Disclosure Level: Basic. This role involves no direct or indirect work with children.

• Team: International Policy and Advocacy

• Reports to: Head of International Policy and Advocacy

• Location: Working from home and at 1 Westfield Avenue, London E20 1HZ

  At the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), we pull together to achieve the best possible results for children in danger around the world.  We believe in an inclusive workplace and in the power of fulfilled colleagues who share the same values and goals, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children. 

  Our work is guided by the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which recognise the universality of children’s rights.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Advocacy department sits in the organisation’s Advocacy, Programmes and Safeguarding Directorate and is made up of four teams; International Policy and Advocacy; UK Policy and Advocacy; Political Affairs; and Campaigns and Mobilisation. The Advocacy department exists to champion children’s rights and influence those with power to create change for children, around the world and in the UK. We present decision-makers with a compelling case for change based on evidence and UNICEF’s work around the world, and through exceptional public affairs and public campaigning. We work closely with colleagues in the communications division to mobilise our high-profile supporters and the organisation’s voice in the media to increase the reach and impact of our advocacy work. We champion and amplify the voices and participation of young people and work to ensure the full incorporation of the UN Convention of the Right of the Child (UNCRC) in all UK nations.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Senior Policy and Advocacy Adviser sits within the International Policy and Advocacy team. They will be the organisation’s lead policy expert on international development policy and development finance (including Overseas Development Assistance, 0.7% and Climate Finance). They will develop compelling policy analysis and set the strategic direction for our advocacy on these areas. They will collaborate with colleagues from across the Advocacy department and wider organisation to deliver compelling and impactful advocacy targeted towards the UK Government.

What we will expect you to achieve:

• Lead the development of compelling policy asks to influence the UK Government. Write and edit a range of external policy publications and briefings, in addition to drafting and providing senior staff with clear briefings to undertake high level influencing.

• Develop and deliver an impactful influencing strategy, with clear objectives and outcomes, for UNICEF UK’s policy and advocacy work on international development policy, development finance and international affairs.

• Maximise support for UNICEF UK’s advocacy demands among senior members of the policy community, civil servants, and other opinion formers with strong influencing reach.

• Represent UNICEF UK at external events on relevant issues, to network and promote UNICEF UK’s positions, where appropriate.

• Create a strong evidence base for UNICEF UK’s advocacy work on international development policy, development finance and international affairs, undertaking research to help develop public policy positions in close collaboration with the Head of International Policy and Advocacy and UNICEF HQ.

• Work with the campaigns and government relations teams to support dynamic and fast- moving campaigns on relevant issues and to enable UNICEF UK to drive and respond to the news agenda.

• Represent UNICEF UK in, and contribute to, advocacy coalitions on relevant issues, as appropriate, building networks of allies to help achieve our policy and advocacy objectives.

• Demonstrate and model a commitment to our shared values, behaviours and inclusive practices (known as Our Shared Commitment) in all aspects of your work.

BEHAVIOURS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

This section contains the essential behaviours, experience, knowledge and skills needed in order to be effective and successful in this role. All criteria in this section are essential.

Effective behaviours

Supporter driven and mission aligned

• Is committed to children and their rights and motivated to work towards creating a better world for every child.

Positive relationships

• Nurtures professional relationships with colleagues at all levels and with external stakeholders and partners to support the achievement of objectives

Analytical

• Uses expert knowledge and insights to analyse available information and make logical and sound judgments. Questions assumptions and seeks further insight to inform decision making

Communication

• Conveys complex ideas using a variety of methods to engage an audience and win understanding and support.

• Anticipates and responds to the needs of an audience, adapting content, style, and language to deliver maximum clarity.

Collaboration

• Effective cross-organisational collaboration, consulting others and sharing expertise, knowledge and ideas with colleagues for best results.

Negotiation and influencing

• Adept at using a range of approaches to gain commitment, tailoring information in a compelling way to different audiences.

Relevant experience

• Advocacy: Experience in developing and implementing successful advocacy strategies. Ability to build and utilise networks of contacts effectively and to work in coalition with others.

• Policy: Expertise in developing compelling policies, shaping agendas and working in coalition to achieve change. Experience of translating policy and research into change through advocacy.

• Evidence Base: Extensive expertise working on international development policy and development finance with proven ability to develop detailed, evidence-based policy positions.

Specific knowledge and skills

• Excellent research and writing skills with the ability to effectively condense, summarise and make sense of substantial amounts of information quickly, pulling out salient points and spotting potential weaknesses or problems.

• Excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills with the ability to convey complex issues in a compelling manner.

• Detailed knowledge of international development policy, development finance and international affairs and the role of the UK Government.

• Demonstrates expertise in international development policy such that you are frequently consulted by others externally. Uses in-depth knowledge to anticipate issues that could affect the success of their or UNICEF UK’s work.