• Duration: Fixed Term 10-12 months (Parental Leave cover)

• Salary: Circa £63,000 per annum

• Job Level: Level 2

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

• Disclosure Level: Basic. This role involves indirect work with children.

• Reports to: Director of 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 team sits in the organisation’s Advocacy, Programmes and Safeguarding Directorate. The Advocacy team exists to champion children’s rights and influence those with power to create change for children, in the UK and around the world. We present decision-makers with a compelling case for change based on evidence and deliver exceptional policy influencing 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 amplify the voices of and support active participation of children and young people in working to ensure their rights as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are realised across the UK.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Head of Campaigns and Mobilisation will sit within the multifaceted Advocacy, Programmes and Safeguarding Directorate (APS). The directorate protects, promotes, and upholds the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) by mobilising multiple stakeholders, influencing key decision-makers, and driving direct change to deliver positive outcomes and lasting impact for children in the UK and around the world.

The role will lead the Campaigns and Mobilisation team within the Advocacy department and the overall direction of campaigning and mobilisation at UNICEF UK. This is a team of campaigns specialists who work to protect and support children’s rights through strategic advocacy campaigns and communications grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The team leads the development and delivery of cross-organisational strategic advocacy campaigns, mobilises supporters to reach target decision-makers, and engages children and rightsholders at the heart of their work. The team also works closely with colleagues in the Public Engagement division to mobilise UNICEF UK’s high-profile supporters, brand, and the organisation’s voice in the media to increase the impact of our advocacy messages.

What we will expect you to achieve:

• Effectively lead and line manage the Campaigns and Mobilisation Team, supporting them to develop and project manage the delivery of UNICEF UK’s Advocacy campaigns, including developing campaign plans, communications, events and campaigning activities with a focus on insight, testing and learning to communicate complex policy ideas to non-expert audiences.

• Provide strategic oversight and direction on all priority public facing advocacy campaigns, as well as leading and supporting on interrelated projects. Work with the Advocacy Leadership Team to select and prioritise campaign issues under the direction of the Director of Advocacy and Executive Team.

• Work with the Heads of Political Affairs, International Policy, and UK Policy, and teams, to develop and deliver coherent, impactful influencing strategies for the Advocacy campaigns and other priority policy issues, building collaboration across the advocacy department and wider organisation towards common objectives.

• Lead the design and implementation of UNICEF UK’s long-term advocacy campaigning and mobilisation strategy that grows and retains our campaigner base to drive positive changes for children in line with our objectives.

• Lead the Campaigns and Mobilisation team, specifically the Youth Campaigns Officer, to ensure that that young people and rightsholders are engaged in UNICEF UK’s campaign development and delivery in a meaningful and impactful way.

• Work strategically across the team and organisation to ensure that public campaigning and mobilisation is at the heart of our advocacy and ensure advocacy is integrated into wider organisational campaigns.

• Lead on understanding and articulating the key trends driving public mobilisation and considering how we can use this knowledge to ensure advocacy is at the heart of how UNICEF UK engages with the outside work.

• Work with the Advocacy Leadership Team to develop creative and innovative approaches to evaluation and impact assessments for priority campaigns; ensuring monitoring and evaluation processes are in place, and that the results are acted on, and a learning culture of evaluation is embedded in our campaigns.

• Manage the Campaigns and Mobilisation Team budget, ensuring that our advocacy campaigns deliver value for money, are cost effective and measurable against identified KPIs.

• Play a full part in the Advocacy Leadership Team and act as an external spokesperson for UNICEF UK and deputise for the Advocacy Director as required.

• 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.  Predicts supporters’ needs and future trends in public campaigning, creatively adapting approaches as necessary. Demonstrates knowledge of the market and the sector and thinks creatively about UNICEF UK’s approach to public engagement to develop a competitive advantage.

Communication

• Strong communications skills, both written and oral. Anticipates and respond to the needs of diverse audiences, adapting style, language and content to deliver maximum clarity, gain support and influence effectively. Shows an insight into the influencing target and tailored messages appropriately. Actively builds positive relationships with internal and external contacts to maximise UNICEF UK’s capacity to influence change.

Creating and innovating

• Demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of cutting-edge public campaigning, leading on creative campaign communications and innovations. Scans the external environment for trends, insights, ideas and best practice that could benefit UNICEF UK’s work. Empowers people to innovate and welcomes new ideas that are focused on the delivery of strategic priorities.

Leadership

• Positive, encouraging, open and supportive management style that motivates the team and wider department. Promotes a results-focused culture, engaging and guiding others to achieve ambitious goals. Creates and encourages cross-organisational teamwork and collaboration, acting as a visible role model. Ensures team members deliver high quality work within deadlines to respond to fast-moving external contexts. Encourages others to pursue development opportunities to support their personal and professional growth at work.

Decision making

• Sensitively decisive, taking time to consult with relevant stakeholders before making and communicating clear decisions and the reasons for them.

Results focused

• Prioritises and sustains focus on work that will have the greatest impact on agreed aims. Produce and manage the delivery of campaign strategies of the highest order and driving the campaigns team in constant improvement. Prioritises and sustains focus on work that will have the greatest impact on agreed aims.

Relevant experience

• Experience of team management, including annual planning, setting objectives and clear expectations, managing performance, and supporting and motivating a team and individuals to deliver to the highest standards.

• Devising high impact campaign strategies on international development and/or human rights, that have led to political or policy change.

• Working collaboratively with other functions (Media & Communications, Fundraising, Ambassadors, Programmes, etc.,) to ensure high impact and integrated public campaigns.

Specific knowledge and skills

• Understanding how to influence the political process through public mobilisation.

• How to understand and maximise the value of public audience insight data.