ABOUT THE TEAM 

The Advocacy team sits in the organisation’s Influence and Impact Directorate and the 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 UK Policy and Advocacy strategically leads and manages the UK Policy and Advocacy team, ensuring that UNICEF UK has clear and robust policy positions and advocacy strategies on core thematic issues and achievement of full UNCRC incorporation across the UK nations. The role manages a team of policy advisers and works directly with colleagues in UNICEF HQ and with partner organisations across the UK child rights sector. The role represents the organisation externally, including managing building and maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders in UK Government departments and with partners and coalitions. The role also has grant and budgetary management responsibilities.  

What we will expect you to achieve 

• Delivery of a coherent and strategic policy agenda that is grounded in the UNCRC and brings together a comprehensive UK policy and advocacy portfolio in line with UNICEF UK priorities.  

• Effectively manage the UK policy and advocacy team, supporting them to develop and deliver effective influencing strategies, high quality and robust research, and ensure that our work amplifies the voice and supports the participation of children and young people.  

• Build and manage key external relationships with policy experts, influencers and decision makers in the sector and in government, to ensure UNICEF UK can maximise its impact and influence for children and is seen by key stakeholders as a strong and credible ‘go-to’ organisation on children’s rights in the UK.  

• Be one of UNICEF UK’s leading external advocates on child rights in the UK.  

• Along with the other members of the Advocacy Leadership Team, lead the development of highly impactful influencing strategies, building collaboration across the advocacy department and wider organisation towards common objectives. 

• Work effectively across the organisation to ensure that the team’s work is actively informing, supporting and underpinning cross-organisational planning and integrated campaigns.    

• 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.   

• 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.  

• Leadership: Positive, encouraging, open and supportive management style that motivates the team and wider department  

• 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.

Relevant experience 

• Substantial experience of working in a senior role, with relevance to children’s rights in the UK, developing new policy and delivering change for children  

• Influencing the UK Government on child rights issues, including designing and delivering effective and successful advocacy strategies that have delivered change in policy and/or practice  

• 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  

• External representation and external relationship management, including with senior stakeholders.

Specific knowledge and skills 

• Detailed understanding of core child rights policy issues, processes, frameworks and decision-making structures and  in the UK  

• Understanding of UK children’s and youth sector and understanding of best practice in youth engagement  

• Development of policy positions, and the delivering or commissioning of research and evidence for the purposes of informing policy making and influencing 

• A robust understanding of the UK Government’s role in ensuring children’s rights are upheld and protected in the UK  

• Analytical and detail-orientated, with a focus on compelling, influential and high-quality outputs and deliverables.