Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.
Do you have a proven track record in humanitarian policy/advocacy, influencing government, donors or other organizations at national and international levels?
Do you have training and capacity building skills, and ability to support programme staff to build their skills in advocacy work?
Do you believe in supporting platforms for local organisations to undertake advocacy and for communities to speak for themselves at national and international levels?
Do you have the ability to deploy rapidly to different countries to scale up advocacy in crisis situations?
If the answer is yes, then we would like to hear from you.
The Role
What are Humanitarian Support Personnel (HSPs)?
The Humanitarian Support Personnel (HSP) Team comprises of technical humanitarian experts from various fields across the globe who bring their skills and experience to Oxfam’s country teams to help them respond to conflicts and natural disasters.
HSPs are globally roving and work away from their home base continuously. Typically they are deployed to a particular location from a few weeks up to six months’ duration per assignment. HSPs could expect to be deployed to country programmes up to nine months a year (pro-rata for part-time posts). Our current emergency programmes are in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe.
When not deployed (or on annual leave), HSPs may be assigned project / proactive work. It may be possible to undertake such work from home or an Oxfam office, depending on circumstances.
What will you be doing as an HSP Policy and Advocacy Adviser?
- Be deployed to support country teams around the world to integrate advocacy into Oxfam’s emergency response. Deliver national and global advocacy, actively linking strategy and messaging to our humanitarian programme work with crisis-affected communities.
- Work alongside media and campaign colleagues to deliver high quality advocacy and campaigning, using Oxfam’s advocacy network to provide a channel for partners and local organization to raise their voices in high level forums to bring real change.
- Be accountable for ensuring community participation shapes programme decisions, actively seek a partnership approach and work following feminist principles including strong awareness of power dynamics.
- Along with other technical staff, advisors and managers, promote safe-programming in all humanitarian responses.
- Where necessary assist in developing country advocacy strategies, oversee project budgets, and work with funding colleagues to develop advocacy proposals for donors.
What we are looking for
- A person with the ability to deploy at short notice to areas affected by crisis and support the rapid scale up of humanitarian programmes to meet lifesaving needs of affected people. Knowledge and understanding of global justice, social change, women’s rights and gender equality and commitment to delivering humanitarian work through feminist principles. Practical experience of humanitarian work with a good understanding of context, dilemmas, challenges and ways of working.
- Proven track record in policy/advocacy, influencing government, donors or other organisations through advocacy at national and or international levels. Good understanding of key global humanitarian issues and institutions. Strong analytical ability and ability to prioritise issues in complex situations. Ability to think strategically and beyond the local/country context.
- Fluent written and spoken English is essential and knowledge of another additional language – French, Spanish and Arabic, is highly desirable.
Note: We will be recruiting for 3 HSPs positions.
We offer
This role will give you an opportunity to make a difference in Humanitarian responses, to act as a key contributor to the Policy and Advocacy team, to work with a group of passionate people that are specialists in their fields. We offer fair pay and a competitive benefits package.
Flexfam
We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. We think this role would work particularly well as a partially home-based role or job share.
Our values and commitment to safeguarding
Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information 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 his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
How to apply
As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.
About us
Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.
Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.
A thriving diverse Oxfam:
It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.
To do that:
- We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
- We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
- We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.
In response to Covid-19 if you are offered a role where you are required to travel between countries please ensure you have been briefed by the Hiring Manager about any changes to working or precautions you should take as part of your role.
