Policy and Advocacy Advisor

Save the Children International

Save the Children International is a leading global humanitarian organization that has been protecting children's rights worldwide for over 100 years. We operate in more than 100 countries, responding to emergencies, implementing innovative development programs, and advocating for children's rights on a global scale.

Our work in Ukraine began in 2014. Since then, we have significantly expanded our presence, providing support to children and families affected by war. Our key areas of focus include education, child protection, food security, social support, and advocacy to drive lasting change in children's lives.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Policy and Advocacy Advisor is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a comprehensive external policy and advocacy strategy for the Ukraine Country Office. The role advances both immediate humanitarian priorities and longer-term recovery and reconstruction objectives, while also supporting policy engagement related to Ukraine's EU accession pathway. A central purpose of the role is to maintain and elevate Ukraine's visibility within international political, humanitarian, and recovery discussions, working closely with the member organization and broader movement to influence decision-makers. The Advisor ensures that humanitarian and operational space is protected and that the rights and needs of children and affected populations remain at the center of domestic, regional, and global policy dialogues.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Policy Analysis and Development

• Lead the production of evidence-based policy analysis on humanitarian access, child rights, protection concerns, and operational constraints.
• Develop policy positions on early recovery, reconstruction planning, and EU accession processes relevant to the organisation's objectives.
• Monitor political developments, donor trends, and international processes affecting Ukraine, providing timely analysis and strategic advice to senior leadership, the member organisation, and the broader movement including during emerging crises or sudden political developments.
• Ensure policy coherence across thematic areas, programmes, and global policy frameworks.

Advocacy and Influence

• Develop and implement the Country Office's advocacy strategy with clear objectives, target audiences, and influence pathways.
• Represent the organisation in high-level meetings with government officials, donors, UN agencies, EU institutions, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead and/or support internal and external advocacy working groups, ensuring effective coordination, clear agendas, and delivery of joint influence objectives.
• Support the member organisation and broader movement to maintain Ukraine at the centre of international policy dialogues and humanitarian/recovery discussions.
• Support the preparations for high-level meetings, media engagements, and political dialogues by providing key messages, analyses, and strategic advice.
• Draft compelling advocacy materials – briefings, statements, talking points, and external messaging – and support media positioning in coordination with communications teams.
• Facilitate internal discussions to support harmonised long-term positioning.
• Contribute to strategic donor engagement by supplying policy insights, developing key messages, and preparing leadership for policy-level discussions.
• Identify and proactively manage advocacy risks, and ensure all advocacy and policy work aligns with safeguarding, do-no-harm, and humanitarian principles.

Project and Strategy Management

• Oversee the planning, delivery, and monitoring of advocacy-related projects, initiatives, and campaigns within their scope of work.
• Manage timelines, deliverables, and coordination across teams to ensure effective implementation of the Country Office's advocacy strategy.
• Contribute to proposal development and reporting for projects that include policy or advocacy components relevant to the thematic remits.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, humanitarian principles, and safeguarding standards in all advocacy work.

Partnership and Movement Engagement

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with national and international NGOs, civil society organisations, networks, and research institutions to strengthen collective influence.
• Coordinate closely with the member organisation, regional offices, and global advocacy teams to ensure aligned messaging and strategic priorities.
• Support capacity strengthening of partners and staff on policy analysis, advocacy, influencing, EU policy processes, humanitarian principles, and external engagement.
• Facilitate joint advocacy initiatives and represent the organisation in relevant coalitions and working groups.

General

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
• To perform such other responsibilities as agreed with your line management.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice )

Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values

• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same

• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others

• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale .

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters

• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength

• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree (or equivalent experience) in International Relations, Public Policy, Political Science, Humanitarian Studies, Development Studies, Law, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, international human rights frameworks, and child rights.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Ukraine's political context, EU enlargement frameworks, and/or post-conflict recovery systems.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• At least five years of professional experience in policy analysis, advocacy, external engagement, or influencing roles within humanitarian, development, government, or international policy environments.
• Proven track record of developing and delivering evidence-based advocacy strategies, including influencing governments, donors, EU institutions, and multilateral bodies.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality policy briefs, reports, and analytical products on humanitarian access, protection, recovery, or political issues.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian systems, coordination structures (UN, clusters), and humanitarian operational space dynamics.
• Experience working in complex crisis, conflict, or post-conflict contexts, with sensitivity to political dynamics, risk, and safeguarding.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to craft clear, compelling messages for senior decision-makers and the public.
• Strong diplomacy, negotiation, and representation skills, with experience engaging high-level stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex political, humanitarian, and EU policy developments into actionable advocacy strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and cultures, and to lead or support multi-agency coalitions or advocacy working groups.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, including managing advocacy or policy projects with multiple deliverables, deadlines, teams, and rapid-turnaround requests.
• Ability to exercise sound political judgement, manage advocacy risks, and uphold humanitarian principles in politically charged contexts.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian (written and verbal) is essential.

Desirable

• Previous INGO experience
• Prior experience with EU institutions, enlargement processes, or Brussels-based advocacy, and familiarity with the EU frameworks and funding mechanisms relevant to children, including the European Child Guarantee and the Ukraine Facility.
• Experience designing or overseeing research and evidence-generation initiatives for policy or advocacy purposes.
• Familiarity with child rights mechanisms, Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), attacks on education, or accountability processes (e.g., MRM).

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Child Safeguarding Policy:

We are committed to ensuring children's safety. Our recruitment process includes strict background checks and reflects our commitment to protecting children from harm.

Equal Opportunities

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Health and Safety:

All employees are expected to perform their duties in accordance with our global policy on harassment prevention.

In your cover letter, indicate your expected salary and English proficiency level.