Job Description

Are you a humanitarian professional with the agility to operate inside a major donor environment and deep expertise in Protection & Inclusion? Palladium is recruiting a Surge Humanitarian Adviser (Protection & Inclusion) to join the Humanitarian and Stabilisation


Operations Team (HSOT), delivering the HEROS programme for FCDO This role sits within a team of deployable humanitarian advisers whose core function is to provide surge capacity to FCDO in response to humanitarian crises -- shaping strategy, informing programmes and policy, and supporting cross-capability readiness and roster management. While each adviser brings a recognised specialism, the emphasis is on versatility, strategic insight, and the ability to operate effectively in complex, fast moving environments.


About the Role-You'll provide technical and strategic advice on Protection and Inclusion during crisis response, as well as contribute to preparedness, learning and policy development. You'll also help build tools, guidance and expertise across the HEROS programme and support the development of the humanitarian roster.


Project Overview

The Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT) is contracted by Palladium to deliver the Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations and Stabilisation Programme (HEROS), working with FCDO's Humanitarian Response Department (HCRD) and the Migration and Conflict Directorate (MCD), as well as multiple UK Government teams and partners in 130 countries. The team provides operational and advisory support to meet humanitarian needs and restore stability in sudden-onset disasters, protracted crises and complex emergencies.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Supply high quality technical expertise to inform FCDO's design and delivery of humanitarian strategies, plans, policies, programmes and guidance in the immediate aftermath of a crisis in ways that are consistent with UK and international commitments, principles, standards and ambitions. This includes surging into FCDO's Crisis Centre and deploying overseas for up to 4 weeks at a time.

Act as the HSOT Response Lead when required, working closely with the Coordination Lead and the Director to ensure a coherent integrated approach to response, which is evidence-based, context-specific and tailored to the evolving demands of a disrupted humanitarian landscape.

Contribute to HEROS preparedness initiatives, including supporting and participating in team and cross-capability preparedness planning, scenario development, simulations and exercising, as well as ensuring that learning from past responses informs preparedness work.

Continuously develop, test and update the advisory tools in the HEROS response 'toolbox,' ensuring tools are evidence-based, informed by lessons from past responses and preparedness work, and ready to be used in response, consulting within HSOT and with FCDO's humanitarian cadre and external experts.

Support the development and management of the humanitarian and UNDAC rosters, including contributing advisory inputs to: recruitment to and from the roster; the design and delivery of training for roster advisors; the management of communities of practice; and performance management of deployed advisors.

Identify and advance opportunities for HSOT's advisory services to contribute to FCDO's priorities for advancing Localisation and the reform of the multilateral system, that are evidence-based and tailored to the context.

Assist in strengthening engagement on Standby Partnership (SBP) and UNDAC strategy and operations by providing meaningful advisory inputs into, and ensuring implementation of, SBP and UNDAC annual strategies, representing FCDO at annual SBP and UNDAC events, working groups etc., reviewing mid and end point mission reports, contributing to client reporting proactive risk/issue identification and mitigation.

Support HCRD to integrate humanitarian concerns across FCDO and other Government Department's work as requested, advising on possible risks, opportunities and solutions.

Ensure their skillset remains relevant through continual learning and professional development, as well as promoting and championing learning, development and professional excellence within the advisory function and wider contract.

Develop strong networks and relationships within FCDO and with external actors, complementing not cutting across HCRD, Post and wider FCDO relationships, both with respect to generalist and specialist skillsets and areas of interest.

Provide technical and strategic advice and support to FCDO on Protection and Inclusion; this will include:



Providing technical guidance on Protection and Inclusion issues to inform and implement FCDO humanitarian policy as per the UK Humanitarian Framework, the International Development (Gender Equality) Act 2014, FCDO's Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy, the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and the UK's commitments under the Call to Action on Protection from GBV in Emergencies (Call to Action) and Grand Bargain, as well as international best practice.

Supporting humanitarian policy and diplomacy efforts on GBV, women and girls, gender equality and support to local women-led and women's rights organisations.

Helping FCDO to understand the key Protection and Inclusion issues and the options for addressing them in the context of a sudden onset response and as a preparedness measure.

Providing technical specialist support on Protection and Inclusion issues (including GBV, gender, social inclusion, etc.) and safeguarding either as part of the field team or HQ response operations team.

Integrating Protection, Inclusion and safeguarding considerations into preparedness and recovery activities.

Supporting real-time evaluations of humanitarian responses to help ensure that they mainstream Protection and are responsive to the needs of women and girls and other marginalised populations.

Supporting learning and development for FCDO humanitarian response teams and humanitarian cadre on Protection, Gender and Inclusion. This will include support to make the use of gender equality markers, Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action and the IASC Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action mandatory in FCDO humanitarian programming.

Providing technical advice to shape and support the mainstreaming of Protection and Inclusion considerations in the delivery of humanitarian programmes.

Providing advisory support to FCDO Posts on the design, implementation and monitoring of Protection, gender-relevant, GBV and/or disability programmes.

Providing FCDO teams with technical advice and management support (including design, monitoring, and learning/adaptation) for institutional partnerships

Conducting and integrating vulnerability assessments to identify the specific needs of children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities in humanitarian contexts.

Advocating for the rights and needs of vulnerable populations in humanitarian policy, funding decisions, and coordination forums.

Serving as safeguarding technical lead for HSOT, promoting mechanisms, progressing annual action plan, and contributing to Palladium corporate safeguarding initiatives.

Collaboration

Work constructively with colleagues to achieve shared goals.

Share knowledge, support others, and contribute to a positive team culture.

Be open to feedback and willing to adapt to meet team needs.



Risk Management

Be aware of potential risks to effective and responsible programme management and contribute to mitigation measures according to job role.

Be familiar with and actively participate in established risk management procedures, including reporting issues against identified risks and failures of mitigation measures.

Contribute to risk assessment activities and suggest improvements.



Other Duties

The post holder will be required to deploy at very short notice to support an FCDO response for up to 4 weeks, up to 60% of the time.

Participate in HEST training and work to mitigate safety and security threats for self and others.

Undertake any other duties as appropriate to the position, as requested.

Participate in Duty Officer system rotation, providing week-long out of hours surveillance of emergencies at either Duty Officer or Senior Cover Manager level.

Contribute to HEROS contract monthly, quarterly, annual contractual reporting on specialist portfolio, and provide support as requested in support of results-based reporting.

Support business Transition and Exit Planning: Play a pivotal role in adapting to system upgrades and organizational changes, ensuring the workforce is aligned with future business needs. Lead on providing data inputs during the transition phase.

As appropriate, engage with Palladium UKEA regional team fora and initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

Extensive field-based humanitarian experience, including delivering response in rapid-onset and protracted crises, with a strong track record of Protection and Inclusion programming.

Experience advising or working with donors, UN agencies, INGOs and local partners, including in coordination mechanisms, with proven ability to influence humanitarian policy through evidence-based recommendations and diplomatic engagement.

Experience working strategically to influence internal and international processes, whilst at the same time have a demonstrated ability to design and implement practical programmes on the ground.


Deep understanding of humanitarian principles, core humanitarian standards, the humanitarian architecture, financing mechanisms and the humanitarian programme cycle.


Experience of preparedness planning, scenario development and anticipatory action.

A working knowledge of critical humanitarian issues, including Localisation, Accountability to Affected Populations, Protection principles and key legal frameworks (IHL, human rights law).

A degree in humanitarian affairs, development, economics or a related field.

Willingness to deploy at short notice for up to 4 weeks, for up to 60% of the time.

Strategic thinking and adaptive planning in complex crises.

Strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex information clearly to diverse audiences.

Excellent communication and influencing abilities.

Act with integrity, reliability, and respect in all interactions.

Represent Palladium positively in all professional settings.

Take ownership of tasks and responsibilities, delivering work to agreed standards and deadlines.


Follow through on commitments and raise concerns early when issues arise.



Specialist -Protection and Inclusion

Experience contributing to the development of policy around Protection, GBV, gender, disability inclusion, safeguarding, and other related topics.

An in-depth knowledge of the current discourse on issues related to the centrality of Protection, gender equality, GBV, safeguarding and inclusion in humanitarian responses is also expected.

Sound knowledge and experience of international humanitarian theory, practice and architecture, including of the role and performance of the various actors.

Familiarity with humanitarian Protection, GBV, and inclusion activities and tools, and understanding of UK commitment in these areas.

Knowledge of current discourse on issues of centrality of Protection, gender equality, GBV, safeguarding and inclusion.


Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.


The role is a permanent post and the advert closes on the 20th October.



Continuous - Permanent
Annum - Annual Salary



Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.