Head of Policy and Advocacy

Greater London, England, United Kingdom

7/22/2025

Role: Head of Policy and Advocacy

Location: UK / Flexible - Can work from HALO’s Dumfries or Salisbury offices, or be home based within the UK (Frequent travel to UK and Europe offices required)

Salary: £60,000 - £68,000, depending on experience

Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time

About Us

HALO is the leading global NGO addressing the impact and drivers of conflict in 28 countries and territories, with over 12,000 staff. Most of our staff are local employees and include a growing number of women. Our primary duty is to serve people affected by conflict, clearing landmines and the explosive remnants of war that threaten lives and livelihoods long after fighting has finished. We make land safe where war has ended, while also assisting those affected by active conflict and endemic violence.

HALO addresses human suffering caused by armed violence in some of the world’s most fragile places, securing weapons and ammunition and working with both state and community actors to reduce the prevalence of armed violence.

About The Role

The Head of Policy and Advocacy leads HALO’s work on policy and advocacy and manages the Policy team, comprising of a Policy and Advocacy Manager (UK), a Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager (Europe and the UN), a Policy & Advocacy Manager (Ambassador Lead) and a Policy & Advocacy Officer (WAM). As a member of the Strategy Heads Group, the Head of Policy and Advocacy reports directly to the Director of Strategy and provides advice and support to the Director and other key members of HALO’s senior management team.

The Strategy Group encompasses four core functions of the organisation:

• Donor relationsand partnerships with all of HALO’s government and multilateral donors (excluding USA)
• Policy and Advocacy
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
• Organisational strategic planning
  
  

Role Responsibilities:

• Design and oversee the delivery of HALO’s global policy and advocacy strategy in support of the organisational strategy.
• Ensure a rolling programme of policy engagement in the UK, Europe, UN and other relevant forums, with structured engagement of relevant internal stakeholders.
• Undertake high-level representation of HALO, including in the UK, Europe and at the UN, speaking with authority about HALO’s policy positions, partnerships and programmes.
• Lead the development and delivery of HALO’s policy and thought leadership agenda, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure HALO remains engaged and relevant to conflict and other geographic and thematic issues.
• Ensure HALO’s policy and advocacy engagement is in line with contextual developments in the mine action, development, humanitarian, environment and stabilisation sectors.
• Provide high-quality and expert policy advice to internal stakeholders during crises and emergency response.
• Oversee the coordination of the HALO Ambassador Programme, providing line management to the HALO Ambassador Lead and working closely with the CEO, Leadership Team and key stakeholders in the Communications, Philanthropy and Strategy Groups.
• Oversee HALO’s policy engagement with international disarmament forums, including the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and Convention on Cluster Munitions.
• Ensure HALO’s structured input to the Mine Action Review, including representation on the Review’s Advisory Board.
• Work closely with Programmes and Capability Groups to support the embedding of policy and advocacy within HALO’s operational and training activities.
• Support the development and update of HALO’s Gender and Diversity, Conflict Sensitivity and Environmental policies and guidelines.
• Deputise for the Director of Strategy as required.
• Provide constructive and empowering line management to the Policy and Advocacy Team.
  
  

All HALO staff are expected to undertake the following general duties:

• Work within the framework of HALO’s core values, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
• Work towards achieving programme and/or group business plan objectives.
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all HALO policies and procedures and keep informed of HALO activities.
• Travel overseas as and when required.
• To discharge duties and responsibilities under HALO’s Health and Safety Procedures which may include Risk and COSHH Assessments and participation in evacuation procedures as necessary.
• This job description is intended to summarise the main duties and responsibilities of the post; this is not intended to be a full and exhaustive list of tasks. All HALO staff are expected to demonstrate flexibility and willingness to perform appropriate tasks when the need arises.
  
  

The HALO Trust strongly encourages people from diverse backgrounds to apply to this role.

Requirements

Essential:

• Senior Policy and Advocacy experience
• Solid understanding of the humanitarian and development aid sector, and the policy networks within it
• Solid understanding of UK and/or European political systems and structures, as well as UN diplomatic processes
• Understanding of relevant policy platforms, networks and think tanks to learn, share and establish policy positions
• Proven ability to build relationships and engage with external stakeholders at all levels
• Proven experience of providing policy advice to senior leaders
• Demonstrable experience in building external relationships and working with influential individuals
• Demonstrable experience in developing and communicating policy positions
• Experience representing and speaking at high level forums
• Ability to understand risks and assess the impact of policy positions and public statements
• Experience of managing a team
• Experience of developing a cohesive, collaborative and happy team working environment
  
  

Desirable

• Experience working in/ alongside the demining sector
• Experience of driving organisational strategic change
• Knowledge of multilateral institutions
  
  

Benefits

• Annual Leave: 25 days plus 8 statutory holidays
• Private health insurance
• Non-contributory life assurance
• Pension contributions matched by HALO up to 5%
• Emergency medical insurance when travelling overseas
• Flexible working policy
  
  

To apply for this role please submit your CV and supporting statement before the closing date for applications which is 4th August 2025. If there is a sufficient calibre of applicants we reserve the right to close the role earlier than the date noted.

The HALO Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

The HALO Trust is committed to a culture that is both diverse and inclusive and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

The HALO Trust is committed to ensuring that it provides a safe and trusted environment which safeguards and promotes the welfare and wellbeing of anyone who comes into contact with, or is part of, the Charity, with a zero-tolerance approach to behaviours which challenge this.