Centre for Disaster Protection – Policy Engagement Lead at DAI

The role

• This role will shape the Centre for Disaster Protection’s engagement in global and regional policy processes and international fora, focusing on development and climate finance diplomacy and reform and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, multilateral agencies, civil society networks, and others. The role will form a bridge between elements of our policy evidence work, external relations and engagement. Specifically, the role will help to translate evidence-led policy insights, through leading and shaping the Centre’s external affairs.
• The ideal candidate will have a technical policy background with good knowledge of development and climate finance, and/or humanitarian finance, and demonstrable experience in engaging with and influencing policy decision makers. Understanding and knowledge of key intergovernmental processes and forums such as G7/G20/COP will be essential, as well as understanding of multilateral institutions (e.g., the UNFCCC, World Bank/IMF, V20) and key initiatives such as the ‘Bridgetown Initiative’.
• The Policy Engagement Lead will work closely with Evidence Project Leads and other specialist team members within multidisciplinary teams of Centre staff, external consultants and partner organisations. The Policy Engagement Lead will also work closely with colleagues leading our communications and partnerships, in support of Centre priorities.

Role responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of policy-influencing, diplomacy and engagement strategies on key Centre priorities, co-designed in close collaboration Lead engagement with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders from across sectors and geographies, and a diverse range of professional, cultural, and social backgrounds.
• Identify and exploit opportunities for strengthening the Centre’s strategic engagement with key stakeholders and for influencing decision-making.
• Undertake analysis and monitoring, providing global, regional and sectoral insights, and communicating them verbally and in writing to a variety of senior internal and external stakeholder audiences.
• Distil and clearly articulate complex messages to a range of audiences - providing high-quality written outputs, including briefings and communications products.
• Lead connectivity to policy and partner networks and represent the Centre in meetings with partners, in particular in connection to the development finance reform and climate finance agendas.
• Contribute to advancing the Centre’s policy thought-leadership agenda through effective storytelling (working closely with the Head of Communications), showcasing the Centre’s evidence, expertise, creativity, and learning.
• Work closely and proactively with colleagues from across the Centre’s multidisciplinary team, to increase knowledge and capacity in policy engagement and influencing, with a focus on upskilling.
• In addition to role-specific responsibilities, the Policy Engagement Lead will be required to:
• Uphold the Centre’s values and contribute to a positive organisational culture. 
• Build the Centre’s external reputation through managing relations with key stakeholders and partners across the development, humanitarian, climate, financial, civil society and academic sectors.
• Collaborate effectively with teams of Centre staff and consultants.

Skills and experience

• Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate a range of the following skills and experience:
• Demonstrable strategic leadership on policy, influencing and engagement, and a strong understanding of the key actors and policy environment of the international development and climate policy architecture.
• Willingness to learn key principles, features and functions of disaster risk financing to a level where you can critically engage and challenge.
• Ability to communicate complex information in creative, precise and engaging written and visual formats.
• Demonstrable experience of representing organisations externally at senior level, managing relationships with policy-makers and influencers, and of engaging with intergovernmental/multilateral processes and events.
• Work collaboratively, with experience of building networks and coalitions of support with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders from across sectors and geographies – including with low- and middle-income countries -and a diverse range of professional, cultural, and social backgrounds. Experience co-delivering successful policy outcomes, in collaboration with formal and informal partner networks.
• Experience multitasking and managing multiple priorities to competing deadlines, thrives on diversity of a role.
• Demonstrate a clear commitment to the Centre’s values and mission.
• Welcome diverse feedback, take initiative and work proactively and effectively as part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team in a hybrid working environment.