Head of Programme Policy, Research & Learning at Christian Aid

About us

Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.

About the role

This is a senior management role within the Policy, Public Affairs & Campaigns (PPC) Department and leads a team responsible for strengthening and deepening the impact and effectiveness of Christian Aid's programme delivery, public policy and advocacy in line with our strategic vision and focus on poverty, power and prophetic voice.

The post holder plays a central leadership role in shaping and driving our programme policy, research and evidence to ensure that Christian Aid is a learning organisation continually improving its work, understanding and communicating its impact, and influencing the wider international development sector. The role provides thought leadership, internally and externally, on programming, partnerships, advocacy and campaigning approaches which evidence greater empowerment, equity and justice for people living in poverty. It contributes to Christian Aid's profile and credibility on thematic excellence, contributes towards strategy alignment, and helps deliver against the global results framework.

The role works collaboratively across Christian Aid, particularly with teams in the International Programmes and Strategy & Global Change departments and within PPC. The post holder ensures that there is a coherent plan and approach for PPRL's functional, thematic and strategic advisory work across programmes, policy and advocacy.

About you

You have a strong programme background with experience in programme strategy, design, implementation, and evaluation. You have significant understanding of INGO programmes, the role of INGOs within the international development landscape and trends within the sector.

You are a creative, strategic and lateral thinker able to combine big picture thinking with practical application and link programme design with policy and advocacy. You have excellent communication skills and ability to engage diverse internal and external audiences with credibility and authority. You are able to negotiate with, influence and persuade others in a collaborative manner.

You have excellent analytical and problem solving skills - including the ability to draw on complex theoretical concepts, translating and integrating these into practitioner friendly resources. You have knowledge and experience in research methods, applied in a variety of practice based contexts. You also have strong understanding of best practice in capacity development and learning.

You provide effective leadership and support to staff and have high quality skills in cross-organisational coordination and relationship management.

You are committed to Christian Aid's mission, vision and values. You are self-aware, culturally sensitive and able to adapt your approach to different contexts. You promote diverse knowledge systems including the value of indigenous knowledge to the social, political, economic and environmental wellbeing of local communities.

You are educated to degree level in a relevant field, and have experience representing an organisation at senior level.

Competency questions:

As part of your application you will be asked to demonstrate your suitability by giving answers to the following questions:

1. Tell us about a time when you had to apply advanced negotiating and influencing skills to secure agreement with a diverse group of people or stakeholders where there was little common ground?

2. Please tell us about a time when you had to take action to challenge the behaviour of a colleague which was contrary to the vision and the values of the organisation.

3. Please tell us about a time when you demonstrated your commitment to keeping abreast of new thinking and developments in the economic, social and political environment.