Programmes and Advocacy Director

Recruitment Pack

Programmes and Advocacy Director

February 2026

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the role of Programmes and Advocacy Director.

Anti-Slavery International is the world’s oldest human rights. It has traditionally
played a valuable and wide-ranging role in the sector, with a longstanding focus on
policy and advocacy.

The organisation has undergone major changes in 2024/25 and 25/26 as a result of
multiple external and internal factors and challenges, including several leadership
changes, a downsizing and two restructures. Its programmes and programme
development have suffered as a result, leading to a lack of overall focus, and the
current fundraising pipeline is weak. Anti-Slavery International has already started
rebuilding, but sees the new Programmes and Advocacy Director role as central to
its efforts to rebuild a strong organisation and refocus where it can be most
effective.

Work to build on the best of existing programmes is underway, and a more
fundamental exploration of what Anti-Slavery International's best contribution to
tackling modern slavery should begin in the spring of 2026. The aim is that the
appointee should play a part in finalising this.

The deadline for applications is 23.59 on 22 March 2026. Interviews will be held in
person on 2 April 2026 at our office in Vauxhall.

If you think this fits with your expertise and ambition, we would love to hear from
you.

Best wishes

Mark Goldring

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Job Description

Programme and Advocacy Director

SALARY

£71,994 p.a. (Pay award pending April 2026)

CONTRACT TYPE

Permanent, full-time

HOURS

This role is offered as a full-time position at 35 hours per

week (we will consider candidates who wish to work part-

time, 4 days a week)

 LOCATION

Based in Vauxhall, London, with hybrid-working

arrangements; a minimum of one day a week in the office is

required (or four days per month).

DATE

24 February 2026

ANTI-SLAVERY INTERNATIONAL

Anti-Slavery International is the world’s oldest human rights organisation. Our vision
is freedom from slavery for everyone, everywhere, always.

We believe that modern slavery is a contemporary issue of the highest importance
and we are determined to work with others to make sure people can be free from
slavery across the world.

Over  the  years  it  has  made  valuable  contributions  to  influencing  U.K.  and  European
legislation,  policy  and  practice,  to  corporate  accountability  and,  with  partners  to
research, awareness, legislation and survivor support in many countries.

Our current strategy commits us to working on four focus themes to drive systemic
change and help end slavery for everyone everywhere:

  Child Slavery

  Responsible business
•

  Trafficking
•

  Climate Change and Slavery
•

•

You can read more about us and how we work in the ‘About Us’ document on our
recruiting webpage.

THE ROLE

Programmes and advocacy are divided into three teams. These are UK and Europe,
Regional, and International/Thematic. Anti-Slavery International also hosts the

coordinator of the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group, (ATMG.) We have and wish
to make best use of good staff, but whether our structure and balance of staffing is
optimal for the future will depend on the focus (and availability of funds) that will
come out of the strategic review.

What is clear is that all programme work needs coherent leadership under the
programmes and advocacy director. The balance of how the director spends their
time, especially between supporting development, operations and strategy, will
necessarily evolve over time, but all three elements will be important.

Anti-Slavery International currently has an interim CEO and is expecting to recruit a
new and permanent postholder within 2026. The organisation currently has about
25 staff and a number of consultants. About ten of these staff/ consultants are in
the Programmes and Advocacy Teams. It is important to note that this post has
been widely discussed with staff across the organisation and they share the need
and support for it.

MAIN TASKS

Role purpose

•  To shape, lead, ensure resourcing and support delivery for all Anti-Slavery
International's programme and advocacy work, so as to maximise the
organisation's impact on modern slavery. The role combines strategic,
advocacy, management and operational elements.

Main elements of the role

•  Work with the CEO and Heads of Advocacy and Programmes/Programme
and Advocacy Managers to identify how Anti-Slavery International can
maximise its contribution to tackling modern slavery. The Director will do this
by identifying current needs, opportunities and Anti-Slavery International’s
distinctive competence as part of a planned strategic review and ongoing
exploration.

•  Support Programme and Advocacy Managers in their ongoing delivery of

programmes, including managing performance, promoting team and cross-
team work and knowledge sharing, allocating work, managing staff and
funds as most appropriate.

•  Liaise closely with Programme and Advocacy, Fundraising and

Communications Teams, acting as a bridge to identify opportunities for
funding.

•  Co-lead with the CEO the go/no-go decision-making and drive the

development and submission of strong proposals that build on current
strengths and evolving strategic direction.

•  Ensure proper design, management, monitoring and reporting on externally

and internally funded work, including improving how we demonstrate impact
as an organisation and within projects.

•  With the CEO, connect with governments, external partners, businesses,

networks and coalitions, universities/research centres and others to build the
positive relations and shared activity needed to understand and tackle
modern slavery and keep Anti-Slavery International strong.

•  Act as an external spokesperson on issues related to modern slavery.

•  Work with Communications and Fundraising to identify stories and

opportunities, promote the organisation and describe our achievements.

•  As part of the senior management team (SMT), contribute to overall

organisational leadership.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

•  Good knowledge of international human rights and relevant frameworks.

•  Experience of working in the human rights or rights-based development

sectors, with expertise in modern slavery.

•  Skills and willingness to be hands-on in shaping, developing and managing
programmes and projects to achieve positive change in law, policy and
practice, including developing new project ideas, preparing funding
proposals, budgets and reports for funders, and donor relations.

•  Ability to analyse and navigate sometimes complex political contexts,

relationships and challenging and hostile environments.

•  Proven expertise in advocacy and influencing, with some combination of

governments, the EU, the UN, and businesses.

•  Expertise in leading, motivating and supporting a diverse team, including

geographically dispersed team members and consultants.

•  Ability to represent the organisation among a wide range of stakeholders,

including politicians, the corporate sector, at the grassroots level, and in the
media.

•  Demonstrable success in leading good teamwork.

•  A good balance of strategic and pragmatic approach, with a can-do and

open leadership style.

Desirable

•  Detailed understanding of specific modern slavery issues and associated
drivers (e.g. caste-based discrimination, gender discrimination, social,
cultural and religious norms, etc.)

•  Understanding of some of our areas of possible focus: climate change,
responsible business, child slavery and trafficking and migration.

•  Experience in managing research.
•  Experience of working in one or more regions in which we work, notably
sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, the Gulf and the UK and
Europe.

•  Proficiency in spoken and written French and/or languages other than

English.

Benefits

  Annual leave entitlement of 30 days (on a pro rata basis) plus bank holidays.

  We pay 6% into our recognised contribution pension with TPT Retirement
•

Solutions, with a mandatory employee contribution of 2%.

•
  We  offer  a  range  of  employee  benefits,  including  employee  assistance
programme, cycle to work scheme, annual flu jabs and annual season ticket
loan. We also pay for eye tests and a contribution of £105 towards glasses
for every 2 years of working with Anti-Slavery International.

•

Terms and Conditions

  The position is based in Anti-Slavery International’s office in Vauxhall, London,

with hybrid-working arrangements in line with our policy.

•

  There may be a requirement for some out-of-hours work, for which time off in

lieu is given.

•
  The role is subject to a probationary period of 6 months.

  Unison is the recognised trade union.
•

•

How to apply

This  pack  includes  a  job  description,  person  specification  and  other  background
information,  please  visit  our  website:
information.
www.antislavery.org

If  you  would

like  more

If  you  wish  to  apply  for  this  position,  please  email  a  CV  along  with  a  supporting
statement    of no more than two pages, setting out why you want this role and explain
how your skills and experience support your application.

Employers  are  required  to  ensure  that  any  prospective  employee  has  the  right  to
work in the UK. Please confirm in your covering letter if you have the right to work in
the UK. Please also include whether you are available on the interview date and your
earliest possible start date in your application.

Please  submit  your  application  to  jobs@antislavery.org  using  the  reference
Programmes and  Advocacy Director in the subject line before 23.59 on 22 March
2026.

Please  also  complete  the  equal  opportunities  monitoring  form  available  as  a
downloadable link on the recruitment page. The form is anonymous, and responses
will be handled in strict confidence.

Interviews will be held on 2nd April 2026 in person at our office in Vauxhall.

We  appreciate  the  time  and  effort  that  applicants  invest  in  applying  for
opportunities with Anti-Slavery International. Unfortunately, due to high numbers
of applications we receive, we regret that it will not be possible for us to reply to
candidates who have not been shortlisted for interview. If you have not heard from
us by 1st April 2026, you have not been shortlisted for interview.

AI  tools  are  becoming more  common,  and we  understand  how  important  these
technologies  are  for  the  future.  When  you  apply  for  a  job  with  Anti-Slavery
International,  however,  it  is  important  that  your  application  is  your  own.  What
makes an application stand out is authenticity. We want to hear about your real
experiences and achievements not what AI thinks we want to hear.

Reasonable  adjustments  – a  number  of AI  tools  are  commonly  used  to  support
disability needs, and we would be happy to discuss individual needs or for you to
declare this in your application.

If you are shortlisted for an interview, you may request reasonable adjustments.
This is to ensure that you are able to fully engage in the process, so please let us
know how we can support you.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

We are committed in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion across the charity
and  our  workforce.  We  particularly  welcome  and  encourage  applications  from
survivors of modern slavery, Black and Asian candidates and those from a diverse
ethnic background, and disabled, LGBT+ and non-binary candidates.

We have a zero-tolerance policy on bribery and corruption, recognising that bribery
is contrary to fundamental values of integrity, transparency and accountability and
undermines organisational effectiveness.

We  are  committed  to  safeguarding  the  children  and  adults  that  our  staff  and
representatives encounter, virtually and in-person. As such, candidates are required
to  commit  to  and  uphold  our  organisational  safeguarding  principles,  practice  and
procedures. These organisational policies include, but are not limited to, the Code of
Conduct policy and Safeguarding policy. We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy
towards bullying, harassment, sexual exploitation or abuse, of any form, perpetrated
by any representative of the organisation.

The purpose of this Code of Conduct is:

  To guarantee high standards of staff behaviour and integrity

  To safeguard our staff’s, interns’ and volunteers’ welfare and that of external
•

stakeholders with whom we work or come  into contact

•
  To protect our reputation and interests

•

This role may require a DBS check for traveling to projects where there is access to
vulnerable groups.

In  accepting  appointment,  you  undertake  to regulate  your  conduct  in  line  with  the
requirements  of  this  code  and  to  undergo  any  background  checks  that  may  be
required.

As  an  organisation  assessing  applicants’  suitability  for  positions  which  are
included  in  the  Rehabilitation  of  Offenders  Act  1974  (Exceptions)  Order  using
criminal  record  checks  processed  through  the  Disclosure  and  Barring  Service
(DBS),  we  comply  fully  with  the  Code  of  Practice  and  undertake  to  treat  all
applicants for positions fairly. We undertake not  to discriminate unfairly against
any  subject  of  a  criminal  record  check  on  the  basis  of  a  conviction  or  other
information revealed.

Anti-Slavery International
The Foundry
17 Oval Way
London
SE11 5RR
Tel: +44 (0)207 501 8920

UK Registered Charity No.1049160