Advocacy Lead
Job Summary
Salary: £50,000 per annum, full time equivalent. This is a 6 month fixed-term contract.
If you’re passionate about securing justice and protection for the world’s most vulnerable children, thrive in political environment, and have the skills to build powerful advocacy movements, this is your opportunity to lead bold and impactful advocacy at War Child UK.
As our Advocacy Lead, you’ll play a key role in driving for children affected by conflict. This is an opportunity to be at the forefront of influencing the UK Government, ensuring that decision-makers take meaningful action to protect and support children globally affected by war and conflict.
We’re hoping for someone who can join us as soon as possible, though we can offer some flexibility for the right candidate.
In line with our commitment to flexible working, this role is offered on a full-time basis (37.5 hours, 5 days per week), but we’re also open to applications from candidates who would like to work part-time (4 days / 80%). We encourage you to apply and share your preferred working pattern in your application.
Your Role
You’ll lead War Child UK’s political engagement, forging influential relationships with MPs, civil servants, think tanks and parliamentary groups, ensuring that children’s voices are heard where it matters most. It’s essential that you’re skilled at building and managing long-term relationships with senior parliamentarians, influencing policymakers, and engaging government officials to drive meaningful policy change. With a strategic approach, you’ll mobilise cross-party support, help shape public campaigns to mobilise public action and support and push for tangible action and increased resources for children in conflict zones.
Working alongside a committed and high-performing team, you’ll ensure that War Child UK’s policy and advocacy priorities resonate across government, parliament, the media, social channels and the wider public.
This role offers an incredible platform to make a tangible difference at a time of unprecedented need. Join us in standing up for children affected by war and help create a future where no child’s life is torn apart by conflict.
Your Responsibilities
- To lead on the development and implementation of our advocacy strategy across policy and programmatic themes related to children and conflict, and regional or country situations and crises, in close coordination with Head of Communications and Campaigns and global advocacy and programme teams – ensuring children’s voices and experiences are at the heart of plans. .
- Lead on the strategic direction of advocacy messaging across War Child UK’s communications channels, ensuring alignment with policy and programmatic priorities to drive impactful advocacy engagement across the website, social media, and press.
- Develop and strengthen relationships with MPs, Peers, and parliamentary committees, securing debates, parliamentary questions, and cross-party support.
- Coordinate and facilitate meetings, secure high-level participation, and drive forward advocacy priorities through APPG activities.
- Represent War Child UK in coalitions, networks, and working groups, ensuring our voice is heard in key policy discussions.
- Proactively monitor and analyse political and policy developments, identifying strategic opportunities to influence decision-makers and advance War Child UK’s advocacy goals. Provide expert insight and recommendations to senior leadership and external partners.
- Lead on providing expert analysis and clear written and verbal updates to War Child UK colleagues on key advocacy developments ensuring teams are well-informed and equipped to support advocacy priorities.
- Uphold our commitments to the safeguarding of children, and adults and compliant to War Child’s Safeguarding and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment) policies.
These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the role.
You Are
Essential Experience
- A track record of delivering tangible outcomes in advocacy, public affairs, particularly within the UK Government and Parliament, ideally within an international development and/or humanitarian context.
- Demonstrable examples of building and managing long term relationships with senior parliamentarians and engaging and influencing policymakers, government officials, and other MPs to achieve policy change.
- A record of creating ambitious advocacy strategies that tangibly advance organisational objectives.
- Experience of successfully engaging with Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to secure speeches in parliament, interventions, oral and written questions, EDMs, secure debates and other parliamentary procedures.
- Strong understanding of UK political systems, parliamentary processes, and key government departments (e.g., FCDO, Home Office, MOD).
- Demonstrated ability to build strategic relationships with civil society organisations, coalitions, and political stakeholders.
- Experience working on public campaigns to further advocacy objectives.
Essential Skills
- Communication and influencing: Strong written and verbal skills to develop impactful advocacy materials, briefing papers, and campaign messaging that translate across multiple channels.
- Strategic thinking: Ability to identify advocacy opportunities and develop effective influencing strategies to further organisational aims; adept in horizon scanning and plugged into the news and political agenda.
- Project management: Ability to manage multiple projects, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
- Stakeholder engagement: Ability to engage with government officials, MPs, donors, NGOs, and the public to drive advocacy outcomes.
- Collaboration and teamwork: Ability to work across teams, aligning advocacy with media, fundraising, and programmatic goals.
Desirable Experience & Skills
- Experience of coordinating an APPG or similar parliamentary group.
- Experience working on issues related to children’s rights, humanitarian aid, or international development.
- Understanding of safeguarding and ethical storytelling in advocacy.
About Us
At War Child we are driven by a single goal – ensuring a safe future for every child affected by war.
Using our 30 years of experience and proven methodologies, we aim to reach children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out and stay long after the cameras have gone to support them through their recovery. We work with local communities and governments to help protect and educate children, and support them to heal and learn, for a safer, brighter future.
We understand children’s needs, respect and stand up for their rights, and put them at the centre of everything we do – because one child caught up in conflict is one child too many.
Every day, our local teams are in communities and in refugee camps creating safe spaces for children to play, learn and access psychological support, and we specialise in responding rapidly to emergency crisis situations to deliver immediate and critical care impartially to help to those who need us most, when they need us most.
Because no child should be part of war. Ever.
Our Values
- Bold:We use our passion and creativity to deliver high quality evidence-based work designed to maximise our beneficial impact for children in conflict.
- Accountable to children:Children can rely on us to respond to their voices and to treat them with respect and dignity.
- Anti-racism:Anti-racism is not merely a belief. It includes actions that we mainstream throughout our work to change and challenge policies and behaviours that perpetuate racism.
- Transparent:We expect to be held to account by our supporters and participants and we respond with openness and honesty.
- Supportive of each other:We support each other to achieve ambitious goals and be the best we can be. We are honest and open, sharing our successes & confronting our challenges.
Our Benefits
- Flexible working- we recognise the considerable benefits that flexible working can bring and are happy to discuss any possible flexible working options with our employees from hiring. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, occasional working from home and compressed hours.
- Annual leave– 28 days per year (full-time) rising to 33 days with service, plus bank holidays
- Pension- all eligible employees automatically enrolled into a Group Personal Pension Plan with a 5% employer contribution, with minimum employee contribution on a salary sacrifice basis. This increases to 6% after one year's service.
- Family leave– we offer enhanced Maternity, Partner/Co-Parent/Paternity Leave, Adoption & Shared Parental Leave
- Health & wellbeing- employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. In addition, all employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
- Learning & development- dedicated to the investment in learning and continuing professional development for all our employees
- Workplace Nursery Benefit– employees make tax and NI savings on nursery costs for children up to the age of 5
- Flexible public holidays- up to two standard UK public holidays can be exchanged for those that have cultural or religious significance.
- Voluntary contributions can be made through payroll allowing employees to claim back on a range of cancer treatments.Cancer Cover:
- GP 24/7 Helpline:A GP helpline is be available to all UK employees providing access to a qualified GP, 24/7 via a telephone or webcam consultation, and offers diagnosis, advice and reassurance on a range of medical matters, as well as authorisation of private electronic prescriptions.
- Welcome Bag for new starters:A War Child Tote bag, War Child T-shirt and some other practical things to welcome new colleagues to War Child.
- Discounts on War Child Merchandise: 25% discount on full price War Child merchandise, available to all employees, sold through Shop for Good.
- Range of flexible benefits such a Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans.
Flexible Working
We positively support flexible working arrangements. These currently include: office working, homeworking, part-time hours, compressed hours, flexi-time, flexi-place (hybrid working) and job shares. We would be happy to discuss individual flexible working requests during the interview process.
How to Apply
- To apply, simply submit an application through our Current Vacancies page and attach a copy of your CV.
- On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible.
- If you have any questions about reasonable adjustments before or during your application, we welcome the opportunity to talk about what we can do to fairly adapt our process for you. Please share what you’re comfortable with to help us put the right support in place, by emailing careers@warchild.org.uk. Anything you tell us will be kept completely confidential by our HR team.
- We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. In order to apply, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the country where this role is based.
Safeguarding
Our work with children and at-risk adults to ensure their safety is our top priority. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in all aspects of our work. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior or practices that put children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse or harm.
Successful applicants will be required to comply with and sign our Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and PSEAH Policy. You can find the Safeguarding and Integrity policies here:https://warchild.sharepoint.com/sites/Integrity
Diversity and Inclusion
We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to ensuring that all our people and job applicants are treated fairly, irrespective of where, what or whom they were born, or of other characteristics. We want to offer a safe and inclusive workplace where all our people, especially those who are currently marginalised or underrepresented, can be themselves at work. You can read our Diversity and Inclusion policy on our website, and if you have any questions about our commitment to diversity and inclusion do get in touch: https://www.warchild.org.uk/our-work/policies-and-reports/diversity-and-inclusion
Pre-employment Checks
Employment with War Child will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:
- a satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International/National Criminal Record Check
- a clear vetting and Due Diligence check
- receipt of two professional satisfactory references
Executive Officer to CEO
Job Summary
Salary: circa £42,000 per annum
The Executive Officer to CEO leads the effective running of the CEO’s office, providing strategic project management, coordination of leadership priorities, and hands-on delivery across strategy development, planning and governance.
This is a pivotal role within War Child, sitting at the heart of the organisation’s leadership and governance. Working closely with the CEO, Leadership Group, Chair and Board of Trustees, the Executive Officer to CEO plays a key role in enabling effective decision-making, organisational oversight and delivery of War Child’s ambitions for children.
Reporting to the CEO and acting as a trusted representative of their office, you will be an energetic, highly organised self-starter with the judgement and confidence to balance strategic coordination with high-quality executive support. The role combines project leadership, organisational planning and culture-focused initiatives with hands-on executive assistance.
As Company Secretary, you will also support excellence in governance by ensuring War Child meets its statutory and regulatory obligations, including compliance and reporting to the Charity Commission, Companies House and the Fundraising Regulator.
This is a hybrid role, with two days per week expected in the London office and up to three days per week working remotely. Occasional additional office attendance may be required to support meetings or key organisational activity.
Your Role
The Executive Officer to CEO is a multi-faceted role, encompassing company secretary duties for War Child, professional support to the Chair and the Board of Trustees, and executive support and project coordination for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This role sits at the heart of War Child’s governance and leadership infrastructure, supporting the Leadership Group to operate effectively and to develop the organisation’s overall direction, effectiveness, oversight and accountability.
The Executive Officer to CEO is responsible for ensuring War Child meets its statutory and regulatory obligations including compliance and reporting to the Charity Commission, Companies House the Fundraising Regulator and other relevant bodies. The role plays a critical part in enabling the CEO to fulfil their leadership responsibilities, providing high-quality organisational support, coordination and judgement to ensure priorities are managed effectively and the organisation’s ambitions for children are delivered.
Acting as a trusted internal and external representative of the CEO, the Executive Officer to CEO coordinates a range of strategic, culture and operational initiatives on behalf of the CEO’s office, working closely with the Leadership Group, Board and senior stakeholders to ensure momentum, clarity and high standards of delivery.
Your Responsibilities
Governance
- Lead and facilitate effective consultation and decision-making by overseeing the organisation of Board, Committee and AGM meetings and events, ensuring that high-quality papers and information are prepared, commissioned and circulated on time and in line with agreed schedules.
- Support the effective governance of War Child by taking comprehensive, high-quality minutes and leading post-meeting follow-up to ensure accurate recording, tracking and implementation of decisions arising from all Board and Committee meetings;
- Operate as the first point of logistical liaison between the Board and the Leadership Group ensuring clear communication, timely information flow and effective escalation where required.
- Ensure War Child’s Board is fit for purpose by managing end-to-end trustee recruitment, induction and training. Also coordinating Board performance reviews and providing analysis of results and proposed follow up recommendations.
- Use Salesforce to record and update crucial details for the Board and other key stakeholders, ensuring comprehensive documentation of key interactions, milestones and insights.
- Manage the strategic risk register, coordinating updates with risk owners and supporting Leadership Group and Board oversight.
Regulatory reporting
- Liaise with regulatory bodies, co-ordinating the timely submission of statutory updates, annual returns and Serious Incident Reports to Companies House and the Charity Commission, proactively monitoring Charity Commission alerts to brief senior management and support appropriate Board communication.
- Lead the process of producing the annual report and associated statutory documents for WCUK, working closely with the Finance and IT Director to ensure quality, accuracy and delivery to external deadlines.
- Coordinate data-sharing and reporting with Alliance colleagues as required, including leading on the carbon footprint return for WCUK.
Support for CEO and Leadership Group
- Managing the CEO’s diary and schedule, ensuring long term strategic items planned effectively, alongside the management of a reactive and fast-moving workload, exercising judgement and discretion to align time with organisational priorities.
- Prepare high-quality meeting summaries, briefings and presentations for the CEO, supporting effective decision-making and external engagement.
- Act as a first filter for the CEO’s inbox and correspondence, identifying priority issues requiring CEO attention, progressing actions directly where appropriate, and ensuring timely follow-up.
- Lead and coordinate cross-organisational initiatives on behalf of the CEO and Leadership Group, including developing and maintaining delivery plans, coordinating actions, researching and proposing solutions, and communicating progress and outcomes to key stakeholder groups.
- Support the CEO on a range of initiatives relating to fundraising, communications and external positioning, including research, briefing and coordination with relevant teams.
- Lead the coordination and delivery of organisational strategy development processes, including planning timelines, commissioning input, synthesising contributions, and supporting the Leadership Group and Board through key stages of development, review and sign-off.
- Build and maintain trusted working relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders on the behalf of the CEO, clearly and professionally and coordinating meetings and engagement as required.
- Oversee and coordinate travel, expenses and associated administrative processes for the CEO, working directly on some activity and delegating or working in partnership with the Executive Assistant where appropriate, to ensure efficient logistics, accurate processing and compliance with organisational policies.
Support for Leadership Group and wider fundraising function
- Lead on internal communications on behalf of the CEO and Leadership Group, ensuring clarity, consistency and alignment with organisational priorities.
- Ensure the efficient and effective running of Leadership Group meetings including agenda planning, commissioning and circulating papers, minute-taking, and tracking and chasing actions.
- Oversee the quality and presentation of key communications and materials for the Board and external audiences, including Board papers, KPI reports and CEO presentations, ensuring they are accurate, on brand and fit for purpose.
- Lead on Leadership Group forward planning, including developing and maintaining annual and multi-year workplans, shaping agendas, and ensuring discussions and decisions are aligned to strategic priorities, capacity and organisational wellbeing.
- Work closely with the Executive Assistant, providing direction, coordination and support to ensure effective delivery of administrative, logistical and diary management activities, with clear ownership and appropriate delegation between roles.
- Maintain the WCUK policy library in SharePoint, tracking review cycles and coordinating with policy owners to ensure policies remain current and accessible.
- Contribute to creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children and adults and compliant to War Child’s Safeguarding and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment) Policies.
- We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable workplace. All staff are expected to actively contribute to this by embedding principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into their day-to-day work, decision-making, and interactions with colleagues, partners, and supporters.
These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the role.
You Are
- Experienced in providing high-level executive support at C-suite level, and in supporting a Board and/or charity governance processes, including the drafting of high-quality minutes, reports and formal papers.
- Possess strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the confidence and sensitivity to engage effectively with senior internal and external stakeholders, and to represent the CEO with professionalism, discretion and sound judgement. Demonstrates high emotional intelligence and a strong commitment to confidentiality.
- Exceptionally organised with the ability to manage competing priorities and produce high-quality outputs to tight deadlines.
- Experience of supporting or coordinating organisational strategy development, planning or review processes, or similar organisation-wide initiatives.
- Able to bring experience and learning from a range of dynamic projects, programmes or campaigns, applying best practice to improve ways of working and outcomes.
- Demonstrates strong end-to-end project management capability, with the ability to introduce clear, methodical and proportionate approaches that maximise efficiency and organisational impact.
- Comfortable working in a creative, fast-paced environment, with an interest in storytelling, communications and fundraising-led work.
- Highly resilient, with the ability to bring clarity, structure and momentum when working in ambiguous or evolving circumstances, and to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
- Familiar with a range of project management tools and methodologies, and able to apply them pragmatically in a charity context.
- An excellent communicator, both written and verbal, with particular strength in formal correspondence, briefing and minute-taking for senior-level meetings.
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with superb document, spreadsheet and presentation skills (including Word, Excel and PowerPoint / Canva).
- Able to exercise sound judgement in relation to competing priorities, making decisions and recommendations where solutions are not always obvious and initiative, discretion and prudence are required.
- Experienced in managing a complex, multi-faceted workload independently, seeing work through from initiation to delivery, and thinking laterally to resolve challenges.
- Able to quickly develop a strong understanding of organisational context and dynamics, and to influence negotiate and work effectively with senior leaders.
About Us
At War Child we are driven by a single goal – ensuring a safe future for every child affected by war.
Using our 30 years of experience and proven methodologies, we aim to reach children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out and stay long after the cameras have gone to support them through their recovery. We work with local communities and governments to help protect and educate children, and support them to heal and learn, for a safer, brighter future.
We understand children’s needs, respect and stand up for their rights, and put them at the centre of everything we do – because one child caught up in conflict is one child too many.
Every day, our local teams are in communities and in refugee camps creating safe spaces for children to play, learn and access psychological support, and we specialise in responding rapidly to emergency crisis situations to deliver immediate and critical care impartially to help to those who need us most, when they need us most.
Because no child should be part of war. Ever.
Our Values
- Bold:We use our passion and creativity to deliver high quality evidence-based work designed to maximise our beneficial impact for children in conflict.
- Accountable to children:Children can rely on us to respond to their voices and to treat them with respect and dignity.
- Anti-racism:Anti-racism is not merely a belief. It includes actions that we mainstream throughout our work to change and challenge policies and behaviours that perpetuate racism.
- Transparent:We expect to be held to account by our supporters and participants and we respond with openness and honesty.
- Supportive of each other:We support each other to achieve ambitious goals and be the best we can be. We are honest and open, sharing our successes & confronting our challenges.
Our Benefits
- Flexible working- we recognise the considerable benefits that flexible working can bring and are happy to discuss any possible flexible working options with our employees from hiring. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, occasional working from home and compressed hours.
- Annual leave– 28 days per year (full-time) rising to 33 days with service, plus bank holidays
- Pension- all eligible employees automatically enrolled into a Group Personal Pension Plan with a 5% employer contribution, with minimum employee contribution on a salary sacrifice basis. This increases to 6% after one year's service.
- Family leave– we offer enhanced Maternity, Partner/Co-Parent/Paternity Leave, Adoption & Shared Parental Leave
- Health & wellbeing- employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. In addition, all employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
- Learning & development- dedicated to the investment in learning and continuing professional development for all our employees
- Workplace Nursery Benefit– employees make tax and NI savings on nursery costs for children up to the age of 5
- Flexible public holidays- up to two standard UK public holidays can be exchanged for those that have cultural or religious significance.
- Voluntary contributions can be made through payroll allowing employees to claim back on a range of cancer treatments.Cancer Cover:
- GP 24/7 Helpline:A GP helpline is be available to all UK employees providing access to a qualified GP, 24/7 via a telephone or webcam consultation, and offers diagnosis, advice and reassurance on a range of medical matters, as well as authorisation of private electronic prescriptions.
- Welcome Bag for new starters:A War Child Tote bag, War Child T-shirt and some other practical things to welcome new colleagues to War Child.
- Discounts on War Child Merchandise: 25% discount on full price War Child merchandise, available to all employees, sold through Shop for Good.
- Range of flexible benefits such a Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans.
Flexible Working
We positively support flexible working arrangements. These currently include: office working, homeworking, part-time hours, compressed hours, flexi-time, flexi-place (hybrid working) and job shares. We would be happy to discuss individual flexible working requests during the interview process.
How to Apply
- To apply, simply submit an application through our Current Vacancies page and attach a copy of your CV.
- On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible.
- If you have any questions about reasonable adjustments before or during your application, we welcome the opportunity to talk about what we can do to fairly adapt our process for you. Please share what you’re comfortable with to help us put the right support in place, by emailing careers@warchild.org.uk. Anything you tell us will be kept completely confidential by our HR team.
- We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. In order to apply, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the country where this role is based.
Safeguarding
Our work with children and at-risk adults to ensure their safety is our top priority. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in all aspects of our work. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior or practices that put children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse or harm.
Successful applicants will be required to comply with and sign our Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and PSEAH Policy. You can find the Safeguarding and Integrity policies here:https://warchild.sharepoint.com/sites/Integrity
Diversity and Inclusion
We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to ensuring that all our people and job applicants are treated fairly, irrespective of where, what or whom they were born, or of other characteristics. We want to offer a safe and inclusive workplace where all our people, especially those who are currently marginalised or underrepresented, can be themselves at work. You can read our Diversity and Inclusion policy on our website, and if you have any questions about our commitment to diversity and inclusion do get in touch: https://www.warchild.org.uk/our-work/policies-and-reports/diversity-and-inclusion
Pre-employment Checks
Employment with War Child will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:
- a satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International/National Criminal Record Check
- a clear vetting and Due Diligence check
- receipt of two professional satisfactory references
Philanthropy Manager
Job Summary
Salary: circa £40,000 per annum
The Philanthropy team at War Child is sector leading with our heritage, connections, and relationships. Our friends are superbly connected and ready to use their networks to help us. With a talented, hard-working team, we deliver amazing, creative and innovative fundraising that has a huge capacity to inspire people.
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Philanthropy Manager with a passion for international development to join our growing team. Working in a fast-paced environment, you will bring deep expertise in major donor fundraising, exceptional interpersonal skills, and a strong understanding of how to identify, cultivate and steward high-value supporters to grow sustainable income.
Your Role
You will play a key role in developing and managing a robust pipeline of major donors, securing significant restricted and unrestricted gifts through tailored cultivation, compelling proposals and high-quality stewardship. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will help shape the future of War Child’s major donor programme and contribute to a sector-leading supporter experience.
Reporting to the Philanthropy Lead, you will lead the delivery of an effective stewardship programme, nurture long-term relationships with major donors and supporters, and help deliver a programme of high-quality events and engagement opportunities. This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-performing, values-driven team and make a meaningful contribution to War Child’s growth and impact.
Your Responsibilities
- Systematically identify, qualify, and develop a pipeline for up to six figure gift opportunities for both unrestricted and restricted giving using research, prospect mapping, and data-driven insights.
- Lead the design and delivery of an excellent stewardship programme, supporting relationship managers to provide sector-leading supporter journeys through tailored communications, recognition, and engagement strategies.
- Develop and implement strong cultivation and solicitation plans for existing donors to generate significant income, including personal meetings, networking events, proposals, reports, and presentations.
- Take an active role, and lead where relevant, in planning and delivering a diverse portfolio of philanthropy events, including those hosted by high-profile individuals and Ambassadors, ensuring high-quality donor experiences.
- Support the creation and launch of new fundraising products that enhance donor engagement, retention, and stewardship.
- Contribute to strategy discussions in department, team, or working group meetings, providing insight and recommendations to improve fundraising activities.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all donor communications in Salesforce, ensuring data is properly secured and utilised to inform engagement strategies.
- Monitor income and expenditure targets, producing regular reports on performance against targets using War Child’s database.
- Participate in, and lead where relevant, cross-team working groups to provide expertise, share insights, and identify opportunities for the Philanthropy & Partnerships team.
- Maintain an up-to-date understanding of War Child’s activities and programmes, acting as a brand ambassador in all interactions.
- Perform other duties as may be required by the Head of Philanthropy and Philanthropy & Partner Engagement Director
- Contribute to creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children and adults and compliant to War Child’s Safeguarding and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment) Policies.
- We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable workplace. All staff are expected to actively contribute to this by embedding principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into their day-to-day work, decision-making, and interactions with colleagues, partners, and supporters.
You Are
- Experienced in a similar fundraising role, with specialist knowledge of major donor fundraising, including securing five-figure gifts from high-value supporters, ideally within an international development or humanitarian NGO.
- Able to work independently to develop and implement fundraising strategies with a proven track record of securing five figure gifts and delivering against income targets.
- A confident relationship manager skilled at building and maintaining strong relationships with senior stakeholders and high-value donors, both internally and externally.
- Experienced in developing and delivering effective stewardship strategies or supporter journeys that deepen engagement and retain major donors over time.
- Able to demonstrate experience of planning and delivering high-quality fundraising or cultivation events, with a clear understanding of how events engage and inspire high-value audiences.
- An excellent communicator, with strong verbal and written skills, able to present compelling cases for support, proposals, briefings and reports to a range of audiences.
- Knowledgeable about international development and able to represent War Child’s vision, mission and values with credibility and authority.
- Highly organised, with the ability to plan, prioritise and manage multiple deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
- Up to date with fundraising regulation, compliance and GDPR, and able to apply this knowledge confidently in fundraising practice.
- Confident in using fundraising databases, ideally Salesforce, and able to use data effectively to manage prospects, track performance and inform decision-making.
About Us
At War Child we are driven by a single goal – ensuring a safe future for every child affected by war.
Using our 30 years of experience and proven methodologies, we aim to reach children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out and stay long after the cameras have gone to support them through their recovery. We work with local communities and governments to help protect and educate children, and support them to heal and learn, for a safer, brighter future.
We understand children’s needs, respect and stand up for their rights, and put them at the centre of everything we do – because one child caught up in conflict is one child too many.
Every day, our local teams are in communities and in refugee camps creating safe spaces for children to play, learn and access psychological support, and we specialise in responding rapidly to emergency crisis situations to deliver immediate and critical care impartially to help to those who need us most, when they need us most.
Because no child should be part of war. Ever.
Our Values
- Bold:We use our passion and creativity to deliver high quality evidence-based work designed to maximise our beneficial impact for children in conflict.
- Accountable to children:Children can rely on us to respond to their voices and to treat them with respect and dignity.
- Anti-racism:Anti-racism is not merely a belief. It includes actions that we mainstream throughout our work to change and challenge policies and behaviours that perpetuate racism.
- Transparent:We expect to be held to account by our supporters and participants and we respond with openness and honesty.
- Supportive of each other:We support each other to achieve ambitious goals and be the best we can be. We are honest and open, sharing our successes & confronting our challenges.
Our Benefits
- Flexible working- we recognise the considerable benefits that flexible working can bring and are happy to discuss any possible flexible working options with our employees from hiring. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, occasional working from home and compressed hours.
- Annual leave– 28 days per year (full-time) rising to 33 days with service, plus bank holidays
- Pension- all eligible employees automatically enrolled into a Group Personal Pension Plan with a 5% employer contribution, with minimum employee contribution on a salary sacrifice basis. This increases to 6% after one year's service.
- Family leave– we offer enhanced Maternity, Partner/Co-Parent/Paternity Leave, Adoption & Shared Parental Leave
- Health & wellbeing- employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. In addition, all employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
- Learning & development- dedicated to the investment in learning and continuing professional development for all our employees
- Workplace Nursery Benefit– employees make tax and NI savings on nursery costs for children up to the age of 5
- Flexible public holidays- up to two standard UK public holidays can be exchanged for those that have cultural or religious significance.
- Voluntary contributions can be made through payroll allowing employees to claim back on a range of cancer treatments.Cancer Cover:
- GP 24/7 Helpline:A GP helpline is be available to all UK employees providing access to a qualified GP, 24/7 via a telephone or webcam consultation, and offers diagnosis, advice and reassurance on a range of medical matters, as well as authorisation of private electronic prescriptions.
- Welcome Bag for new starters:A War Child Tote bag, War Child T-shirt and some other practical things to welcome new colleagues to War Child.
- Discounts on War Child Merchandise: 25% discount on full price War Child merchandise, available to all employees, sold through Shop for Good.
- Range of flexible benefits such a Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans.
Flexible Working
We positively support flexible working arrangements. These currently include: office working, homeworking, part-time hours, compressed hours, flexi-time, flexi-place (hybrid working) and job shares. We would be happy to discuss individual flexible working requests during the interview process.
How to Apply
- To apply, simply submit an application through our Current Vacancies page and attach a copy of your CV.
- On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible.
- If you have any questions about reasonable adjustments before or during your application, we welcome the opportunity to talk about what we can do to fairly adapt our process for you. Please share what you’re comfortable with to help us put the right support in place, by emailing careers@warchild.org.uk. Anything you tell us will be kept completely confidential by our HR team.
- We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. In order to apply, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the country where this role is based.
Safeguarding
Our work with children and at-risk adults to ensure their safety is our top priority. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in all aspects of our work. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior or practices that put children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse or harm.
Successful applicants will be required to comply with and sign our Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and PSEAH Policy. You can find the Safeguarding and Integrity policies here:https://warchild.sharepoint.com/sites/Integrity
Diversity and Inclusion
We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to ensuring that all our people and job applicants are treated fairly, irrespective of where, what or whom they were born, or of other characteristics. We want to offer a safe and inclusive workplace where all our people, especially those who are currently marginalised or underrepresented, can be themselves at work. You can read our Diversity and Inclusion policy on our website, and if you have any questions about our commitment to diversity and inclusion do get in touch: https://www.warchild.org.uk/our-work/policies-and-reports/diversity-and-inclusion
Pre-employment Checks
Employment with War Child will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:
- a satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International/National Criminal Record Check
- a clear vetting and Due Diligence check
- receipt of two professional satisfactory references