Head of Engagement

Job Description

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

The Opportunity

In this new role, the Head of Engagement leads the “One Plan” approach in driving the Global Strategy through collective influencing, ensuring Plan International is seen as a global leader in girls rights and girls in crisis.  As part of the refreshed remit of the Strategy and Engagement department and in partnership with the Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer (also a new role) – there is increased focus and support on ensuring Plan International’s policy, advocacy, and influencing profile is more visible and effectively communicates the global impact we have – via our youth centred approach.

Using the Global Strategy, Global Advocacy Strategy (GLAS), and Global Influencing Ambition (GIA) – Plan has outlined on average 6 global engagement opportunities per fiscal year – that leverage policy windows, enhance advocacy outcomes, fundraising opportunities, and partnership development.

Our preparations for these engagement opportunities must be holistic “One Plan” and encompass many key departments within Global Hub, but also equally importantly across Regional Hubs, National Organisations, and Country Offices, whilst also ensuring Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Policy & Advocacy, and Girls and Youth Power and Action Hub (GYPA) colleagues can continue to lead on thematic and technical expertise while ensuring coordination is overseen by the Engagement Hub.

The Head of Engagement will lead the overall Plan International Engagement Strategy – from structure, to priorities, to process – in partnership with the Head of Profession for Policy & Advocacy – and working closely with the GLAS Steering Committee, and other key internal and external stakeholders.

For FY24 the key engagement opportunities include:

• Women Deliver 2023 (July 2023) – Kigali
• United Nations General Assembly/Sustainable Development Goals Summit (September 2023) – NYC
• Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (October 2023) – virtual
• International Day of the Girl (October 2023) – virtual
• COP28 (November 2023)
• Davos, World Economic Forum (January 2024)
• Commission on the Status of Women (March 2024) – NYC

Further 2024 engagement opportunities to be defined collectively via the GLAS Steering Committee and the Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer

The Individual

The following requirements are essential; 

• Proven commitment to and expertise in advancing Plan International’s Purpose to advance children’s rights and equality for girls (in all their diversity), gender equality, diversity and inclusion .
• Ability to think critically and to research and analyse complex information.
• Ability to assess risks, issues and opportunities with a high degree of coherence and clarity to solve complex problems and innovate.
• Experience of planning and prioritisation of external global engagement initiatives, projects and work programmes to achieve quality outcomes and benefits within agreed timelines.
• Strong background in public affairs, advocacy, government relations or other similar field – expert understanding of and ability to navigate global political environment
• Strong project management skills and the ability to report and resolve risks, issues and dependencies.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and strength in forming relationships and supporting colleagues to deliver on their commitments within corporate policies, values and established good practice.
• High degree of cultural sensitivity within a global context.
• Ability to communicate with clarity and effectiveness to different audiences, using a range of media.
• Experience of providing professional advice and guidance to leaders within an organisation of comparable complexity.
• Staff management and motivation skills.
• Business administration and/or project management qualifications
• Experience of working within a global organisation.

Please follow this link for the full role profile; Head of Engagement_SE Role Profile.docx

Location: The location of this role can be flexible where Plan International has an office* that can employ on behalf of the Global Hub and you have the pre-existing right to work and live.

Type of Role: Permanent or maximum fixed term contract available

Reports to: Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer

Salary: £54963 – £82444

Closing Date: Sunday 18th June at 23.59 BST

*Applicable locations include: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.