Location: London, United Kingdom
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Reference: req24469
Palladium is seeking an exceptional Advisory and Surge Team Leader to lead the humanitarian advisory function within the Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT). This position offers a unique opportunity to influence how the UK Government responds to global humanitarian crises and contributes to international system reform. The role sits at the intersection of humanitarian action, policy, and strategic leadership—ideal for professionals who combine operational experience with visionary insight.
About the Project
The Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT) is contracted by Palladium to deliver the Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations and Stabilisation (HEROS) programme on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). HSOT supports the FCDO’s Humanitarian Crisis Response Department (HCRD) and Migration and Conflict Directorate (MCD), providing advisory and operational expertise to help meet humanitarian needs in over 130 countries. The team’s mission is to strengthen the UK’s capacity to respond to sudden-onset disasters, protracted crises, and complex emergencies.
Role Overview
The Advisory and Surge Team Leader provides strategic direction and oversight to HSOT’s humanitarian advisory function. The position ensures that the advisory function remains agile, scalable, and aligned with FCDO’s evolving humanitarian priorities—including Localisation, preparedness, and system reform.
The incumbent will lead a high-performing advisory team, oversee roster management, and ensure the deployment of top-tier experts capable of delivering context-specific, high-quality advice to FCDO partners worldwide.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership and Team Management
- Provide strategic guidance and thought leadership for the Humanitarian Advisor (HA) function within HSOT.
- Lead, motivate, and manage the advisory team to deliver excellence, adaptability, and innovation.
- Support professional development through mentorship, training, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Review the evolving skills landscape and adjust advisory expertise to align with global humanitarian trends.
- Represent the advisory function at high-level forums such as Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW), working groups, and international conferences.
- Translate HSOT’s strategic direction into actionable plans that contribute to contract-wide performance and impact.
2. Deployment of Advisors
- Oversee technical deployment of core team and roster advisors, ensuring timely, effective placement based on need and expertise.
- Maintain quality assurance systems for advisory work, providing oversight and feedback on mission outputs.
- Foster coordination between advisors, the HSOT core team, and external partners to ensure integrated delivery.
- Implement performance management and continuous feedback mechanisms to strengthen advisory delivery.
3. Training, Mentoring, and Roster Development
- Design and deliver targeted technical training for advisors, ensuring alignment with FCDO’s humanitarian priorities.
- Build and maintain diverse, high-quality rosters reflecting global and local expertise.
- Establish Communities of Practice to facilitate knowledge exchange and strengthen technical coherence.
- Support the integration of humanitarian and UNDAC rosters, promoting cross-functional collaboration.
4. Preparedness and Response
- Oversee the ongoing refinement of the HEROS Advisory Toolbox, ensuring it remains evidence-based and forward-looking.
- Coordinate preparedness exercises, simulations, and training sessions in collaboration with the Impact & Learning Team.
- Act as HSOT Response Lead when required, ensuring a coherent and integrated approach to emergency responses.
- Support coordination of Standby Partnership (SBP) and UNDAC requests, ensuring efficient participation in global response mechanisms.
5. Localisation and System Strengthening
- Advance opportunities for locally led humanitarian response, building national capacity and supporting system reform.
- Ensure all advisory activities promote FCDO’s localisation agenda and reflect best practice in inclusive humanitarian response.
6. Field Support and Representation
- Deploy to field locations, including high-risk environments, to provide direct advisory support and coordination.
- Maintain staff welfare and operational continuity during complex missions.
- Represent Palladium and HSOT positively in all interactions with partners and stakeholders.
7. Risk Management and Organisational Development
- Identify and mitigate risks to ensure effective programme delivery.
- Contribute to risk assessments, transition planning, and business continuity measures.
- Provide data and insights during organisational transitions and system upgrades.
Qualifications and Experience
- Strong leadership experience managing humanitarian advisory teams in complex, fast-paced environments.
- Proven ability to design and deliver training, capacity building, and quality assurance frameworks.
- Demonstrated experience in surge management, roster operations, and performance systems for deployable experts.
- Solid understanding of humanitarian response, preparedness, localisation, and the FCDO’s operational context.
- Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines with donors, governments, multilateral agencies, and local actors.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
- Right to work in the United Kingdom is required.
Working Conditions
The role may require deployment to field or high-risk locations at short notice, for periods of up to four weeks and approximately 60% of the time. Candidates must be willing to undertake security training and participate in a rotating Duty Officer system for emergency response coverage.
Commitment to Equality
Palladium is an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. The company prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.
Applications close on 20 October 2025.
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