Humanitarian Strategic Lead

Plan International UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Plan International UK is seeking a Humanitarian Strategic Lead to steer our response to emerging crises. You will drive cross‑team engagement to secure timely, coordinated emergency funding from Start Network, DEC, and internal sources.

You will lead a team of Emergency Response Managers, foster partnerships with country and regional offices, and ensure humanitarian priorities are integrated across the International Programmes Directorate.

Job description

Plan International is a global charity advancing equality for girls and a just world for all.

Because here’s the truth: around the world, girls still face more risks and fewer choices – and their hard‑won freedoms are increasingly under threat.

But girls aren’t backing down and neither are we. Together the plan is still on, until every girl is safe, in school, and can choose their own future. Until we are all equal.

The Humanitarian Strategic Lead plays a pivotal role in mobilising Plan International UK's response to emerging and escalating humanitarian crises. Working across teams and directorates, you will drive organisational engagement that raises both funds and awareness, ensuring timely, coordinated, and impactful emergency responses.

You will lead resource mobilisation efforts for new humanitarian responses, with a particular focus on securing and managing funding through Start Network, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), and Plan International's internal emergency funding mechanisms. Acting as a key liaison with Plan International country and regional offices, you will foster strong partnerships and ensure effective collaboration across the global organisation.

You will manage and develop a high-performing team of Emergency Response Managers, providing strategic direction, coaching, and support. You will also champion strong coordination across the wider International Programmes Directorate, ensuring humanitarian priorities are effectively integrated and delivered.

To be successful in this role, you will bring substantial experience of leading humanitarian responses in complex environments, including significant field-based experience in a management capacity. You will have operated at a senior level within an international organisation and possess a strong understanding of both UK and international donor funding landscapes.

You will be a confident relationship builder with a proven ability to negotiate partnerships, funding agreements, and programme arrangements that deliver results for people affected by crisis. Combining strategic thinking with operational expertise, you will be committed to strengthening humanitarian impact through collaboration, innovation, and effective resource mobilisation.

For further detail of this role, please see the job profile. Please note that this is a UK based role and we are unable to offer international contracts.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on 23 September 2026

Interviews will take place between 7 to 9 October 2026

We are committed to the safeguarding and protection of children, young people and adults in our work. We, therefore, apply rigorous recruitment and selection processes to ensure that only those who are suitable are recruited to work for us. Accordingly, appointment to all our roles is subject to a range of vetting checks and for this role this will include a Basic Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working for us; this will depend on the circumstances of any offences

Plan International UK is committed to being an inclusive employer and we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.