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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead rapid humanitarian response efforts and manage large, multi-disciplinary teams.
- Company: Join the FCDO's HEROS 2 Programme, a key player in global humanitarian support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, impactful work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with significant responsibility and the chance to shape humanitarian responses.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in crisis situations and enhance global humanitarian efforts.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in humanitarian programming and team leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Overview
The HEROS 2 Programme is one of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's (FCDO) largest and most strategically significant programmes. It is designed to deliver rapid, high-quality humanitarian and stabilisation support in response to global crises, often within hours or days. At its core, HEROS 2 provides five critical capabilities:
- Early Warning and Risk Analysis (EWAR): Continuous monitoring and analysis of emerging risks, producing timely insights and bespoke reports to inform FCDO decision-making and crisis planning.
- Humanitarian Deployments: Rapid mobilisation of technical experts and operational teams to support emergency response, ensuring readiness for surge deployments under severe time constraints.
- Conflict and Security Deployments: Provision of stabilisation expertise and operational support in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, aligned with FCDO's conflict programming priorities.
- Humanitarian Procurement and Logistics: Fast-track procurement and delivery of essential goods and services, maintaining compliance and quality assurance while meeting urgent operational needs. Also, warehouse management.
- Deployments into UN Systems: Placement of UK-funded specialists within UN agencies to strengthen multilateral humanitarian response and coordination.
HEROS 2 will work closely with FCDO's Humanitarian & Migration and Conflict departments, ensuring joined-up delivery across policy and operational priorities. The programme is underpinned by robust governance, risk management, and performance frameworks, while leveraging technology and innovation to enhance efficiency and value for money. Its ability to respond rapidly to crises, combined with strategic oversight of large-scale operations, makes HEROS 2 a cornerstone of the UK's global humanitarian and stabilisation capability.
Role Purpose
Lead one of FCDO's largest humanitarian and conflict programmes (c. £200m), ensuring rapid, high-quality delivery across multiple components. The role demands strategic oversight, operational agility, and strong stakeholder engagement with FCDO's Humanitarian & Migration and Conflict departments. The Team Leader will ensure readiness to respond to emergencies within hours or days, while maintaining compliance and performance standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Stakeholder Engagement: Act as primary interface with FCDO, ensuring timely reporting and responsiveness.
- Team Management: Lead large, multi-disciplinary teams across thematic areas, fostering collaboration and performance under pressure. Provide overall management and accountability for HEROS 2 delivery, including financial oversight. Ensure alignment with FCDO objectives and contractual obligations.
- Rapid Response Coordination: Oversight of surge deployments and emergency procurement/logistics under severe time constraints.
- Strategic Planning & Risk Management: Oversee EWAR outputs, conflict/security deployments, and humanitarian advisory services. Maintain robust risk frameworks and compliance with HMG guidance. Support continuous improvement.
Essential Requirements
- At least SC and preferably DV-cleared
- British citizen/passport
- Experience of FCDO humanitarian programming including leadership positions
- Experience leading large teams for delivery of major programmes (e.g. £30m+)
- Deep understanding of humanitarian deployments, procurement, and surge logistics.
- Familiarity with conflict programming and early warning analysis.
- Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and management skills.
- At least 15 years of directly relevant work experience
Desirable Experience
- Experience as a team leader of FCDO major programmes on a commercial contract
- Substantial experience of FCDO conflict programming
- Former FCDO staff member or comparable role
- Experience of managing surge deployment teams
- Experience of oversight of research or early warning analysis teams
- Prior experience with HSOT or similar mechanism
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Programme Lead, Rapid Humanitarian Response in London employer: Adam Smith International
Contact Detail:
Adam Smith International Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Programme Lead, Rapid Humanitarian Response in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your contacts in the humanitarian sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the FCDO and their recent projects. Show us that you understand their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your responses to highlight your relevant skills and past successes.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to build your confidence. Focus on articulating your leadership experience and how you've managed teams under pressure, as this is crucial for the Programme Lead role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Programme Lead, Rapid Humanitarian Response in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in humanitarian programming and team leadership. We want to see how your skills align with the key responsibilities of the Programme Lead role.
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your experience with rapid response coordination and managing large teams. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your ability to deliver under pressure.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to convey your achievements and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role. We appreciate clarity as much as you do!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Adam Smith International
✨Know Your Programme Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the HEROS 2 Programme and its objectives. Understand the key components like Early Warning and Risk Analysis, and how they align with FCDO's goals. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your genuine interest and expertise in humanitarian response.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience leading large, multi-disciplinary teams. Think of specific examples where you successfully managed projects under pressure, especially in humanitarian contexts. Highlight your ability to foster collaboration and performance, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your strategic planning and rapid response capabilities. Prepare scenarios where you've had to make quick decisions or manage crises effectively. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since stakeholder engagement is key, think about how you've interacted with various stakeholders in past roles. Be ready to discuss how you ensured timely reporting and responsiveness, and how you navigated complex relationships to achieve programme objectives.