At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major humanitarian programme, ensuring rapid response and high-quality delivery.
- Company: Join the FCDO, a key player in global humanitarian efforts.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, impactful work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with significant responsibility and strategic oversight.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in crisis situations and lead diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in humanitarian programming and team leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ 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 decisionâmaking 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: Fastâtrack 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 UKâfunded 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 joinedâup 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 largeâscale 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. ÂŁ200m), ensuring rapid, highâquality 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, multiâdisciplinary 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 DVâcleared
- British citizen/passport
- Experience of FCDO humanitarian programming including leadership positions
- Experience leading large teams for delivery of major programmes (e.g. ÂŁ30m+)
- 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.
Team Leader - HEROS 2 Programme in London employer: Adam Smith International
Contact Detail:
Adam Smith International Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Team Leader - HEROS 2 Programme in London
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the humanitarian and conflict sectors. Attend relevant events or webinars, and donât be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
â¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the HEROS 2 Programme and FCDOâs objectives. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Practise common interview questions and think of examples that showcase your leadership and crisis response skills.
â¨Tip Number 3
Showcase your adaptability! In the humanitarian field, things can change rapidly. Be prepared to discuss times when youâve had to pivot quickly or manage unexpected challenges. This will demonstrate your readiness for the fast-paced environment of HEROS 2.
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, get your application in and letâs make a difference together!
We think you need these skills to ace Team Leader - HEROS 2 Programme in London
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with humanitarian programming and team leadership. We want to see how your skills align with the HEROS 2 Programme's needs!
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your roles in managing large teams and delivering major programmes. We love seeing concrete examples of your impact in previous positions, especially in high-pressure environments.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key achievements stand out. This helps us quickly see why youâd be a great fit for the role!
Apply Through Our Website: Donât forget to submit your application through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure it gets into the right hands. Plus, weâre excited to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Adam Smith International
â¨Know the HEROS 2 Programme Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the HEROS 2 Programme. Understand its objectives, capabilities, and how it aligns with FCDO's humanitarian and conflict strategies. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how your experience fits into their mission.
â¨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Be ready to discuss your past leadership roles, especially in managing large teams and complex programmes. Prepare specific examples that highlight your ability to foster collaboration under pressure and ensure high-quality delivery. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
â¨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
The role requires strong strategic oversight, so be prepared to discuss how you've approached strategic planning and risk management in previous positions. Think of scenarios where you had to make quick decisions under pressure and how you ensured compliance with organisational standards.
â¨Engage with Stakeholder Management
Stakeholder engagement is key for this role. Prepare to talk about your experience in liaising with various stakeholders, particularly in a humanitarian context. Highlight your interpersonal and negotiation skills, and be ready to discuss how youâve built relationships to drive programme success.