Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies 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.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in crisis situations and lead diverse teams.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in humanitarian programming and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with significant responsibility and strategic oversight.
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.
Team Leader - HEROS 2 Programme employer: Adam Smith International
Contact Detail:
Adam Smith International Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Leader - HEROS 2 Programme
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your contacts in the humanitarian and conflict sectors. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know. Attend relevant events or webinars to meet potential employers and showcase your expertise.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching FCDO’s recent projects and initiatives. We want to see you shine! Tailor your responses to highlight how your experience aligns with their mission and the HEROS 2 Programme specifically.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss examples of how you've led teams under pressure. We love hearing about your strategic planning and risk management experiences, especially in high-stakes environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals ready to make a difference in humanitarian efforts.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Leader - HEROS 2 Programme
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the HEROS 2 Programme. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand the role and its requirements.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading large teams, be sure to provide examples of your leadership experience. Talk about how you've managed teams under pressure and delivered results in challenging situations.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Focus on your background in humanitarian programming and conflict management. Mention specific projects or roles where you've demonstrated your ability to respond rapidly to crises and manage logistics effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get you into the mix for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Adam Smith International
✨Know the HEROS 2 Programme Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the HEROS 2 Programme and its objectives. Familiarise yourself with its key components like Early Warning and Risk Analysis, humanitarian deployments, and procurement logistics. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your genuine interest and ability to lead such a significant programme.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous leadership roles, especially in humanitarian or conflict programming. Highlight specific examples where you successfully managed large teams and delivered major programmes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and clearly illustrate your impact.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Since stakeholder engagement is crucial for this role, think of instances where you've effectively communicated and collaborated with various stakeholders. Be ready to share how you ensured timely reporting and responsiveness in past projects, as this will show your capability to act as the primary interface with FCDO.
✨Prepare for Rapid Response Scenarios
Given the nature of the HEROS 2 Programme, it's essential to convey your ability to coordinate rapid responses under pressure. Prepare examples of how you've managed surge deployments or emergency logistics in tight timeframes. This will highlight your operational agility and readiness to handle crises effectively.