Lead Surge Humanitarian Adviser-Preparedness in London

Lead Surge Humanitarian Advisor -Preparedness
About The Role
Are you a humanitarian professional with management experience and technical expertise in preparedness and the agility to operate inside a major donor environment ?Palladium is recruiting a Lead Surge Humanitarian Advisor -Preparedness to join the Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT) delivering the HEROS programme for FCDO. This role reports to the Team Leader -Advisory and Surge and manages a team of deployable humanitarian advisers whose core function is to provide surge capacity to FCDO in response to humanitarian crises. The role operates across the generalist and specialist portfolio and contributes to cross-contract preparedness and the management of the humanitarian roster. The role also leads on humanitarian preparedness ensuring HSOT\’s preparedness offer to FCDO offices including further design and development of the offer through engagement and coordination across HSOT functions, collaborate with FCDO counterparts to further promote the service across FCDO teams, establish and maintain evidence and feedback mechanisms and analyse impact for dissemination and adaption

Project Overview
The Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT) is contracted by Palladium to deliver the Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations and Stabilisation Programme (HEROS), working with FCDO\’s Humanitarian Response Department (HCRD) and the Migration and Conflict Directorate (MCD), as well as multiple UK Government teams and partners in 130 countries. The team provides operational and advisory support to meet humanitarian needs and restore stability in sudden-onset disasters, protracted crises and complex emergencies.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities
Line Management

• Provide high quality line management support, development and guidance to staff members within the functional unit.
• Work with staff in order to plan the aims, objectives and priorities of their role, and set clear expectations for quality, accuracy, timeliness, and hold staff accountable to this through the annual performance review cycle.
• Strategic oversight of the work capacity and tasking of the team including leading weekly meetings and considering team ability to surge.
• Take all reasonable steps to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of staff.
• Provide clear advice, guidance, support, mentoring, coaching and access to formal training programmes as appropriate for professional development within the role, in order to motivate and enable staff to achieve consistently high performance.
• Ensure new staff are appropriately welcomed and inducted and departing staff are appropriately debrief ed and acknowledged.

Generalist Portfolio

• Surge into FCDO teams overseas and in London (up to 4 weeks at a time, up to 60% of the year) to provide humanitarian advice that informs FCDO\’s design and delivery of strategy, programmes and policies in the immediate aftermath of a crisis. The advice must be high quality, evidence-based and aligned with FCDO priorities, principles and international standards
• Act as the HSOT Response Lead when required, working closely with the Coordination Lead and the Director to ensure a coherent integrated approach to response, which is evidence-based, context-specific and tailored to the evolving demands of a disrupted humanitarian landscape.
• Develop and maintain the HEROS advisory tools, drawing on lessons learned and best practices.
• Support the lifecycle of the humanitarian, SBO & UNDAC rosters, providing technical inputs into recruitment, training, quality assurance and communities of practice.
• Advance FCDO\’s priorities on localisation and multilateral reform through tailored advisory inputs, both within HSOT and direct to FCDO.
• Assist in strengthening engagement on Standby Partnership (SBP) and UNDAC strategy and operations by providing meaningful advisory inputs into, and ensuring implementation of, SBP & UNDAC annual strategies, representing FCDO at annual SBP & UNDAC events, working groups etc., reviewing mid & end point mission reports, contributing to client reporting and risk & issue identification and mitigation.
• Support HCRD to integrate humanitarian concerns across FCDO and other Government Department\’s work as requested, advising on possible risks, opportunities and solutions.
• Promote and champion learning, development and professional excellence and ensure the skillset remains relevant and contributes to an active learning culture in the team.
• Develop strong relationships across FCDO to maintain familiarity with policies, priorities and practices.
• Maintain strong relationships and networks with external actors that complement but do not cut across FCDO relationships.

Specialist Portfolio

• Provide technical and strategic advice and support to FCDO on improving humanitarian preparedness. This will include: Lead HSOT\’s preparedness offer to FCDO teams including further design and development of the offer through engagement and coordination across HSOT functions, collaborate with FCDO counterparts to further promote the service across FCDO, establish and maintain evidence and feedback mechanisms and analyse impact for dissemination and adaption.
• Manage all aspects of the Humanitarian Crisis Preparedness Helpdesk, including further development, communications pushes, and day to day management of incoming requests as Helpdesk Manager. Work with the HSOT Lead HA and Advisory TL to allocate work across the advisory team, and across HSOT as needed, in collaboration with HCRD focal points.
• Work with HCRD and other relevant teams (Desk, CMD, MCD) to provide direct preparedness support to prioritised Geographic teams (Posts and Desks) in areas considered as high risk of humanitarian disasters including a) review and development of approaches for improvement of existing risk analysis and Crisis Management Planning; b) provide support with training and exercising to FCDO and relevant HMG staff c) liaison with potential partners and donors at national and regional level in collaboration with staff at Post d) liaison with key HMG departments (e) joint preparedness planning
• Work with HCRD and other relevant teams to develop and maintain a humanitarian preparedness approach, tools and guidance which clearly articulates recommended actions for FCDO Geographic teams across the country network. Provide advice to HCRD to ensure that the approach remains relevant through FCDO 2030 transition.
• Support HCRD with a clear humanitarian preparedness package of support for HCRD Core Response Contexts which includes periodic in-depth support plus annual refreshers / check-ins.
• Collate instances of best practice and develop tools that would enable FCDO to replicate successful practices in other contexts
• Ensure the roster has adequate depth and breadth for preparedness work, including developing and delivering trainings for HA and HAO consultants.
• Work with HCRD, HPPD and the wider FCDO network to provide inputs into advocacy, policy and programmes designed to move the needle, with a strong focus on providing feedback on operational realities and how these might reinforce or undermine FCDO priorities.

Collaboration

• Work constructively with colleagues to achieve shared goals.
• Share knowledge, support others, and contribute to a positive team culture.
• Be open to feedback and willing to adapt to meet team needs.

Risk Management

• Be aware of potential risks to effective and responsible programme management and contribute to mitigation measures according to job role.
• Be familiar with and actively participate in established risk management procedures, including reporting issues against identified risks and failures of mitigation measures.
• Contribute to risk assessment activities and suggest improvements.

Other Duties

• Participate in HEST training and work to mitigate safety and security threats for self and others
• Undertake any other duties as appropriate to the position, as requested.
• Participate in Duty Officer system rotation, providing week-long out of hours surveillance of emergencies
• Contribute to HEROS contract monthly, quarterly, annual contractual reporting on specialist portfolio, and provide support as requested in support of results-based reporting.
• Support business Transition and Exit Planning: Play a pivotal role in adapting to system upgrades and organizational changes, ensuring the workforce is aligned with future business needs. Lead on providing data inputs during the transition phase.
• This position follows Palladium\’s hybrid working policy, requiring a minimum attendance of three days in the office. As appropriate, engage with Palladium UKEA regional team fora and initiatives.

Key Skills And Knowledge

• Significant relevant senior humanitarian work experience in emergency settings, including country office level, preferably across range of humanitarian responses and programmes in rapid onset and protracted crisis settings.
• Ability to prioritise effective humanitarian assistance to people in greatest nee
• A bility to lead, train and mentor staff.
• Proven experience of using Humanitarian data and diagnostic ecosystem, processes, products and utility including
• Understanding of Crisis drivers of humanitarian need, their interlinkages and trajectory (e.g. sudden onset, recurring or protracted crises)
• Available for rapid deployment at short notice for periods of up to 4 weeks for up to 60% of the time.
• Preparedness/response capabilities in priority sectors and multi-sector areas including their effectiveness; appropriateness; relevance; coverage; risks
• Utilisation of Evidence base, technology and innovation: including science and evidence of what works in different types of crises and contexts; economic concepts over what offers best VFM;
• Use of available UK levers: including programming, influence and diplomacy across the HMG network.
• Act with integrity, reliability, and respect in all interactions
• Represent Palladium positively in all professional settings
• Take ownership of tasks and responsibilities.
• Deliver work to agreed standards and deadlines.
• Follow through on commitments and raise concerns early when issues arise.

The role is a permanent contract, applicants must hold the valid right to work in the UK and 2 year footprint in the UK to meet the compliance requirements for the role. The closing date for the advert is 11th January 2026.