Senior Advocacy and Partnership Manager (Irish Government) (7364) in Belfast

Save the Children has an exciting opportunity for an advocacy and partnership focused individual with extensive relationship management experience to join us as our Senior Advocacy & Partnership Manager where you will work with various internal and external stakeholders including the Irish Government, civil society partners and the wider Save the Children movement. This is a 12‑month secondment/fixed‑term contract.

About the role

Save the Children is seeking a Senior Advocacy and Partnership Manager to lead and coordinate our engagement with key stakeholders across Ireland, supporting our global ambition to ensure children affected by conflict, humanitarian crises and poverty can survive, learn and thrive. This is a unique opportunity to play a central role in managing and strengthening Save the Children’s relationships with the Irish Government, civil society partners, academic institutions and colleagues across the wider Save the Children movement. Acting as a key focal point for our work in Ireland, you will help shape strategic partnerships, manage key contracts, coordinate cross‑organisational initiatives and support policy and advocacy efforts that advance children’s rights globally.

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen Save the Children’s strategic relationships with the Irish Government, institutional stakeholders, civil society partners and academic organisations, acting as a key focal point for engagement across Ireland.
• Identify and develop opportunities to enhance partnerships, influence, collaboration and funding in support of Save the Children’s global and national priorities.
• Coordinate and manage strategic partnership initiatives and collaborative projects, working across Save the Children, Save the Children International, country offices and external stakeholders to deliver shared objectives.
• Support the development and implementation of advocacy and influencing strategies focused on children affected by conflict, humanitarian crises and poverty.
• Monitor political, policy and funding developments in Ireland, providing strategic analysis, intelligence and advice to colleagues across the Save the Children movement.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with policymakers, government officials, NGOs and coalition partners to advance child rights and humanitarian objectives.

About you

• Significant experience managing relationships with government, institutional or donor stakeholders, and working with civil society organisations and coalitions.
• Experience working within advocacy, public affairs, policy, international development or partnership‑focused roles.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build trust across diverse audiences.
• Experience coordinating complex projects or partnerships involving multiple organisations and teams.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to prepare briefings and present complex information clearly to senior audiences.
• Knowledge of humanitarian, international development or child rights issues, particularly in relation to conflict‑affected contexts.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify opportunities, risks and emerging trends.

Benefits

• Generous Annual Leave – Starting at 27 days per year (pro‑rata for part‑time employees), increasing with service up to 32 days, plus public holidays and our annual ‘Save the Children Day’.
• Family Leave – Up to 39 weeks maternity/adoption pay (including up to 21 weeks full pay) and paternity/adoption leave of 10 weeks full pay (plus statutory entitlement).
• Special Leave – Up to 10 days paid leave per year (pro‑rata) for urgent or exceptional personal circumstances, without using annual leave.
• Volunteer Leave – Up to 3 days paid leave per year to support volunteering and give back.
• Pension & Life Assurance – Helping you plan for the future with up to 7% employer pension contributions.
• Employee Discounts – Access to thousands of deals across groceries, retail, tech, travel, fitness and more.
• Health & Wellbeing Support – Including access to a 24/7 Virtual GP and Employee Assistance Programme and Counselling, eye care support and seasonal flu vaccinations.

Location & Working Arrangements

This role can be performed remotely on the island of Ireland, but you will be required to attend your contracted office in Belfast (usually between 1–2 days per month, depending on the needs of your role, team or service). Travel costs to your contracted office will be at your own expense. Flexible working arrangements are available and will be discussed with your manager/team.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation where structural inequality is actively addressed, and all employees have a sense of belonging and can thrive. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those with diverse and intersecting identities such as lived experience of poverty, people of faith, people of colour, people with disabilities, experience of migration and/or refugee status, care‑experienced people, the LGBTQIA+ community and individuals with experience living in diverse families.

Salary & Benefits

Save the Children is committed to paying staff in a fair and equitable way and will benchmark all salary offers in line with the pay of existing staff. For a full offer, please refer to our careers page.