• Duration: Fixed term contract to March 2022
  • Full time: 37.5 hours
  • Salary: £39,659.32 gross per annum plus 9% employer pension contribution
  • Location: London, with occasional international travel
  • Closing date: 5pm UK time, 11 February 2021
  • Interviews: Week commencing 15 & 22 February 2021

We are looking for a Policy Manager to join our Research, Advisory and Policy Department. The successful candidate should have experience of developing and implementing policy influencing strategies in the field of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Knowledge of counter-terrorism and sanctions legal and policy frameworks that govern peacebuilding and humanitarian action would be an advantage. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and strategic thinker to play an active role in helping Conciliation Resources to achieve its strategic goals. 

Job purpose

The Policy Manager works within the RAP Department on the achievement of policy goals in Conciliation Resources’ Strategic Plan. With the Department Director they ensure Conciliation Resources achieves sustainable outcomes in its work on counter-terrorism legislation and sanctions. They pursue uptake and impact from RAP-led research and Accord publications and support colleagues in the Gender Team and CR EU respectively to enhance policies on gender, peace and security and mediation and peacebuilding at EU level. They improve policy advocacy strategy and impact across the organisation. They ensure that CR’s voice and objectives are reflected in joint advocacy with NGO networks.

The post holder is an in-house expert in policy change and influencing strategies. They bring knowledge of the workings of international institutions and policies that shape peacebuilding. They understand debates around counter-terrorism legislation and sanctions and how they affect humanitarian aid and peacebuilding. The postholder is able to think strategically about policy trends which offer Conciliation Resources opportunities for influence in the future. They are a resource for the Gender Team’s efforts to achieve change in gender, peace and security policy. They bring expertise in writing for policy audiences.

Essential knowledge, skills and experience

  • Sound understanding of conflict resolution theory and practice and of gender, peace and security.
  • Substantial experience in the formulation of policy advocacy strategies, stakeholder mapping and analysis and policy engagement in the area of peacebuilding or international development.
  • Good knowledge of the conflict response and peacebuilding policies of key policy institutions that shape peacebuilding and policy development processes.
  • Appreciation of issues of confidentiality and political sensitivity and ability to develop relationships of trust.
  • Experience in training and facilitation and of presentations to policy audiences, including at senior level.
  • Experience of writing persuasively for a range of external audiences, particularly policymakers, media and political audiences.
  • Experience of drafting policy briefs, submissions, ministerial letters.
  • Excellent verbal and written English language skills.
  • Strong analytical, strategic thinking and problem solving skills.
  • Ability to summarise complex arguments clearly, concisely and accurately.
  • Ability to listen actively to, engage with and persuade people from varying backgrounds and with a range of political, cultural, and value orientations.
  • Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently, and to work collaboratively with a flexible approach.
  • Computer literate ( preferably experience of working in a MAC environment)

Desirable knowledge 

  • Understanding of issues and debates around counter-terrorism law, sanctions and humanitarian and peacebuilding action.
  • Academic qualification in a relevant field, such as international relations, conflict resolution, gender, humanitarian or development studies.
  • Experience of living or working in a conflict-affected society.
  • Experience of working with international, national and local partner organisations.
  • Language skills relevant to another area of CR’s work.

Downloads for this post: Job Description / Application form 1 / Application form 2