Senior Adviser (Access) United Kingdom

What we are looking for:

NRC UK seeks an experienced Senior Adviser to lead a new independent humanitarian diplomacy initiative focused on humanitarian access.

Humanitarian access barriers are increasing the world over with devastating consequences for crisis-affected communities and aid worker safety.

This is a key role in a new project to support a select Group of diverse member states to help tackle these barriers through collective diplomatic engagement that aims to help uphold international law and thereby improve humanitarian outcomes.

The role will be to establish and lead an independent secretariat to support the member states and independent specialists who will form this Group.

The secretariat will provide critical technical and operational capacity to help identify access barriers for the Group’s members to tackle, to promote cohesion with ongoing access efforts, and help to mitigate risks to aid worker safety building on international legal frameworks. The secretariat will be responsible for ensuring the effective administrative and logistical support, including raising funds for the project to support its longer-term sustainability.

In addition to the administrative functions, the role will be responsible for monitoring key developments in relation to humanitarian access in contexts relevant to the Group, engaging when needed with other key stakeholders, including member states and peer organisations.

This is a fixed-term role, with a 10–12-month contract depending on start date and future funding. Current funding for this project runs until March 2026.

If you do not already have the right to live and work in the UK please note this in your application.

The salary for this position is £59,352 p.a (including London Weighting), with accompanying terms and conditions.

What you will do:

Coordination

1. Provide coordination and leadership in shaping the secretariat and the associated humanitarian access initiative
2. Support and maintain engagement and communication channels to ensure information sharing and collaboration between the Group members and Partner Organisations, including sharing meeting agendas, inputs, outcomes, and action points.
3. Coordinate inputs between the Group and Partner Organisations, as well as other stakeholders in the humanitarian community when relevant, on access challenges and potential solutions.
4. Facilitate and coordinate regular meetings including setting agendas and the preparation of background material, and timely follow-up on action points
5. Support the establishment of a mechanism to allow the Group’s member to financially contribute to the project and lead the project implementation and donor reporting.

Analysis

1. Coordinate and support the identification and analysis of key access challenges with the Group and Partner Organisations.
2. Ensure the Group is well-briefed on operational access challenges ahead of meetings and other relevant external engagements.
3. Lead the development of relevant monitoring systems that track progress against agreed criteria and actions by the Group.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position.

What you will bring:

Required:

• At least five years’ work experience relating to humanitarian access coordination and direct implementation including in senior roles
• Expertise in international humanitarian law; humanitarian access; the protection of aid workers; and humanitarian diplomacy
• Significant experience working in complex and volatile contexts negotiating or analysing access constraints
• Experience leading inter-agency or multilateral platforms
• Experience of working, engaging and coordinating with member states
• Excellent understanding of the humanitarian system and coordination structures.
• Proven analytical, administrative and coordination skills.

Recommended:

• Experience with information security and handling sensitive information
• Field experience working with a humanitarian organisation at a senior level in complex settings
• Demonstrated significant experience in humanitarian policy, diplomacy/ advocacy, and access
• University degree in human rights, law or other relevant fields

Behavioural competencies:

• Planning, strategic thinking and delivering results
• Working with people
• Analysing
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Managing resources to optimise results
• Coping with change

What we offer:

• Duty station: London, UK, with regular travel to Geneva
• Contract: 10–12-month fixed term
• Salary/benefits***: £59,352 p.a (including London Weighting), with accompanying terms and conditions.***

NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, physical ability and neurodiversity. We encourage applications from all.

We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you have any questions about this role, please email [email protected]with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

1. About Us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH.

About Us

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH