Head of Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) Development and Partnerships At

About ODI

ODI is an independent, global think tank, working for a sustainable and peaceful world in which every person thrives. We harness the power of evidence and ideas through research and partnership to confront challenges, develop solutions and create change (odi.org).

We are seeking an experienced professional to set, lead and deliver influential research and policy engagement on humanitarian system reform and the system of support to people in crises.

About the Humanitarian Policy Group

The Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) is one of the world’s leading teams of policy researchers and analysts working on humanitarian issues. We combine influential, high-quality policy analysis and the capacity to act as an independent catalyst and platform for dialogue and debate. It couldn’t be a better time to join the team, as we embark upon a new strategy to strengthen outcomes for people affected by crises.

About the Humanitarian Practice Network

The Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) is an independent, networked and accessible platform managed by HPG that allows for exchange, debate and learning for all practitioners engaged in humanitarian action. HPN connects humanitarian practitioners with new evidence, learning and debates. It provides a forum to share emerging practice and to connect practitioners with policy development and academic research. It deliberately seeks to reflect the diversity of viewpoints, experiences and practice across the humanitarian eco-system.

About the role

HPG is seeking a dynamic senior humanitarian leader to design, develop and lead a reconfigured HPN. Based on a review that was carried out in mid-2023 it is currently envisaged that this will take the form of a network of at least five institutional partnerships with national and local organisations or networks, which the Head of Development and Partnerships will be responsible for cultivating and managing on an ongoing basis. The Head of Development and Partnerships will also be responsible for the overall financial management of HPN, including fundraising for ongoing support for HPN from an increasingly diverse pool of donors, developing and managing the annual budget and liaising and reporting to donors.

Reporting to the Director of HPG, the Head of Development and Partnerships will have a significant degree of autonomy to achieve the overall goal of enabling HPN to become more representative and to reflect the experience and opinions of a wide and truly global humanitarian community.

The Head of Development and Partnerships will line manage and oversee the work of the HPN Coordinator, whose role it will be to continue the timely and high-quality production of HPN’s current products: online articles and blogs, Network Papers, Good Practice Reviews and the Humanitarian Exchange.

About you

You will be a well-established and well-networked individual within the humanitarian sector at the local, national and regional level. You will be able to develop, communicate and implement a vision for HPN and turn it into a thriving network, which is representative of a wide range of humanitarian experiences and gives a voice to local and national actors.

You will have demonstrable experience of organisational and/or network development and an entrepreneurial approach to building relationships in diverse cultures and contexts. You will be able to turn your ideas into fundable projects.

Above all you will have a clear commitment to equity, fairness and representation.