INTRODUCTION TO GIRLS NOT BRIDES
Girls Not Brides is a global partnership working to end child marriage and ensure every girl can shape her own future. Since 2011, we’ve brought together more than 1,400 organisations in nearly 100 countries, all united by one goal: to stop child, early, and forced marriages and unions everywhere. We envision a world without child marriage, where girls in all their diversity decide if, when, and whom to marry, one where their rights and futures are fully realised.
In 2025, 1 in 5 girls were married under 18. By 2030, we will contribute to reducing that to 1 in 7. We will do this by mobilising and influencing international actors to unlock commitments and resources to end child marriage and by driving impactful collective action in ten focus countries.
INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLE
We are seeking a dynamic, experienced, and strategic leader to join us as Head of International Advocacy. As a leader in the External Engagement department – and working closely with Communications, Development, Learning, and Regional and country impact teams – this role will co-create and drive our international influencing agenda (both global and regional) with governments, funders, and decision-makers. The role oversees strategic mobilisation of movement actors at key influencing moments and will lead a high-performing, diverse team to deliver impactful advocacy.
We operate in a fast-paced, international environment, and the role requires strong political acuity, strategic agility, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to lead through complexity and change.
Job Location
Kenya, India, or Mexico
The successful candidate must already have the right to work in either Kenya, India or Mexico at the time of applying and for a minimum of two years.
Fluency in English is essential for this role.
Working as a global team, all Girls Not Brides’ team members may from time to time be expected to work outside normal working hours (e.g., early morning or early evening) this is not a regular occurrence and is to accommodate collaboration of teams across different time zones.
This role will require regular international travel.
Accountable to
Director of External Engagement
This role includes people and budget management responsibilities.
Salary Range
Market competitive based on a detailed survey by the Birches Group of comparable NGO salaries in selected location.
Contract
2-year fixed term contract.The successful candidate will work from home for much of the time, with IT and communication equipment and support provided by Girls Not Brides.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership on influencing
* With key leaders across the organisation, co-lead the development and implementation of the international influencing strategy, aligned to the Girls Not Brides organisational strategy and priorities
* With leadership from the Director of External Engagement, manage the development and operationalisation of the emerging End Child Marriage Collective
* Oversee regular monitoring of the international (global and regional) policy, financing, and normative ecosystems relevant to child marriage, girls’ rights, and gender equality; identify emerging advocacy opportunities and risks
* Lead the design of advocacy plans for priority actors, moments, and thematic priorities, including strategies targeting funder governments, governments in priority countries, foundations, and other actors
* Build and maintain strategic relationships with prioritised advocacy targets
* Ensure the development of evidence-based, compelling policy asks, investment cases, messaging, and coordination across teams and partners for external engagements
* Continually foster co-ownership and engagement on influencing with the Executive Office, Communications, Development, Regional, and Learning teams
International civil society mobilisation for advocacy
* Oversee effective collaboration and mobilisation approaches with child marriage and girls’ rights civil society actors in international spaces
* Work closely with regional and country impact teams to identify, support, and amplify the work and leadership of local and national civil society actors within international spaces
Team leadership and people management
* Lead and manage a globally dispersed advocacy team and set clear shared and individual performance goals to meet team and organisational objectives
* Foster collaboration across cultures, geographies, and time-zones; promote professional development, care, inclusion, and wellbeing
Thought leadership and external representation
* Act as a representative of Girls Not Brides at key external events, international fora, and high-level meetings where relevant.
* Support the preparation of other leadership spokespeople as required, including the CEO and Director of External Engagement
* Contribute to thought leadership strategies and content development, alongside Communications, Learning, and other teams
* Provide regular briefings, policy and political snapshots, and insights for GNB leadership as required.
Monitoring, evaluation, and learning
* Oversee tracking of international advocacy indicators, outcomes, and milestones; ensure learning is captured and disseminated across the organisation
* Ensure that advocacy work is informed by ecosystem opportunities, needs, and risks, as well as evidence and member experience
Wider Organisational Responsibilities
* Commit to the mission and vision of Girls Not Brides, putting these at the forefront of all planning, work and actions.
* Uphold the core values of Girls Not Brides in all areas of work and interactions with colleagues, members, partners, and other stakeholders.
* Line manage roles and consultants as necessary, delegating responsibilities and tasks as appropriate.
* Comply with Girls Not Brides’ policies and processes, with note for safeguarding, diversity and inclusion, the code of conduct and data protection.
* Ensure that internal databases and monitoring information are kept fully up-to-date
* Commit to ongoing personal development and learning.
* Fulfil any other reasonable requests for the advancement of Girls Not Brides.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential experience
* Significant professional experience in international (global and/or regional) advocacy and public policy in a gender equality, development, or human rights organisation
* Demonstrable experience leading advocacy or influencing that engaged governments and/or major funders (institutional or philanthropic) and resulted in measurable policy/funding/institutional change.
* Experience of managing complex influencing processes, balancing strategic direction, stakeholder management, internal coordination, and external representation in dynamic contexts.
* Experience in preparing high‐quality advocacy materials (messaging, briefs, policy papers) and in leading external representation in high‐stakes influencing settings.
Essential Skills & Knowledge
* Deep understanding of international development policy, gender equality, and girls’ rights. Strong understanding of child, early, and forced marriage and unions highly desired.
* Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills: able to assess the influencing landscape, identify entry-points, prioritise and adapt to shifting contexts.
* Exceptional people management skills: able to lead a geographically dispersed team, foster shared accountability and collective care, delegate strategically, and coach and mentor staff.
* Outstanding written and oral communication skills in English with proven ability to engage senior-level stakeholders (governments, funders, international agencies) and civil society actors
* Excellent cross-cultural working skills: cultural awareness, humility, ability to work collaboratively and inclusively across different contexts and cultures.
* Strong stakeholder & network management skills: ability to build and maintain relationships with governments, funders, civil society partners, regional/international institutions, and leverage those relationships for influence.
* Excellent communication, networking and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to persuade and inspire others.
Safeguarding
Girls Not Brides is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk with whom our staff and representatives work and interface. Any employment with Girls Not Brides may be subject to the satisfactory completion of a background check and a criminal records check which can include but is not limited to: an overseas police record check, a Disclosure and Barring Service Check (for those based in the UK) or an International Criminal Record Check (if applicable).
Diversity at Girls Not Brides
Girls Not Brides is an equal opportunities employer. We embrace diversity, equal opportunity and inclusion in a serious way. We are committed to building a staff body that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
How to apply
Girls Not Brides is an equal opportunities employer. We embrace diversity, equal opportunity and inclusion in a serious way. We are committed to building a staff body that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
* The closing date for this role is 09:00 GMT on Friday 26 December 2025.
* Interviews will be scheduled for the week commencing 12 January 2026
To apply, please click on the ‘Apply now’ button on the job page and submit your CV and a brief cover letter clearly demonstrating how you meet the criteria.
We regret that due to the large number of applications anticipated, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
*View the full job description on the Girls Not Brides website*