Join to apply for the Advisory and Surge Team Leader role at Palladium: Make It Possible
Are you a humanitarian leader who combines deep operational expertise with the strategic acumen to navigate the realities of working inside a major donor? Palladium is seeking an exceptional Advisory Team Leader to lead the humanitarian advisory function within the Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT), which delivers the HEROS programme on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This is a high-impact role at the heart of UK Government, offering the opportunity to shape how the UK responds to crises and contributes to global humanitarian reform.
About The Role
The Advisory Team Leader provides strategic leadership to the humanitarian advisory function within HSOT, ensuring it delivers high-quality, deployable expertise that supports FCDO’s humanitarian objectives in sudden-onset disasters, protracted crises, and complex emergencies. This role ensures the advisory function is agile, scalable, and aligned with FCDO’s evolving priorities, including Localisation, preparedness, and system reform. The Team Leader is responsible for maintaining a high-performing core team, strengthening the humanitarian roster, and ensuring advisory support is responsive, technically sound, and strategically positioned to deliver value in a resource-constrained environment.
Project Overview
The Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT) is contracted by Palladium to deliver the Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations and Stabilisation Programme (HEROS), working with FCDO’s Humanitarian Crisis Response Department (HCRD) and the Migration and Conflict Directorate (MCD), as well as multiple UK Government teams and partners in 130 countries. The team provides operational and advisory support to meet humanitarian needs and restore stability in sudden-onset disasters, protracted crises and complex emergencies.
Primary Duties And Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Team Management
* Provide thought leadership and quality assurance to the HSOT Surge Humanitarian Advisor (HA) function. Act as an ambassador for the HA function and produce flagship advisory products. Lead and manage the HA function, fostering a culture of excellence, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
* Support the continuous professional development of HSOT’s HAs.
* Continuously review the generalist and specialist skills that the advisory function requires, adapting them in response to FCDO’s evolving priorities and global humanitarian trends.
* Lead the Advisory function in strengthening engagement on Standby Partnership (SBP) and UNDAC strategy and operations, including coordinating inputs into SBP and UNDAC annual strategies and ensuring representation in relevant forums.
* Set milestones, review implementation, allocate reviewers for mission reports, coordinate FUSE recommendations, risk and issue management, etc.
* Coordinate with the Supply & Logistics team to support HSOT involvement in the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP) and attend online Focal Point meetings when required.
* Translate strategic direction into actionable plans that drive performance within the HA function and contribute to contract-wide success.
* Collaborate with other Team Leaders to ensure integrated delivery and adaptive management.
* Participate in HSOT Management Team discussions, providing input on planning, risk management, and strategy.
Deployment of Advisors
* Oversee deployment of core team and roster advisors, ensuring the right expertise is deployed at the right time and transitions between surge and roster support are smooth.
* Ensure deployed advisors provide high-quality, context-sensitive advice aligned with FCDO priorities and standards, including acting as key contact with FCDO’s humanitarian advisory cadre, SBP and UNDAC partners.
* Create and roll out frameworks for quality assurance of advisory work and quality assurance of high-priority pieces of work.
* Ensure deployed advisors coordinate with other HSOT capabilities to maintain a positive feedback loop between advisory services and other contract outputs.
* Strengthen performance management systems for deployed advisors, including feedback loops and QA mechanisms.
Training, Mentoring, and Roster Development
* Design and deliver technical training and mentoring for core team and roster advisors, including Communities of Practice, ensuring alignment with FCDO standards and emerging needs (e.g., Localisation, humanitarian diplomacy).
* Support the Deputy Director of Advisory & Surge to build a diverse, high-quality roster that reflects global humanitarian realities and evolving priorities, including local expertise.
* Promote cross-capability collaboration across HSOT to enhance the advisory offer from the humanitarian and UNDAC rosters.
Preparedness and Response
* Oversee development and refinement of the HEROS advisory toolbox, ensuring it is evidence-based, adaptable, and informed by lessons from past responses and preparedness work.
* Work with the Lead Surge HA – Preparedness and the Impact & Learning Team Leader to integrate tools and approaches.
* Lead cross-contract simulations, training, and other preparedness activities with support from the Lead Surge HA – Preparedness and Coordination Lead.
* Act as the HSOT Response Lead when required, ensuring a coherent, integrated, evidence-based approach to response.
* Assist Deployments staff with SBP and UNDAC requests, including attendance at SBP Network Response Coordination calls and effective OCHA UNDAC mission coordination.
Localisation and System Strengthening
* Identify and advance locally-led response opportunities, working with the Supply & Logistics team.
* Ensure advisory support contributes to Localisation goals and system reform, including ensuring HSOT advisors have proficiency in these topics.
Field Support and Representation
* Deploy to field locations, including high-risk environments, to provide direct advisory support and coordinate HEROS capabilities as appropriate.
* Support deployed staff in challenging contexts, ensuring continuity, welfare, and problem-solving under pressure.
Collaboration
* Work constructively with colleagues to achieve shared goals, share knowledge, support others, and contribute to a positive team culture.
Risk Management
* Be aware of potential risks to programme management and contribute to mitigation measures; participate in risk management procedures and reporting.
* Contribute to risk assessment activities and suggest improvements.
Other Duties
* Willingness to deploy to field locations, including hostile environments, at short notice, up to 4 weeks, up to 60% of the time.
* Participate in HEST training and address safety and security threats for self and others.
* Undertake any other duties as appropriate, participate in Duty Officer rotations, and contribute to contractual reporting.
* Collaborate with Palladium UKEA regional team fora as appropriate.
Required Qualifications
* Strong hands-on leadership skills with proven experience leading humanitarian advisory teams in complex, high-pressure environments.
* Proven ability to coach and develop staff with evidence of performance improvement.
* Experience designing and delivering training and capacity-building for humanitarian and conflict advisors.
* Experience developing, rolling out, and evaluating quality assurance frameworks for advisory work.
* Experience managing surge deployments, rosters, and/or performance systems for deployable personnel.
* Expertise in humanitarian response, preparedness, Localisation, and understanding of FCDO policy and context.
* Experience designing cross-sectoral simulations, training, and contingency exercises.
* Ability to work with diverse stakeholders including donors, governments, multilateral and local actors.
* Demonstrate integrity, reliability, and respect; represent Palladium positively; take ownership and deliver to standards and deadlines; raise concerns early.
* Candidate must hold the Right to work in the UK.
* Closing date for the advert is 20 October 2025.
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