Humanitarian Advisor - Health

Job Description

HSOT works with DFID to lead the UK Government’s response to humanitarian disasters in co-operation with the United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, non-governmental organisations and governments of disaster-affected countries.

The Humanitarian Health Adviser role forms a part of the Readiness and Response team specialising within the health portfolio. In addition to the health specialism the role also requires the post holder be a generalist humanitarian adviser who is confident and able to deploy and/or support a humanitarian response as need. The role forms a part of the Epithreats group, a FCDO cross-departmental group to monitor assess and consider FCDO’s response to the epidemic threats to developing countries

The primary responsibilities of the Humanitarian Advisor – Health will be:

Generalist advisory

• Provide humanitarian analysis and advice to help design and implement humanitarian response strategies for FCDO in rapid onset emergencies and protracted crisis.
• Contribute to HSOT activities in response to FCDO humanitarian policy requirements, including for example attending meetings in the UK and overseas, and preparing and delivering presentations and training sessions for colleagues.
• Undertake the HSOT Duty Officer role, for out of office cover, on rotation.
• Support knowledge sharing and engagement with humanitarian experts to CHASE humanitarian database who provide additional humanitarian capacity to FCDO offices.
• Participate in Ready to Respond teams through preparedness, exercises and when needed rapid response team deployment, managing small teams as required, either in the UK or overseas.
• Participate in HEST training and work to mitigate safety and security threats for self and others
• Undertake any other duties as appropriate to the position, as requested.

Portfolio – Health

• Contribute to health policy and strategy where this relates to humanitarian preparedness and response
• Recommend programme priorities and strategies as well as appropriate delivery methods, with a specific role for public health priorities and strategies.
• Liaise with FCDO staff including field teams (as required), DHSC, PHE, MoD officials, WHO, UNICEF, UNOCHA, other donors, Red Cross/Crescent and NGO personnel as required.
• Provide quality and timely engagement, support and advice to FCDO in support of the UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT)
• Represent FCDO at international forums, and with overseas governments and authorities.
• Attend and support international coordination mechanisms as required, including engagement with the Health Cluster.
• Provide policy and technical advice as appropriate and as required, particularly public health policy and practise in humanitarian crises.
• Liaise closely with FCDO health advisers/humanitarian advisers in London and in countries.
• Work to strengthen collaboration between humanitarian and development health partners, to ensure that short-term humanitarian interventions support longer term development goals, and that these longer term development interventions build resilience to conflict and disasters.
• Contribute and participate in the Global Health Cluster (GHC) meetings, to network with humanitarian health actors to discuss current contexts and trends, and to understand perspectives of the various GHC members.

Key Requirements

Degree level or equivalent qualification in a related subject.

Significant relevant senior humanitarian work experience in emergency settings, including country office level, preferably across range of humanitarian responses and programmes in rapid onset and protracted crisis settings.

Masters’ degree in public health or equivalent qualification

Excellent command of spoken and written English; fluency/working knowledge of another language desirable;

Please note that this is a UK based role, please apply if you have the valid right to work in the UK.

About the Organization

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or any other circumstance, please email our team .
Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due dilgence process.