Director, UK & Ireland Policy & Advocacy (Up to 1-Year Full-Time Fixed-Term Employment)

About Global Citizen

Role Overview

The Director UK and Ireland Policy & Advocacy represents Global Citizen in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland advancing the organizations mission to end extreme poverty and strengthen global cooperation. Working independently but supported by Global Citizens European and global teams the Director will advise on and implement strategies that build political confidence and public legitimacy for bold UK and Irish action on international development and climate. The role involves cultivating and maintaining high-level relationships across government Parliament civil society and the private sector ensuring effective engagement between UK and Irish stakeholders and Global Citizens European and international leadership. The Director will also drive grassroots mobilization in key constituencies forging partnerships that extend reach and impact through local parallel they will contribute to fundraising efforts by cultivating relationships with UK- and Ireland-based foundations philanthropies and corporations that align with Global Citizens mission.

Reporting to the Senior Advocacy Director and working closely with the General Manager EMEA and Global Policy & Advocacy this role suits a strategic and entrepreneurial operatorcomfortable working autonomously skilled at building alliances and adept at bridging grassroots energy with high-level diplomacy to position the UK and Ireland as credible and forward-looking forces for sustainable development and climate resilience.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Relationships and Political Engagement (40%)

• Cultivate and maintain high-trust relationships with senior figures across government Parliament opposition think tanks civil society and the private sector to advance Global Citizens priorities.
• Advise on and execute engagement strategies that strengthen Global Citizens access and influence within key stakeholders incl. Prime minister/Taoiseach office FCDO/IrishAid leadership ministers and relevant parliamentary committees ensuring the organization is seen as a constructive solutions-oriented partner.
• Support and coordinate high-level engagement between UK and Irish leaders and Global Citizens European and global leadership including preparation for meetings briefings and key advocacy moments.
• Advise on positioning UK and Irish leaders within international coalitions and multilateral fora (e.g. G7 G20 UNGA COP) to demonstrate the safety credibility and political value of global leadership.
• Provide strategic insight on the UK and Irish political landscape to inform Global Citizens wider advocacy and campaigning priorities.

2. Local Mobilization including Campaigning and Partnership Building (30%)

• Design and implement local advocacy strategies in priority constituencies building citizen engagement and amplifying voices in support of the UKs global role.
• Identify connect and support local advocates organizers and community partners to strengthen public legitimacy for development and climate action.
• Work with partners to create visible locally resonant moments that make international cooperation tangible and relevant in everyday life.
• Align grassroots activity with parliamentary and political cycles ensuring that citizen engagement is timely and influential.
• Seek out and nurture collaborations with civic youth and faith-based networks to maximize reach and sustainability of local advocacy efforts.

3. Bridging Local and Global Strategy (20%)

• Translate Global Citizens global campaigns and advocacy work including on ODA solidarity levies global health nutrition agricultural resilience energy access education job creation into UK-relevant initiatives and narratives.
• Bring UK and Irish perspectives into Global Citizens global agenda connecting domestic insights with international advocacy and mobilizing UK and Irish leadership and commitments across the organizations flagship global events.
• Coordinate Global Citizens participation in key domestic moments such as the 2026
  UK Future of Development Conference UK Climate Week and identify and leverage other UK/Irish strategic moments from business or sports partnerships to civic events that open new avenues for engagement.
• Ensure strategic alignment between local political moments and Global Citizens global advocacy calendar.

4. Resource Development and Strategic Partnerships (10%)

• Contribute to fundraising in support of Global Citizens UK Irish and European priorities.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with UK-based foundations philanthropies and corporations that align with Global Citizens mission and can strengthen its impact.
• Collaborate with Global Citizen teams to prepare proposals pitches and donor briefings linking UK and Irelands efforts to global outcomes.
• Help sustain and grow Global Citizens network of purpose-driven allies and supporters through thoughtful stewardship and engagement.

Required Skill and Experience

• 7 years of experience in policy advocacy or strategic engagement roles ideally within government public affairs or international development.
• Deep understanding of the UK and Irish political and media landscape including parliamentary processes and public opinion dynamics related to global cooperation aid and climate policy.
• Proven ability to cultivate and maintain trusted high-level relationships across sectors while maintaining political neutrality and credibility.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising or partnership development particularly with foundations philanthropies or corporates in the UK and Ireland.
• Track record of or demonstrated ability in designing and executing advocacy or mobilization strategies that combine policy insight with grassroots legitimacy.
• Strong expertise in international development ODA global financial reform and/or climate policy.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills ability to craft persuasive narratives and policy materials.
• Highly self-motivated and strategic able to operate independently while coordinating effectively across EMEA and international teams.
• Capacity to translate strategic goals into practical action balancing long-term influence with timely delivery.
• Collaborative and adaptable comfortable working across functions and time zones with European and global colleagues.
• Fluency in English required; additional European languages are an advantage.

Benefits

Why join Global Citizen

Joining Global Citizen means becoming part of a dynamic mission-driven team working across continents to turn citizen action into political will and tangible progress. This is also a unique opportunity to engage actively with Ireland as a powerful voice for good and help redefine the UKs global role at a moment of renewal: the Director will play a central role in shaping the narrative partnerships and citizen engagement strategies that can restore Britains credibility and leadership in the fight against extreme poverty and climate injustice ahead of its G20 Presidency in 2027.

More Details

• Applicants must be authorized for employment in the UK.

Global Citizen is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal state and local fair employment practices laws. Global Citizen strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees applicants or any other covered persons because of race religion color national origin ancestry disability medical condition genetic information marital status sex gender gender identity gender expression pregnancy age sexual orientation military or veteran status citizenship or any other protected classification under applicable federal state or local addition Global Citizen complies with the relevant country laws governing employment nondiscrimination in all our international offices. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.

Required Experience:

Director