Head of Influencing, Advocacy and Communications

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

The Opportunity 

The position holder serves as the Head of Influencing, Advocacy, and Communications, providing strategic leadership to Plan International Ethiopia’s efforts to advocate for children’s rights and gender equality. As a member of the Country Leadership Team (CLT), the role contributes to the overall leadership, strategic direction, and effective management of the country program.

The position is responsible for shaping and executing impactful advocacy strategies, driving evidence-based communications, building influential partnerships, and safeguarding Plan International’s brand. Through targeted campaigns, media engagement, policy influence, and stakeholder mobilization, the role ensures that the voices of girls and young people are amplified and that systemic change is advanced at local, national, and international levels, in alignment with Plan International’s mission to promote children’s rights and equality for girls.

The Individual

• Education: A Master’s degree or above in Political Science & International Relations, Law, Development Studies, Communications, Social science, Public Health or a related field. Advanced training in advocacy, public policy, Communications/SBCC or human rights is an asset.
• Minimum 7 yrs of experience in advocacy, influencing, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement, preferably within international NGOs or multilateral organization.
• Strong expertise in advocacy, policy influence, and public affairs, particularly in the areas of children’s rights and gender equality with proven track record of advocacy wins (policy changes)
• Proven skills in strategic communications, including content development, media engagement, digital campaigns, and brand management.

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Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that the team members under supervision are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day-to-day work.

• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted. 

Location: Country Office, Addis Ababa

Type of Role: Influencing, advocacy and communication

Reports to: Country Director 

Grade: E

Closing Date: May 17,2025

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.