Head of Strategy and Planning

Head of Strategy and Planning
The Elders
London/Hybrid with regular attendance in the office around two days per week (Green Park/W1K 1BJ)
Permanent
Full-time preferred, 40 hours per week, including one hour for lunch (flexibility for 4 days/week possible)
Salary £64,000 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Excellent benefits including 28 days annual leave (pro rata for part time), plus bank holidays, private pension scheme with 10% employer contributions, enhanced parental leave and optional private medical and dental insurance

Charity People are proud to be partnering with The Elders, an independent group of global leaders working for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet, to recruit a Head of Strategy and Planning.

Founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela, The Elders operate through private diplomacy and public advocacy; they use their experience, influence and access to heads of state and government to engage politically, and their connections to civil society to stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable people and communities.

There are currently 11 active Elders from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. They work on existential threats to humanity that require a collective response: the climate crisis, pandemics, nuclear weapons, and conflict. Chaired since 2024 by Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate, previous chairs were Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, and Mary Robinson. Supporting the Elders' work is a Secretariat of around 25 staff.

The Head of Strategy and Planning coordinates Secretariat support for implementing the current strategy and works with the Director of Programmes (Deputy CEO) to promote efficient cross-team collaboration. The role involves working closely with the Senior Management Team (CEO and three Directors) on operational planning and strategy elements not assigned to specific teams. Developing a new strategy from 2028 will be a major focus from 2027. The post-holder reports to the Director of Programmes, with a dotted line to the CEO for some functions.

Key responsibilities:
Strategy & Governance: Monitor and report on progress of strategy and Board decisions, assess external risks and ensure mitigation plans, lead impact assessment and mid-term strategy reviews, and contribute towards shaping future strategy reviews.
Planning & Operations: Develop and manage annual operational plans and cross-organisational calendars, manage content of Board meeting agendas and decision-making processes, drive lesson-learning and Secretariat-wide initiatives, and work with the CEO on identifying possible new Elders and supporting their induction.
Programme Support: Assist Director of Programmes with planning, impact reporting, and lesson learning across a team of 11.
External Relations: Oversee stakeholder engagement and partnership commitments, and support CEO and Directors to build and maintain priority relationships.

The Head of Strategy and Planning will require the following to be successful in the role:
8-12 years' background in fields relevant to The Elders' work (e.g. diplomacy, international development, civil society advocacy etc), ideally including at least one of the Elders' programmes or cross-cutting commitments
Experience working in (or at least on) more than one country (including ideally in the global South)
Experience contributing to (and ideally coordinating) corporate strategy and operational/business planning in a complex international organisation
Strong analytical skills, including working with data
Excellent written English, including experience editing multi-author documents
A strong personal commitment to the mission and values of The Elders
A flexible style and willingness to work in a small, collaborative team

The Elders operate a hybrid working policy. On average, you will be in the office a minimum of about two days a week, including for key meetings, including weekly team meetings and monthly all-staff in-days. Flexibility is required and you may at times need to be in the office at short notice. This role may involve limited international travel, the timing of which is usually decided by Elders' commitments. You may be required to attend staff or Elders events in the UK from time to time. Travel costs from home to the office are not covered by The Elders. The office is based close to Green Park tube station in London.

How to apply:

The application process is CV and Supporting Statement which focuses on three areas. For more information, and for the full job pack, please share your CV via the link below. The closing date is 9am on Friday 12 December. Candidates shortlisted to interview will be notified w/c 22 December. First stage interviews will take place w/c 8 January, with a second stage interview held in person w/c 12 January.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.