Head of Publishing

Save the Children UK is looking for a Head of Publishing to join our Humanitarian Leadership Academy to help establish and manage a new platform for research and social strategy.

• Do you have experience in creating, managing and implementing complex research programmes?
• Do you have experience in publishing and media work, including writing, editing, commissioning, and pitching articles as well as experience with academic research?
• Are you a strong, strategic leader with the ability to plan, lead international teams and execute complex projects?
• Do you have a familiarity with media and publishing industry and a public profile with a strong reputation in media?
• Are you motivated by our vision of creating a world where every child doesn’t just survive, but thrives, and can go on to change the world?

If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!

Please Note: The role is initially a 3 year contract with extension likely due to funding.

About Us

The Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA) as part of SCUK’s humanitarian department provides high-quality humanitarian capacity strengthening for the movement, as well as the wider sector, as part of our shifting the power agenda. The HLA’s mission, as a team within the humanitarian department, is to enable people around the world to prepare for and respond to crises in their own countries, by providing quality learning opportunities. The HLA’s approach spans from focused needs-based learning in countries hit by crises to the huge international reach of our learning platform, Kaya. They are a global team that has a full suite of in-house skills to provide and develop the offer; technical and learning experts, platform specialists, a digital and design studio, communications support and more. The HLA enables SCUK to offer the most effective and impactful humanitarian capacity strengthening resource for both the Save the Children movement, the wider humanitarian sector and beyond.

How we work

We foster a working culture of collaboration and agility. Individuals will come together to work in a multi-disciplinary fashion with internal and external partners to generate innovative projects that deliver impact for children.

This is a role within Alameda, a new platform for research and social strategy, which will be hosted by the HLA, with particular focus on activities in Brazil and the UK.

Job Purpose

As the Head of Publishing you will contribute to the establishment of a new centre for research and praxis, aimed at rethinking and reshaping the politics of humanitarianism in the twenty-first century. Consolidating the network built up around the Humanitarian Affairs Team over the last decade, it will provide a space for critical research, debate, and learning, a meeting point for leading public intellectuals, as well as radical young thinkers and practitioners, from across the world.

You will contribute to the strategy and effective leadership of the new centre, whilst also managing a network of up to 30 ‘associates’ (renowned public intellectuals), Communication & Publishing advisers.

You will transform the research of the new centre into impactful publications, including through the establishing and managing strategic relationships with existing publishers, governmental and intergovernmental agencies, NGOs, news media, universities and think-tanks.

You will also promote and circulate the research and work of the new centre by developing internal by developing innovative and effective publication strategies to reach relevant players in the sector, policymakers and the general public in the UK and beyond.

Key Accountabilities:

The Head of Publishing’s key duties will include:

• Develop and execute publishing strategies to bring the work of the centre to relevant audiences
• Coordinate the outreach, publicity and audience engagement strategies for the new centre in different national and international contexts.
• Lead responsibility for planning, assembling, publishing and editing the in-house dossiers of the new centre.
• Develop a marketing strategy that identifies the audience(s) for the work of the centre inside and outside the humanitarian sector.
• Consolidate and develop relationships with media and publishers, including academic journals, newspapers, publishers and magazines to publish the work of the centre and ensure it reaches the desired audiences.
• Develop and manage relationships with key partners within Save the Children and its networks, in particular the HLA.
• Develop and coordinate external publishing projects with partner organizations including a book series.
• Seek funding to support publication and related activities.
• Develop a regular newsletter and podcast for the centre.
• Manage the social media and publicity team of the new centre, with direct line-management of at least two staff.
• Build and maintain a global network of research affiliates.
• Establish and manage strategic relationships with governmental and intergovernmental agencies, NGOs, news media, universities and think-tanks, for the purpose of using the centre’s research to influence policy and practice.
• Delivery of high quality, cutting-edge research on the centre’s priority themes.
• Contribution to news media, through interviews, op-eds, and debates.
• Identify funding opportunities to support the sustainability of the centre
• Contribute to the institute’s education and outreach activities.
• Participate in the editorial committee of the centre’s book series.
• Participate in all strategic decision-making of the institute, through membership of the council

Person Profile

Experience/Knowledge/Skills

• Experience in creating, managing and implementing complex research programmes
• Experience in publishing and media work, including writing, editing, commissioning, and pitching articles
• Experience with academic research and publishing
• Experience with multimedia work, such as podcasts, video, social media etc.
• Experience in organising and facilitating meetings, workshops and policy discussions.
• Experience in speaking at conferences, in debates, in high-level meetings, and with news media.
• Strong analytical skills and an ability to assimilate and process large amounts of information into a coherent narrative
• Strong networking skills, ability to build and maintain relationships with influential persons and organisations.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to plan, lead international teams and execute complex projects.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team and with other staff, supporting and advising colleagues from other disciplines.
• Public profile with a strong reputation in media
• Strong writing and editorial skills

Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to present arguments clearly and convincingly to a variety of audiences
• A sharp and critical intellect, and an ability to discern strategic opportunities to build the profile of the centre’s work, as well as opportunities for new areas of research
• Strong capacity for turning complex debates into coherent, digestible narratives for the general public
• Ability to provide leadership to ensure the implementation of organisational strategy
• Ability to communicate research findings effectively and apply to practice
• Ability to develop and present publications in order to influence public debate
• Ability to inspire and lead a team

Aptitude

• Fluency in English and Portuguese
• Deep understanding of working in different national political contexts
• Familiarity with media and publishing industry

Please note:

To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Ways of Working:

Remote First – The majority of our roles can be performed remotely, however you may work from the office as often as you wish. Whilst you will be predominantly working from home, we may at times require you to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). Note: This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team. This is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.

On-site – There are certain roles that cannot be performed remotely and so your role will be based in an office location and you may occasionally be able to work from home.

Flexible Working – We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview**.**

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be “Free to Be Me”. We are not looking for just one type of person – we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.

We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences – of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability – help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.

How to apply

To apply please visit our website: https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/vacancy/head-of-publishing-6150-remote/6176/description/