Policy Lead

Job Title

Policy Lead

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!

Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of religion, ethnicity, sex, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled firmly.

Equality is the common thread in our work, both internally and externally. We recognize that our team of colleagues can become even more diverse, and that only with a diverse team can we gain a broad perspective on the world. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who is interested in applying. Our aim is to create an environment where colleagues feel welcome, and diversity is embraced and celebrated.

Our aim is to build a team that offers a rich variety of perspectives, enabling us to achieve an inclusive and inspiring work environment.

Apply and become part of Oxfam Novib!

Job description

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE:

Achieving systemic change and impact using Oxfam’s presence at every level from local, to regional, to global, aligned with the vision of the global strategic framework: influencing and engaging audiences around the world through action and by generating financial support - to fight inequality to end poverty and injustice.  

TEAM PURPOSE:

• Ensuring that Oxfam’s influence around the world including campaigns, advocacy, policy, research, communications, media, and digital work is high impact, and achieves systemic change with an overall framing on inequality and gender, rights, and justice.  
• Leading, convening & managing Oxfam’s influencing work across the world. Working with countries, regions, and affiliates, consulting, co-creating, and setting vision and direction of travel for Oxfam’s worldwide influencing work.   
• Embedding an integrated people-powered approach in all Oxfam’s influencing work.    
• Enabling a strategic approach to working with allies and partners for influencing, ensuring co-creation, organizational humility, and support for partnerships and allyships.  

JOB PURPOSE:

To develop and deliver Oxfam’s policy analysis relating to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, playing an active role in making Oxfam an influential and leading voice nationally, regionally, and globally on the complex situation, and forming the foundation for a strategic, coordinated, and politically informed wider Oxfam OPT influencing strategy (OPTIS) and action plan.

Key responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)   

• Lead Oxfam OPTI’s policy positioning during acute crises, including rapid response to escalations, major political developments, legal rulings, donor pressure, and reputational risk moments, ensuring alignment with international law, humanitarian principles, and Oxfam’s values.
• Lead on ensuring Oxfam OPTI produces robust, rights-based policy analysis and positions, linked to the overall strategic aims of the country program and the wider influencing strategy.
• Lead on monitoring and engaging in international policy discussions related to the Israel/Palestine context and work closely with other national influencing / advocacy team members to develop insight and analysis on national level policy issues that link closely to our global work.
• Link program experience, research and partner engagement to advocacy and policy work nationally and internationally and deliver policy-related activities in specific donor grants, with support from the rest of the team.
• Provide functional leadership and people management to the policy team (3 staff, including matrix-managed roles) including strategic prioritization, performance management, mentoring, and safeguarding staff wellbeing in high-pressure contexts.
• Cover for the Advocacy and Media Manager when required, including ensuring Oxfam OPT sign off protocols are strictly followed.
• Support the development of cutting-edge analysis, policy and campaign strategy relevant to Oxfam’s country program and priorities outlined in the OPT Country Strategy.
• Lead and shape Oxfam’s role within key policy and advocacy coalitions (e.g. AIDA, HCT and others), including agenda-setting, joint statements, red-line negotiations, and collective escalation strategies. Research, development and production of high-quality external facing policy papers, letters, briefing notes and talking points on specific issues within the scope of the OPTIS.
• Ensure that adequate risk assessments are undertaken to advise on advocacy products as applicable.
• Act as reference point and advisor to Oxfam staff at all levels – in country and outside – on policy issues related to OPT and how they link to our programs, including having oversight of risks related to policy positioning.
• Provide oversight to OPT program teams and partners in designing and developing advocacy/media components in new project/ proposals (including budgets) to ensure that policy, advocacy and campaigning plans are in line with Oxfam OPT national and international strategic priorities and capacities.
• Actively contribute to OPTIS planning and review meetings, and engagement with colleagues on policy issues. Work closely with colleagues in country and outside to ensure coherent and dynamic policy and campaigning positions, linked to strategic country objectives.
• Where relevant and needed, provide line management and support to other policy-focused roles in the country team.
• Act as a central coordination point between OPTI, Regional Platforms, and Oxfam affiliates, shaping shared policy positions, messaging frameworks, and influencing pathways across multiple geographies.
• Representation and participation in OPT policy focused coordination mechanisms and support cross agency collaboration efforts.

General Other Responsibilities

• Eager and required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values (click here) as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights (click here). 
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.

Key Attributes

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

CORE DIMENSIONS

• Managing existing significant processes.
• Resolve diverse problems with impact in defined areas.
• Frequent high-complexity problems with political, legal, and reputational implications.
• Frequent complex problem solving (political, legal, reputational).
• Recommending changes to processes.
• Deals with a wide variety of information, which requires the post holder to analyze, interpret and check for errors
• Impacts also on other parts of affiliate.
• Frequent internal/external negotiation.
• Regularly operates in environments with high uncertainty, contested narratives, and deliberate political pressure.

Who are we looking for?

Essential Competencies

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

Essential Technical Competencies

• At least 5+ years' work experience, including policy influencing, networking and alliance building in conflict-affected or politically sensitive contexts, preferably within the OPTI context.
• Demonstrated experience working on armed conflict, occupation, or humanitarian crises, including navigating contested political narratives and donor pressure.
• Education in social sciences to degree level, or equivalent. Post-graduate and other training qualifications an advantage.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills, and ability to think/operate innovatively and strategically
• Proven ability in developing and implementing advocacy strategies
• Excellent representational and lobbying skills, including experience engaging with senior government officials, UN actors, donors, and high-level civil society platform.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills. Ability to write substantial pieces of analysis.
• Ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, to work unsociable hours as necessary.
• Demonstrable commitment and experience in inter-community dialogue and appreciation of the relevance of identity issues in development and conflict.
• Personal qualities that ensure effective work with other people and self-management, management of others, including flexibility, respect for others, and sense of humour
• Fluency in both English & Arabic languages.

Desirable Technical Competencies.

• Working knowledge of Arabic would be highly desirable with strong cultural and political understanding of Palestinian context.

Key Attributes

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Working at Oxfam Novib

• All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality. (read more about these here)
• At Oxfam Novib, we work according to the Feminist Principles - Oxfam Policy & Practice.
• Oxfam Novib is committed to offer you a motivating work environment at our offices. The contract duration for this position is 12 months, (including a 3-months trial period), with the possibility to extend based on the need and budget availability.
• Oxfam Novib offers an attractive and honest benefits package, including a transportation allowance and yearly pay increase based on our policies.
• The salary range for this position is set in scale C2 with a salary range starting from 17,016.25  ILS  gross depending on experience, based on 40 hours a week (full time).

Additional information

• Do you believe that this is the job you are looking for? Then we would love to meet you! Please send your resume and cover letter via our application portal.
• Only applications received before the closing date (4th Feb 2026) and submitted via our application portal will be considered.
• This vacancy is open to both internal and external candidates -local only- with priority given to internal applicants who are qualified or can develop quickly. We encourage growth and opportunities within our organization while warmly welcoming new talent with fresh ideas and expertise!
• Oxfam Novib seeks talented individuals who share our values and commitment to preventing misconduct. We maintain a strict policy against all forms of abuse, exploitation, power abuse, and financial misconduct, which is also integrated into our recruitment process. As part of a job offer, we request valid references, and candidates may undergo integrity screenings, including criminal record and background checks.
• Oxfam Novib reserves the right, to its sole discretion, not to make agreements regarding this job opening, make an agreement at a lower level, or make an agreement with an amended job description.
• Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.