Your mission
Your consultancy purpose/objectivesThe objective of this consultancy is to:
- Analyse Birches Group salary benchmarking results.
- Align proposed salary scales to the newly developed Mercer job grading structure.
- Ensure the proposed structures and tools are consistent with Project Fair-aligned reward principles.
- Develop user-friendly tools for salary calculation, simulation, and cost modeling.
- Provide practical documentation and guidance for internal HR teams to maintain and adjust the structure.
Organisational backgroundWar Child Alliance (WCA) is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of its global compensation framework.
Two key initiatives are underway:
- Salary Benchmarking: External market benchmarking is being conducted with Birches Group, with results expected by mid-May-2025.
- Job Grading: WCA has partnered with Mercer to implement a global job evaluation and grading framework.
Additionally, WCA is a participant in the Project Fair initiative — a sector-wide collaboration among NGOs to design more transparent, equitable, and sustainable approaches to reward. Our reward principles, including fairness, transparency, consistency, comparability, and sustainability, are derived from the Project Fair framework and will guide this consultancy.
The consultant’s work must align salary scale design to the Mercer grading structure and
reflect the Project Fair rewards principles.
Your Reporting Structure| Reports to (Hierarchical): | Director of People and Culture |
| Reports to (Functional): | Director of People and Culture |
| Area: | Human resources |
| Supervises (Function): | n/a |
| Scope | Rewards Project/study |
Your scope of workThe consultant will:
- Review and analyse Birches Group benchmarking data.
- Compare external market data to current internal salaries and Mercer-graded positions.
- Identify appropriate market positioning (e.g., targeting median market pay).
- Design salary scales and/or band structures aligned with Mercer grades, including:
- Salary ranges (min-mid-max)
- Banding structures (broadbanding or traditional grading)
- Develop an Excel-based (or equivalent) tool that:
- Simulates pay positioning scenarios
- Estimates cost impact for scale adjustments
- Allows future updates by internal HR teams
- Create user guidelines/manuals for tool use and maintenance.
- Present findings, salary scale designs, and tools to the HR leadership team.
- Ensure all deliverables reflect Project Fair principles of fairness, equity, transparency, sustainability, and comparability.
DeliverablesThe consultant will produce:
- Analysis Report: Insights from Birches data compared to internal Mercer-graded structures.
- Proposed Salary Scales: Salary bands mapped to Mercer grades and aligned to strategic positioning.
- Calculation/Simulation Tool: Including "what-if" costing models and scenario simulations.
- User Guidelines: For internal HR capacity building.
- Presentation Pack: Summary of methodology, key findings, and recommendations.
- Optional) Costing Scenario Model: Estimations of financial impacts for implementing different pay positioning strategies.
Timeline- Start Date: July/August
- End Date: 6-8 weeks weeks after commencement.
Indicative Timeline | Week | Activity |
| Week 1 | Kick-off, data handover, review of Birches and Mercer inputs |
| Week 2–3 | Analysis and preliminary design proposals |
| Week 4 | Draft salary structure and tools delivered |
| Week 5 | Review meetings and feedback integration |
| Week 6 | Final deliverables and presentation to stakeholders |
What we offer
- Location : We work with global teams with team members being based in different locations. War Child is currently operates in: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Colombia, DR Congo, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine (soon to be registered), and Yemen. We also have offices in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Preference is given to applicants who reside and have valid working permits. War Child does not offer relocation.
- Type of Contract : Consultancy contract .
- Meaningful Impact: The chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families affected by conflict, contributing to long-term, sustainable change.
- Equal Opportunities: War Child is an inclusive employer committed to diversity and inclusion, respecting all individuals regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability.
- Workplace Culture: War Child is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace that prioritizes safety and fairness for all individuals. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying within our organization
Why You Should Apply- Make a Real Impact: Your work will directly contribute to providing quality education to children who need it most, creating lasting change in their lives.
- Career Growth: Join a dynamic organization that values your professional development and offers opportunities for learning, growth, and innovation.
- Global Reach: Play a key role in scaling a ground-breaking programme that operates in multiple conflict-affected regions around the world.
- Collaborative and Mission-Driven: Work alongside passionate colleagues and partners united in a mission to protect children and help them thrive despite adversity.
How to ApplyQualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications with their CV and cover letter by
July 22, 2025, We are reviewing submissions on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly recommended. ________________________________________________________________________________
By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established.War Child is an international organisation, and we are committed to be a diverse and inclusive employer, placing human and child rights at the centre of our existence and work. We hire our new colleagues based on their talents, competences and shared values; we do not distinguish them based on their age, gender and gender identity, race, color, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, disability etc.The safety of children and youth is a paramount and essential to War Child’s work. War Child has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of abuse. To prevent placing children and youth at any risk this subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures. Moreover, the accepted candidates will be required to state their commitment/ intent to be aware, consider and adhere to the minimum standards applicable in development and humanitarian settings, such as humanitarian values and principles, Sphere Humanitarian Charter, Standards in the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, Core Humanitarian Standard, International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.Disclaimer- Only applications received via our website are processed.
- If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
- It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.
Safeguarding
War Child is committed to humanitarian values, standards and norms and we expect the same from job applicants. War Child is especially committed to safeguarding the children and youth we support and doesn’t tolerate any form of abuse. Because we want to prevent and deter any actions that place children and youth at risk, conduct references are an important part of our recruitment procedure. As part of the selection process, War Child will request standardized references in accordance with the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and a recent Criminal Records statement.
The safety of children is essential to War Child. War Child does not tolerate or accept any form of abuse. This subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures.
About us
The War Child Alliance is an international non-governmental organization committed to providing psychosocial support, child protection, youth empowerment programming and quality education to the children affected by armed conflict. We implement evidence-based interventions to empower key stakeholders—including governments, educators, caregivers, and communities—to foster children’s wellbeing, education, and self-determination. We work with global teams with team members being based in different locations. War Child is currently operates in: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Colombia, DR Congo, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine (soon to be registered), and Yemen. We also have offices in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Learn more about War Child and our programmes
https://www.warchild.net/ Safeguarding and Integrity
Our work with children and at-risk adults to keep them safe is the most important thing we do. We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in all areas of our work. We have zero tolerance for any behaviours and practices that puts children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and/or harm. All (prospective) employees will be expected to be compliant with and sign up to our Child Safeguarding policy, our Code of Conduct and PSEA: Adults at Risk Policy. You can find the Child Safeguarding and Adults at Risk policy here: Integrity & Safeguarding - Home
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) and Belonging (DEIB)
We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to ensuring that all our people and job applicants are treated fairly, irrespective of where, what or whom they were born, or of other characteristics. We want to offer a safe and inclusive workplace where all our people, especially those who are currently marginalised or underrepresented, can be themselves at work. You can read our Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) and Belonging (DEIB) policy on our website, and if you have any questions about our commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) and Belonging (DEIB) do get in touch: DEIB.team@warchild.net
