Head of Influencing and Impact

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Head of Influencing and Impact to join our global team.

Team and Job Purpose
 

• Set global standards for programme quality & influencing and support country offices & members to contextualise these
• Coordinate I&I contribution to global strategy delivery though the Head of I&I across regions. 
• Ensure I&I Teams support COs to respond to children’s changing needs and drive impact beyond thematic & geographic siloes. 
• Build and strengthen the calibre, stability &diversity of our global I&I cadre to deliver on our strategic ambitions and impact agenda. 
• Lead movement-wide coordination and planning of its TE, PDQ and ACCM workforce, including global mobility, visibility and cost-effectiveness. 
• Shared accountability for Global TE architecture & leadership of I&I strategy

Role purpose

Lead the delivery of Save the Children impact agenda and integrated influencing, external engagement plans in the region working closely with relevant departments and the Regional Director. 

Ensure I&I Teams support COs to respond to children’s needs and drive impact beyond thematic & geographic siloes. Champion Save the Children Child Rights based programming and influencing approach and ensure it’s embedded in all interventions across the region starting from design phase. 

Coordinate and ensure coherence across I&I team based in the Region through regular engagement.

Support New Business Development Opportunities in line with country strategies and regional strategic framework. Engage with CDs, SMTs and Members to drive a culture and agenda of impact and learning for continuous improvement across the region. Lead the development and implementation of an ambitious and compelling regional strategic framework, thereby supporting Country Teams in achieving their country-specific strategies and annual implementation plans. This role underpins Save the Children International's commitment to enhance the well-being and development of children across the region by aligning local strategies with global objectives. Through strategic leadership and collaboration, this position ensures the organisation's efforts are maximised to create substantial, lasting impact for and with children

Job Title: Head of Influencing and Impact

Reports To: Director of Technical Resources and Quality (Global)

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available 

Contract Length: Permanent

Grade: P6

Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: Hiring Locations

Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Time zone of the region being applied for - Europe, WCA, ESA, MENAEE Time Zones (UTC/GMT + / - 3 hours); Asia Region Time Zones (UTC/GMT +3.5 hours or more); LAC Region Time Zones (UTC/GMT -3.5 hours or more)

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment. 

International Travel Requirements: Yes, up to 30% 

Budget Responsibility: None

People Management Responsibility: Number of people managed in total: this role will have dotted line management for all the Technical Advisors across thematic areas, advocacy and campaigning based in the region to ensure coordination and coherence through regular team engagement and coordination. 

Manager of a team: dotted line management of I&I staff based on the region.

Team Manager (manager of multiple teams): Yes, dotted line management of multiple I&I teams based in the region.

Principle Accountabilities

• Lead the delivery of Save the Children impact agenda and integrated influencing, external engagement plans in the region working closely with relevant departments and the Regional Director. 
• Champion Save the Children Child Rights based programming and influencing approach including child participation and ensure it’s embedded in all interventions across the region starting from design phase & Ensure I&I Teams support COs to respond to children’s needs and drive impact beyond thematic & geographic siloes. 
• Coordinate and ensure coherence across I&I team based in the region through regular engagement and support. This includes engagement with CDs, SMTs and Members to drive a culture and agenda of impact and learning to ensure continuous improvement across the region.
• Country Portfolio strategic support/oversight: engage with country teams to understand their portfolio and identify opportunities and needs to provide strategic support (programs models packaging, experience and capacity sharing, strategic partnerships, donors engagement, evidence generation and use, strategy development/review…) in line with country strategies. Work closely with our member organizations and new business development team to monitor, grow, and strengthen our programs portfolio in line with Save the Children Theory of Change.
• Lead  the development and implementation of an ambitious and compelling regional/continental strategic framework and support Country Teams in the successful development, implementation and monitoring of their country strategies and annual implementation plans.
• Work as a key partner to the Regional Director to inspire and drive the Save the Children Impact agenda, Theory of Change, and contextualize the global strategy in the region. 
• Representation and Partnerships: Represent Save the Children in strategic internal and external high-profile influencing events and conferences, including with donors, higher-level government stakeholders, and multilateral institutions. Work closely with RD and NBD to fcilitate relationships management with key donors and partners for countries in the region, jointly identifying priorities and opportunities for influence and demonstrating impact. Nurture strategic partnerships at regional level, particularly in line with our commitment to localisation and lead strategic thinking and engagement with emerging powers to drive our I&I agenda
• Promote, role model and support interdependencies between and integration of programs and policy, advocacy & campaigns, as well as cross-thematic integration, and Nexus programming to amplify our impact for and with children.
• Lead on regional-level contextual analysis (socio-political, funding/donor, humanitarian, security, policy etc) to identify key trends, synergies, risks and opportunities to inform decision making and action at CO and/or global level. Provide information on organizational positioning by highlighting sector trends and emerging areas of attention or concern in the region  . Provide contextually nuanced thought leadership to COs, RDs and Global Teams  to advance our strategic plans, impact agenda and global policy, advocacy & campaign initiatives.
• Support, shape, deliver strategic workforce planning and professional development of COs ACCM and PDQ Directors and TEs in regions.

Experience and Skills

Experience:

Country and Regional Experience in integrated programming and influencing

1. Significant experience in leading and managing regional or multi-country programmes in the humanitarian or development sectors. This includes strong analytical skills to understand socio-political, funding/donor, humanitarian, and policy contexts, using these insights to inform decision-making and strategic actions.

2. Extensive experience in representing organisations at high-profile internal and external forums, influencing policy, and advocating for child rights, participation and protection.

3. Child Rights and gender transformative integrated approach: experience leading integrated approaches across policy, advocacy and programs at country, regional and global level to drive lasting change at scale for and with children.

Team and Partnership Management

4. Proven track record in managing diverse and multidisciplinary teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

5. Demonstrated ability in building and nurturing strategic partnerships with donors, government stakeholders, and other key partners at regional and national levels, aligned with our commitment to localisation.

Risk and Crisis Management/ ACCM Coordination and sign off speaking out agenda

6. Proficient experience in identifying and managing risks in complex operational contexts and coordinating across multiple entities to ensure alignment. 

7. Experience in leading responses to humanitarian crises, including planning, implementation, and coordination with various humanitarian actors. Ability to work closely with Communication & Engagement, Media and Humanitarian teams to ensure a robust coordination mechanism is in place and effective to support Save the Children speaking out agenda and practices including in high-risk contexts based on a movement wide risk assessment approach.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

8. Commitment to and substantial experience in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within teams and programmes. This includes proactive approaches in recruitment, development, and retention of diverse talent to reflect the communities served by Save the Children.

Leadership:

9. Technical leadership: demonstrated expertise in leading the development and implementation of high-quality programming and influencing standards, tools and policies with a locally led approach grounded in evidence and research from Save the Children and partners interventions. This includes ability to develop and implement strategic frameworks at regional and country levels, in alignment with Save the Children's Theory of Change and Global Strategy.

10. Visionary Leadership: Demonstrates the ability to articulate a compelling vision for the future, inspiring and motivating teams to achieve ambitious goals. Exceptional communication skills with the ability to inspire and engage employees at all levels, fostering a sense of purpose and commitment. Leads by example, embodying the organization’s values and fostering a culture of inclusion, integrity, respect, empathy and excellence.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

Education and Qualifications:

• Educational Background: A bachelor's degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or a related field. 
• Professional Qualifications: Any relevant professional qualifications that showcase sound understanding of child rights programming, development studies, or humanitarian aid. Recognising the importance of diversity and equal opportunity, willingness to pursue further qualifications and training as needed.

Desirable

• A master’s degree is preferred, reflecting our commitment to targeted ambition and continuous personal development aligned with Save the Children's values.
• French language required

Working at Save the Children International

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.

We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Our recruitment process:

1. Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
2. Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
3. Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
4. If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.