ROLE PURPOSE:
As a member of the East and Southern Africa Senior Leadership team, you will have shared accountability for Save the Children’s international development and emergency programming in the region of approximately $420 million each year through an organisation of almost 5,000 people.
To achieve our ambitious goals and breakthroughs for children, the leadership team will, in collaboration with Save the Children Members and in conjunction with the other regional organisations, aim to drive growth globally to $2.7 billion.
The Country Director will lead the growth and transform program quality of the country to new standards, whilst also delivering Save the Children’s strategy within the country through:
- Delivering quality programmes, including advocacy, for children; and
- Ensuring world class stewardship of resources from Members and their donors
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Regional Director East and Southern Africa
Dimensions: Portfolio in 2024 was US$7.5 million and for 2025 its expected to be around US$18 million.
Staff directly reporting to this post: Total in country staff is 208. The six direct reports to the Country Director include: Programmes Operations and Awards Management Director, Program Development and Quality Director, , Finance and Digital Solutions Director, HR, Safeguarding & Admin Director, and Head of Risk and Compliance
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
As a member of the Regional Senior Leadership Team, contribute to strategic development and delivery of international programming, in both humanitarian and development contexts, in line with the Save the Children mandate, strategy and theory of change
Deliver transformational change in-country, including:
- Developing and delivering improved outcomes for children through delivery of the Save the Children global programme strategy and global initiatives and growth targets as set for the country
- Engaging Save the Children staff, partners and other stakeholders to create real shared ownership and collaboration
- Creating an environment of continuous learning, where staff are encouraged and supported to grow and develop and are willing to be held accountable for their commitments
- Ensuring that the focus of the organisation remains on the rights and needs of children
Be accountable, and develop the capacity of, mentor and hold staff accountable for:
- Developing strong country strategy and operational plans that identify and address significant issues facing children, and are in line with Save the Children’s overall strategy, its three breakthroughs, Global Themes and theory of change
- Preparing for and implementing rapid and effective responses to major emergencies affecting children, including building relationships with key humanitarian and development decision makersand partners in-country
- Delivering programmes and advocacy in line with the country strategy, operational plans, budgets and Member requirements that result in significant impact for children
- Collaborating with colleagues in the region to deliver any regional programmes and advocacy, in line with global strategies,
- Developing and maintaining good relations with members and their donors
- Growing the country programme to become the leading NGO addressing children’s issues in the country
- Developing and maintaining efficient and effective operating systems, and ensure compliance with all Save the Children Essential Standards, meeting global KPIs, with a particular focus on safety & security management
- Developing and coaching staff to optimise their potential in pursuit of Save the Children’s objectives
- Contributing to global knowledge and learning in Save the Children
Be accountable, and develop the capacity of, mentor and hold Senior Management Team accountable for:
- Role modelling and leading the way on our new values and ways of working
- Delivering on an ambitious country strategy and operational plans with and for children
- Preparing for and implementing rapid and effective responses to emergencies in-country affecting children
- Building relationships with key decision makers and partners
- Developing and coaching staff to optimise their potential in pursuit of Save the Children’s objectives
- Contributing to global knowledge and learning in Save the Children
Additional responsibilities
Representation
- Lead on presenting SC’s activities and achievements to donors, government and other policy makers.
- Ensure that we have the right staff going to the right meetings to maximise our influence among donors and government departments as we work towards effective implementation of positive policy change.
- Maintain Save the Children’s reputation as a credible force working safely with and for children
Audit, Corporate Governance compliance and Fraud
Save The Children is committed to being an effective steward of funds we receive from our various donors. We take compliance with their requirements and our own requirements very seriously. We also maintain a ‘zero tolerance’ policy toward fraudulent, dishonest and corrupt practices. Where they are detected, it will be investigated and take appropriate action against staff, volunteers, partners, vendors, suppliers and any other implicated party. Therefore, the Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the Anti-Fraud policy.
- Ensure compliance with all host government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc.
- Ensure that internal and external audits are undertaken in a timely and efficient manner in line with policy and back donor and host government requirements
- Ensure follow-up on recommendations arising out of audits of operations and take appropriate actions where necessary
- Ensure all incidents of fraud are rapidly investigated, with decisive action taken and lessons learnt applied immediately and sustainably.
Security Management
Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks to staff and ensuring staff are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact for children. Therefore, the Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the Safety and Security policy
- Ensure the Country office has security plans and procedures in line with policies, systems and guidelines
- Maintain, document and communicate up to date analyses of the changing security context
- Ensure all staff adhere to security guidelines
Child Safeguarding
Children who come into contact with Save the Children as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of child abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm.
The Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the policy.
- Understand and fulfil responsibilities in achieving compliance of Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy standards.
- Provide overall leadership and oversight to the development of country level child safeguarding systems with the aim of achieving full compliance with the Child Safeguarding Policy’s criteria
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving results together with children and role modelling Save the Children values
- Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
- Creates a managerial environment in-country to lead, enable and maintain our culture of child safeguarding
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for self and team, takes responsibility for own personal development and encourages team to do the same
- Widely shares personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future oriented, thinks strategically and on a global scale
Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, with own team, colleagues, members, donors and partners
- Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
- Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency
- Always acts in the best interests of children
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Experience of building, leading and developing a team of senior staff with different backgrounds and expertise
- Demonstratable leadership experience holding teams accountable for timely and quality delivery.
- Experience of managing a crisis situation requiring quick changes to priorities and rapid action to respond
- Experience of leading change in an organisation which has led to considerable results for the organisation and its stakeholders
- Experience of building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organisation
- Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in
- Good understanding of programme, financial and operational management processes
- Good understanding of key trends in international and humanitarian development
- A fluency and speaking and writing in English is required for this role
- Commitment to the Save the Children values
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures;
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
More Information
- Job City Lilongwe
