Data Capability Specialist at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE: 

As a movement, Save the Children generates vast quantities of data for multiple purposes, including to monitor and assess the performance and quality of its programming, learn from the children and communities it supports, drive evidence-based decision making across all organisational levels to continuously improve, optimise interactions with its supporters, just to name a few.

Save the Children’s ambitious 2022-2024 global strategy places data and evidence firmly at the centre of work to deliver on and track the success of its global program outcomes, creating a need for improved (and some new) skillsets (both general and more specialised) that can maximise the value of our data and evidence across its lifecycle from generation all the way through to analysis, interpretation and usage.

The Data Capability Specialist will lead this effort by developing an ambitious, innovative and comprehensive approach to professional development for staff in Save the Children across Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), as well as for evidence users in Program Operations, Technical Expertise, New Business Development and leadership teams, particularly within Country Offices. It also entails developing a global operating model to fill capability gaps across our organisation for specific initiatives (such as Randomised Control Trials as just one example) in Country Offices, and supporting the professional development of project staff included in this model.

This approach will complement and improve upon existing initiatives led by teams focusing on “evidence and learning” and “data and analytics”. It will also crucially align with our broader organisational investment in technical experts, as well as talent and learning processes.

The Data Capability Specialist will have significant experience in adult learning and use their expertise to ensure that design and implementation of a professional development model for project staff builds on existing structures and good practice and innovations across Save the Children and the wider sector. This should align existing and new development offers, HR talent management systems, and accreditation systems under a single framework. It should meet the needs of both humanitarian and all-context programmes and experts. The specialist will also contribute to overall impact measurements of the model, including through reporting and stakeholder engagement.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• A solid grounding in Learning & Development with experience of learning needs analysis design, implementation and evaluating learning interventions, ideally in an international environment
• Demonstrated experience and practice in adult learning and development approaches, including a good understanding of the issues that impact effective learning
• Proven strong facilitation and communication skills, particularly using online/remote platforms and interactive technologies (e.g. MS Teams, Mural, Mentimeter)
• Ability to analyse and present data in a clear and compelling way
• A demonstrable understanding of organisational Talent Management and the processes involved in identifying, developing and mobilising talent
• Extensive experience in supporting the development of organizational strategies, policies, guidelines and work processes
• Experience of rolling out Learning & Development interventions at scale for new and existing operating models
• Experience project managing initiatives and operating model changes to fill capability gaps in an organisation
• Experience managing and maintaining relationships with a variety of stakeholders from all levels to implement change
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills. Engaging as well as assertive, influencing and negotiating. Fluency in English.
• True passion for results, responsibility and proactivity
• Competent in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Familiarity with Monitoring, Evaluation (and Research), Accountability and Learning (MEAL) processes, particularly those involving particular skillsets (both general and specialised) linked to data and evidence

Desirable

• A second language- preferably Spanish or French
• Experience of designing and implementing learning and development in an international development or humanitarian organisation