Global Director, Migration and Displacement Initiative (MDI) at Save the Children

Role Purpose:

At the end of 2019, 79mn million people (>40% children) were displaced by conflict and violence, with many more millions displaced by climate change and other factors. These numbers are increasing rapidly. (Irregular) migration is one of the pivotal political issues of our time, influencing much of the development and donor discourse – and again is an issue that impacts upon millions of vulnerable children worldwide. In response to the increasing impact of displacement and migration crises upon children, Save the Children established its Migration and Displacement Initiative (MDI) at the end of 2016

The Migration and Displacement Initiative (MDI) is a small unit housed within Save the Children International, which seeks to leverage existing capacity and skills across the Save the Children family, to support the Movement to become a global leader on child focused Migration and Displacement. The MDI is expected to ensure a consistent and cutting edge approach across all of our international programming activities.

The MDI places children at the heart of global solutions to M&D and works to ensure that SC reaches more M&D affected children through effective, durable, and scalable solutions and that we are recognised as a global leader in child focused M&D programming.

MDI seeks to achieve this in three ways:

1. As a Centre of Excellence and catalyst unit to drive knowledge, programming and policy work
2. As an innovator in developing tools and solutions to improve the way we respond to displacement challenges
3. As a convener to bring public, private and social sector partners together to tackle the issue collaboratively

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Demonstrable leadership skills (primarily through influencing)
• Extensive experience of development and humanitarian programme design, targeting displaced and migratory populations, with substantial time working in the field.
• Excellent technical (including ‘top-line’ legal frameworks and policies) knowledge of key migration and displacement issues, including previous engagement with and strong understanding of, Durable Solutions and ‘Root Causes’
• Experience of working for an international humanitarian organisation, including developing-country experience
• A good understanding of current migration and displacement research
• Strong technical knowledge and systems development experience in key areas: project cycle management, monitoring & evaluation, inclusive & sustainable programming, child safeguarding, etc
• Strong analytical skills and an ability to assimilate and process large amounts of information into a coherent narrative.
• A capacity for critical thinking and commitment to producing original and challenging ideas to improve policy and practice.
• The ability to present arguments clearly and convincingly to a variety of audiences.
• Experience in organising workshops and policy discussions.
• Proven experience of building personal networks, resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the organisation.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work collaboratively in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Excellent verbal & written skills in English
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• The ability to manage and juggle a complex and varied workload, at times working independently, at others working to tight deadlines under time pressure.
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
• Commitment to Save the Children values

Desirable

• Expertise in (child focused) migration/displacement programing
• Experience in the coordination of various stakeholders
• A strong international network within external facilities/organisations
• Proficiency in various languages

We can offer circa £ 73,000 per annum (If based in UK) with an option of flexible working hours. If the role is based outside of the UK, National T&C (including pay) will apply.

This role can be based in any existing Save the Children International Regional or Country office location on approval, provided the successful candidate has proof of eligibility to work from the preferred location.