Global Head, Climate Change at Save the Children

Role Purpose:

The Global Head, Climate Change for Save the Children International supports the Director of Child Poverty, Climate and Urban to drive Save the Children’s strategic approach to the Climate Crisis. Save the Children recognizes that the climate crisis poses an unprecedented threat to children’s rights now and in the future – and recognizes that integrating action on the climate crisis is critical to our 22-24 Strategy and 2030 Breakthroughs. The role will lead the development of strategic climate crisis priorities - based on a sound understanding of the science and impacts of climate change on children, particularly those most impacted by inequality and discrimination. The role will foster strong internal and external relationships to drive this agenda, and will play a thought leadership role in advancing children’s rights within climate policies and programmes – including climate financing, mitigation, adaptation, and other cross-cutting measures in close collaboration with other relevant functions.

The Global Head, Climate Change is a key member of the Safety Nets and Resilient Families Global Goal Team, within the Programme Quality and Impact (PQI) department. The team coordinates, facilitates and supports the work of Save the Children country and regional offices and members, to achieve Save the Children’s 2030 Breakthroughs – to ensure all children Survive, Learn and are Protected, with a focus on climate, poverty eradiation and urban. 

This role includes important cross-functional collaboration within Save the Children International and across the movement, to bring together our humanitarian and development programming, advocacy, campaigning and fundraising efforts to tackle the climate crisis in an integrated way, as well as ensuring our organization is at the forefront of reducing its environmental impact and carbon emissions. The right candidate, who can effectively coordinate climate action across a range of functions, will have significant opportunities to drive positive change for and with children globally across our circa 115 countries of operation. Children themselves have identified climate as an important priority for us, and this role will be providing technical leadership and strategic direction to a growing team of climate experts.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Significant experience in an international development/child rights organization in a senior position working on climate change - including overseeing program implementation, monitoring and evaluation and maintaining positive relationships with partner organizations, donors and external agencies.
• Significant senior level international experience designing, implementing and reporting on climate change strategies and programmes – ideally with an emphasis on locally led adaptation and community-based initiatives that involve children.
• Strong understanding of climate justice, and intersectional issues – such as how inequality and discrimination, including gender equality and disability inclusion, and the rights of indigenous peoples – are critical to our work on the climate crisis
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring skills, including the ability to both lead and be a member of a team, and of delivering significant results.
• Experience of effective team management including building shared objectives, quality control, evaluation, motivation, performance management, staff development and
• Experience and skill at “Leading Edge” (with reference to the Technical Competency Framework) level in relevant thematic/sub-thematic areas to the climate portfolio - Climate Change Impacts, Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Environmental Sustainability, Anticipatory Action, Climate Change Mitigation
• Strong programmatic and analytic skills. Demonstrated experience of research, capacity building, M&E and knowledge management. IT skills.
• Proven technical knowledge on climate change, ideally with a particular focus on impacts on children in low and middle income contexts
• Excellent writing, communications, facilitation, capacity building and networking skills in English. Knowledge in Spanish, French or Arabic is an asset.
• Strong ability to mobilize, build partnerships, solve problems, guide and motivate people toward the achievement of agreed goals.
• Program experience from a regional or country office is essential.
• Experience in policy, advocacy and/or fundraising is desirable.

Personal specifications required

• Commitment to child rights and to the aims and objectives of Save the Children.
• A full appreciation of the value of co-operation, and team-work.
• Personal maturity and social competence and diplomatic skills.
• Ability to prioritize especially when working under pressure.
• Trustworthy and transparent in all aspects of the role.
• Self-motivated and able to work with high degree of autonomy
• Significant experience of delivering child protection programmes in developing countries and/or in humanitarian contexts
• Demonstrable experience in policy development, ensuring engagement and buy-in, particularly in relation to child protection system strengthening
• Ability to support high level policy and management committees
• Proven leadership skills in a large, international, networked organisation
• Able to think creatively and strategically, to overcome obstacles to cooperation and progress
• Experience of building personal networks at senior levels, resulting in improved engagement
• Proven experience in conducting or overseeing research (preferably both qualitative and quantitative)
• Previous experience of overseeing the capacity development of a large organisation or group of staff. This may be through direct HR responsibility of through holding a senior management role
• High degree of business and people acumen, and the ability to demonstrate presence and credibility across the organisation
• Willingness and ability to travel overseas for up to 25%
• Exceptional oral and written communication and interpersonal skills