Senior Specialist, Strategy & Planning - Maternity Cover at Save the Children

Principal Accountabilities

• Under the guidance of a Lead or other manager, support projects focused on surge analytical and problem solving support across a set of strategically important areas for the organisation. Take ownership of key modules of work, proactively developing own work plan and analysis and delivering high quality draft output. 
• Own or support a Lead or other manager with ongoing responsibility for one or more key strategy and planning areas including, for example: 
  Develop, guide, and drive forward the execution of strategy, ensuring appropriate oversight and support to identify and raise critical issues as needed, manage interdependencies, and troubleshoot execution, and manage risks. 
  Report on strategy progress to key governance, executive and management bodies, as well as external audiences. 
  Strengthen planning and coordination mechanisms across the organisation to facilitate rigorous prioritisation aligned to strategy.
• Support the Director and other leaders to build a strategy and planning community of practitioners across the organisation. Includes development of curriculum and training materials, developing communication and engagement plans, delivering trainings and facilitating community meetings. 
• To identify and act on opportunities to make significant improvements to rocesses, systems and ways of working within the team and across the department, including taking on lead roles in supporting the team.

Experience and Skills
Essential

• Strategy and Planning: Experience in strategic planning, analysis, project and/or change management (preferably in a large, complex global organisation and/or not for profit setting). Demonstrated ability to own a key module within a strategic initiative or project. 
• Supporting Change: Experience supporting strategic initiatives that require cross-functional collaboration and coordination. Experience in working on a project or initiative end-to-end, with ability to support and troubleshoot in the management of timelines, budget, risks and interdependencies. 
• Network and Influence: Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with counterparts across the organisation, including in decentralised setting. High level of cultural awareness and the ability to operate effectively in diverse and international environments.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex issues and data into simple and clear communications. Experience in presenting to leadership on findings and insights from strategy analysis. Capacity to contribute content and support development of clear, concise, and actionable reports for governance and executive bodies.
• Problem Solving and Analysis: Strong analytical skills to conduct strategic analysis, identify and understand trends and support well-informed decisions and proactive planning. Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in. Ability to gather data and analyse external trends. Demonstrated ability to think critically.
• Team Support: Demonstrated ability to support a diverse team and high performing team. Approachable team member and good listener. 
• Language: Fluent spoken and written English. Additional languages, particularly Spanish, Arabic, French, valued.

Desirable

• Technical Program Knowledge: Knowledge of technical program areas in Save the Children as well as other areas of the Save the Children organisation. Experience working in implementation on programming and advocacy related to child rights strongly regarded. 
• Project Management: Understanding of Project Management methodologies to ensure effective strategy execution and reporting.
• Data Analytics: Ability to use advanced analytics tools and familiarity with potential of AI and Machine Learning to support strategic analysis and improve ways of working.

Education and Qualifications 
Desirable

• Master’s Degree is highly desirable in a field relevant to international development, strategy, or business management. Will consider relevant work experience in related fields in lieu of advanced degree. 
• Project Management Certification or equivalent highly regarded: Such as PRINCE2, PMP, or an equivalent, focusing on managing complex projects efficiently.