Head of Child Poverty at Save the Children

Role Purpose: The Head of Child Poverty takes overall responsibility for the strategic direction, growth and coordination of Save the Children International’s work on Social Protection (including social safety nets), Financial Inclusion, Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL), Youth Entrepreneurship and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the Somalia/Somaliland programme. As a senior member of the Technical Support Team in the programme, the Head is responsible for leading and overseeing the development and delivery of high quality, innovative, cost effective programmes in both emergency and long-term development settings, resulting in immediate and lasting change for children. The Head is also responsible for monitoring programme quality, initiating and taking technical leadership in child poverty focused studies, documentation and dissemination of innovations and good practices by working together with other members of PDQ team; leading on policy research and advocacy through networking and collaboration with relevant civil society organisations and other institutions; playing a leading role in establishing, maintaining and expanding donor relations for the sector

Contract Duration: 2 years with possibility for extension

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in social sciences; economics; natural resource management or a related field with additional training and 8 years’ experience in Social Protection, Youth Entrepreneurship, Financial Inclusion Programming, Food Security, Livelihoods & TVET, and project planning and management techniques
• Knowledge of current global and regional debates on sustainable food security and livelihoods, resilience building and TVET models, and especially their linkages with Child Poverty
• Familiar with the global standards on FSL and resilience programming, and experience in overseeing project implementation according to those standards
• Recommended a minimum of eight years of relevant technical experience including at senior level
• Proven experience of developing and managing high quality, innovative and cost-effective technical FSL/TVET projects in fragile and insecure environments, preferably in Somalia context and with International NGOs
• Proven experience and skills in research and advocacy and influencing institutional, private and/or corporate donors and writing up high quality donor reports
• Experience of working with local/national governments and capacity building of systems, partners and staff
• Ability to extensively travel for project monitoring and provide on-site technical support to field teams 
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international and matrix management environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required
• Commitment to Save the Children values