Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Country Director – Malawi to join our global team.
Team and Job Purpose
As a member of the East and Southern Africa Senior Leadership team, you will have shared accountability for Save the Children’s international development and emergency programming in the region of approximately $420 million each year through an organisation of almost 5,000 people.
To achieve our ambitious goals and breakthroughs for children, the leadership team will, in collaboration with Save the Children Members and in conjunction with the other regional organisations, aim to drive growth globally to $2.7 billion.
The Country Director will lead the growth and transform program quality of the country to new standards, whilst also delivering Save the Children’s strategy within the country through:
- Delivering quality programmes, including advocacy, for children; and
- Ensuring world class stewardship of resources from Members and their donors
- Developing and delivering improved outcomes for children through delivery of the Save the Children global programme strategy and global initiatives and growth targets as set for the country
Job Title: Country Director – Malawi
Reports To: Regional Director
Contract Length: Open Ended
Grade: Executive
Location: Malawi
Budget Responsibility: $ 18 Million
People Management Responsibility: people managed in total: 6
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
As a member of the Regional Senior Leadership Team, contribute to strategic development and delivery of international programming, in both humanitarian and development contexts, in line with the Save the Children mandate, strategy and theory of change.
Deliver transformational change in-country, including:
- Engaging Save the Children staff, partners and other stakeholders to create real shared ownership and collaboration
- Creating an environment of continuous learning, where staff are encouraged and supported to grow and develop and are willing to be held accountable for their commitments
- Ensuring that the focus of the organisation remains on the rights and needs of children
Be accountable, and develop the capacity of, mentor and hold staff accountable for:
- Developing strong country strategy and operational plans that identify and address significant issues facing children, and are in line with Save the Children’s overall strategy, its three breakthroughs, Global Themes and theory of change
- Preparing for and implementing rapid and effective responses to major emergencies affecting children, including building relationships with key humanitarian and development decision makers and partners in-country
- Delivering programmes and advocacy in line with the country strategy, operational plans, budgets and Member requirements that result in significant impact for children
- Collaborating with colleagues in the region to deliver any regional programmes and advocacy, in line with global strategies,
- Developing and maintaining good relations with members and their donors
- Growing the country programme to become the leading NGO addressing children’s issues in the country
- Developing and maintaining efficient and effective operating systems, and ensure compliance with all Save the Children Essential Standards, meeting global KPIs, with a particular focus on safety & security management
- Developing and coaching staff to optimise their potential in pursuit of Save the Children’s objectives
- Contributing to global knowledge and learning in Save the Children
Be accountable, and develop the capacity of, mentor and hold Senior Management Team accountable for:
- Role modelling and leading the way on our new values and ways of working
- Delivering on an ambitious country strategy and operational plans with and for children
- Preparing for and implementing rapid and effective responses to emergencies in-country affecting children
- Building relationships with key decision makers and partners
- Developing and coaching staff to optimise their potential in pursuit of Save the Children’s objectives
- Contributing to global knowledge and learning in Save the Children
Additional responsibilities
Representation
- Lead on presenting SC’s activities and achievements to donors, government and other policy makers.
- Ensure that we have the right staff going to the right meetings to maximise our influence among donors and government departments as we work towards effective implementation of positive policy change.
- Maintain Save the Children’s reputation as a credible force working safely with and for children
Audit, Corporate Governance compliance and Fraud
Save The Children is committed to being an effective steward of funds we receive from our various donors. We take compliance with their requirements and our own requirements very seriously. We also maintain a 'zero tolerance' policy toward fraudulent, dishonest and corrupt practices. Where they are detected, it will be investigated and take appropriate action against staff, volunteers, partners, vendors, suppliers and any other implicated party. Therefore, the Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the Anti-Fraud policy.
- Ensure compliance with all host government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc.
- Ensure that internal and external audits are undertaken in a timely and efficient manner in line with policy and back donor and host government requirements
- Ensure follow-up on recommendations arising out of audits of operations and take appropriate actions where necessary
- Ensure all incidents of fraud are rapidly investigated, with decisive action taken and lessons learnt applied immediately and sustainably.
Security Management
Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks to staff and ensuring staff are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact for children. Therefore, the Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the Safety and Security policy
- Ensure the Country office has security plans and procedures in line with policies, systems and guidelines
- Maintain, document and communicate up to date analyses of the changing security context
- Ensure all staff adhere to security guidelines
Child Safeguarding
Children who come into contact with Save the Children as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of child abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm.
The Country Director is accountable for the implementation of and compliance with all aspects of the policy.
- Understand and fulfil responsibilities in achieving compliance of Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy standards.
- Provide overall leadership and oversight to the development of country level child safeguarding systems with the aim of achieving full compliance with the Child Safeguarding Policy’s criteria
Other: Any other duties as assigned by the Regional Director
Qualifications, Experience and Skills
Qualifications: Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience in relevant fields
Essential Experience and skills
- Experience of building, leading and developing a team of senior staff with different backgrounds and expertise
- Demonstratable leadership experience holding teams accountable for timely and quality delivery.
- Experience of managing a crisis situation requiring quick changes to priorities and rapid action to respond
- Experience of leading change in an organisation which has led to considerable results for the organisation and its stakeholders
- Experience of building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organisation
- Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in
- Good understanding of programme, financial and operational management processes
- Good understanding of key trends in international and humanitarian development
- A fluency and speaking and writing in English is required for this role
- Commitment to the Save the Children values
Desirable experience and skills
- Experience of crisis management / security management in complex environment
Working at Save the Children International
Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.
We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities
DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.
We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.
Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.
Application Information
Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Our recruitment process:
- Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
- Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
- Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
- If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks
We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.
Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.