The Opportunity
Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as the Child Sponsorship Transformation Senior Project Manager in the UK (London or Remote) or any existing Save the Children International Regional or Country office worldwide.
Role Purpose:
Child sponsorship is a fundraising mechanism that enables individuals to support children, their families and entire communities through donations that are then used to directly support specific children that are sponsored. This is managed centrally and means that individual donors will receive information and communications from the specific child they have decided to sponsor. Save the Children made the decision to move away from this type of fundraising and as a result a project is needed to effectively manage this transition and ensure any associated impacts on fundraising, individual communities these sponsored children are a part of and staff are properly understood, planned for and managed to ensure the transition runs smoothly and results in even better outcomes for children.
Towards the end of 2023, a feasibility study was completed to assess the approach needed to wind down Individual Child Sponsorship including the following key components: -
- Impact for Children
- Impact on Country Office Operations
- Future Fundraising Models including alternative Sponsorship models
- Impact on systems used to support Individual Child Sponsorship
- Timeline required to manage required changes based on decisions on option to move forwards
The Child Sponsorship Transformation Senior Project Manager is a critical role that will report to the Project Lead and will be accountable for ensuring effective development, ongoing maintenance and delivery of the Project Plan including aligning with key stakeholders and SME from across the movement to ensure they understand their responsibilities and are held accountable for delivery. In addition to managing the plan, the Senior Project Manager will be accountable for coordinating the preparation and setup of key governance groups including senior level stakeholders, identifying and managing project risks and issues, engaging with the PMO and ensuring all reporting requirements are effectively managed including dependencies and status updates as well as leading the effort to progress the project through the required stage gates in line with the processes and templates defined. It will be critical to ensure that the Senior Project Manager can effectively manage relationships across the team and with external stakeholders aligning with the Project Lifecycle and ensuring a focus on Continuous Improvement. In addition, it is critical that the role holder has a deep understanding of Sponsorship Programmes at Save the Children in order to enable them to take a leading role in defining the future operating model and partnering with the wider project team to ensure the full scope of impacts are understood, associated activities are identified and prioritised and delivered in line with the agreed plan.
To be successful, the Senior Project Manager should be open to rolling up their sleeves to really understand the complexities of our organisation and the project itself and be willing to step in to manage issues through to resolution, diving into the content to identify options and ensure the required interventions are completed. Prior experience in delivery of global transformation initiatives is therefore essential for candidates applying for this role, in either the INGO sector or the private sector.
On occasions if the situation requires it, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- An extensive track record of successfully managing large and complex projects and programmes that include systems, processes and operating model changes
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate/mediate; to facilitate the resolution of conflicting business requirements
- Excellent understanding of business complexity and project interdependencies
- Ability to agree on Functional Workstream and Change Management priorities, in line with the plan
- Cultural awareness and experience of delivering solutions internationally
- Highly developed organisational awareness and ability to understand any sensitivities within a complex multi-stakeholder structure; and think creatively and strategically to overcome obstacles to cooperation and progress
- Demonstrable experience and in-depth knowledge of programme and project practices and standards
- Experience in solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
- A proven ability to deliver projects on time / on budget, using project management processes and tools including risk management, benefits management, financial management and quality assurance
- Strong team leadership abilities with the ability to motivate and mobilise individuals outside their reporting line
- Able to demonstrate instances of initiative that have delivered organisational benefits
- Team player, with a full appreciation of the value of collaboration
Desirable
- Knowledge of Child Sponsorship Programming and how this is managed in Save the Children
- Ability to speak one of the additional Save the Children core languages including French, Spanish and Arabic
We can offer circa £62,000 per annum (If based in the UK) with an option of flexible working hours. If the role is based outside of the UK, National Terms & Conditions (including pay and benefits) will apply.
This role can be based in the UK (London or Remote) or 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 for the duration of the contract.
Where we Work - Where We Work | Save the Children International
The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
- No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
- All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
- Violence against children is no longer tolerated
We know that great people make a great organization, 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.
Application Information:
Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your salary expectations. A full copy of the role profile can be found available for download at www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.
Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.