Director of Strategy, Program Development and Impact

Role Purpose

As a member of the Save the Children Cambodia Senior Management Team (SMT), the Director of Strategy, Program Development and Impact (SPDI) plays a key leadership role in overseeing the strategic direction of the program portfolio from a Theory of Change perspective, with a particular focus on strengthening program development, evidence-based and results-oriented practice, innovation, strategic partnerships, advocacy and communications and other cross cutting areas such as DRR/humanitarian response or gender equality & inclusion.

The SPDI Director is responsible for driving cross-functional engagement in the development, review and delivery of the Country Strategy Plan (CSP) and annual planning and reporting processes.

As a senior leader in the country office, s/he plays a representational role with the government, donors, partners, peer agencies, SC Members and others. The SPDI Director supports strategic positioning with donors, members and partners and leads on project design to ensure that the country office strategy can be delivered in line with child rights programming principles. The position leads the CO in developing and pursuing its fundraising strategy and works across departments to ensure the development of high quality proposals. S/he is responsible for ensuring the development and submission of high quality, evidence-based, innovative programs for children, in all contexts, that contribute to the CSP.

The Director of SPDI oversees the Head of Evidence and Learning to ensure that a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) system is in place, that the country office engages in the collection and use of evidence and that this is shared across the global organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making.

S/he also oversees the Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media function for the country office, ensuring the quality of ongoing Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media work and pursuing new opportunities to increase SC visibility and profile, both nationally and internationally, in line with the Influencing Strategy. The position also oversees our partnership strategy, particularly identifying and establishing strategic partnerships with the private sector, academia or CSOs. The SPDI Director also oversees cross-cutting technical areas such as DRR/Humanitarian and gender equality and inclusion.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to lead in emergency preparedness and response (including DRR) and work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Qualifications and experience

• Masters degree or its equivalent in years of experience in relevant social sciences, development studies, human rights or other relevant sector (especially in Child Development or Community Development), human rights, NGO management or equivalent fields

Essential

• Minimum of seven years progressive senior management and/ or development experience, including experience designing and implementing programs for children
• Experience in one or more of the Save the Children priority sectors: education, protection, child rights governance, child poverty, health and nutrition, and emergencies.
• Proven track record of a positive, active, strategic and collaborative contribution at a senior level
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to set priorities and organize a challenging and diverse set of responsibilities
• An appreciation and understanding of the issues concerning the NGO sector in Cambodia, both development and humanitarian; previous experience working in Asia is a plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of children’s issues, rights-based program approaches, and child safeguarding principles.
• Strong skills and proven experience in leading strategic planning, change management and program management processes; also from the knowledge and learning perspective.
• Demonstrated experience in staff supervision and leading a team, including strong coaching and capacity building skills in a diverse and cross-cultural environment.
• Proven track record in business development / resource mobilization with major institutional donors, including fundraising strategy development, donor engagement, and proposal development.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated ability to tailor communications to be effective for a range of audiences and purposes.
• Understanding and experience in award/grant management, and resolving complex donor compliance and reporting issues, is a plus.
• Ability to lead change management processes relating to policies, procedures, systems and structures.
• Excellent problem solving, attention to detail and strategic thinking skills

Desirable

• Strong skills in training, capacity building, coaching, problem solving and mentoring teams/staff members throughout project cycle management.
• Demonstrated skills in designing and carrying out qualitative and quantitative research and using research to inform program design and advocacy.
• Demonstrated capacity to design innovative and high impact programs, and leveraging project results towards broader systemic impact.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sector work
• Fluency in written and spoken English, Khmer would be an advantage

Contract length: TBC

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 workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.