Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Director, Humanitarian Operations to join our global team.
The Humanitarian Operations Team own and manage key procedures that support our organizational approach to preparedness and response, ensuring seamless coordination of functional support to humanitarian operations across all contexts in anticipation of and in response to humanitarian needs.
- To facilitate rapid deployment of high-quality surge capacity and flexible funding tailored to the specific needs and capacities of our responses, thereby maximizing impact.
- To build the capacity of humanitarian responders, empowering them with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively address humanitarian challenges.
- To provide leadership and accountability for the global operational support of Save the Children’s humanitarian portfolio, ensuring robust preparedness, anticipatory action, and operational support in diverse humanitarian contexts.
- To develop and implement clear policies and processes for emergency preparedness and response management, guaranteeing sustainable and effective humanitarian operational functions.
- To guide and support Save the Children teams with surge capacity and operational strategies, enhancing their ability to deliver critical humanitarian programs worldwide
Job Title: Director, Humanitarian Operations
Reports To: Global Humanitarian Director
Work Pattern: Remote with flexible working options available
Contract Length: Fixed Term Contract, 12 months (Maternity Cover)
Grade: M5, Executive
Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: SCI Careers
Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Any
Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment.
Language Requirements: English
International Travel Requirements: up to 10%
Budget Responsibility: $50-100M pa Humanitarian Fund, $15M GEHSP, $8M departmental budget
People Management Responsibility: Manager of multiple teams, 6-7 direct reports and overall team of 160
Principal Accountabilities
- Lead the coordination and mobilisation of global functions, members, and country offices to deliver high-quality humanitarian responses that effectively address needs-based priorities across Save the Children's global humanitarian portfolio.
- Ensure the availability and deployment of appropriate and evidence-based tools and guidance, enabling countries to understand and manage threats and risks within their operating environments, thereby anticipating, preparing for, and acting early on humanitarian crises.
- Lead and coordinate the provision of essential resources, including surge capacity, funding, and pre-positioned stock and supplies, to support effective humanitarian responses.
- Drive the continuous improvement and provision of comprehensive global response policies, frameworks, tools, and guidance to enhance the quality of Save the Children’s humanitarian operations.
- Oversee the functioning of the system of humanitarian alert, response categorisation, and cross-organisational prioritisation, ensuring timely and effective action in response to emerging crises.
- Align country-level humanitarian response strategies with global priorities and standards, working closely with movement humanitarian leadership to ensure they meet expectations regarding quality, scale, voice, and technical focus.
Essential Experience and Skills
1. Humanitarian Response & Leadership: Considerable experience in leading and coordinating large-scale humanitarian responses, including the mobilisation of resources such as surge capacity, funding, and pre-positioned stock. Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and manage multi-functional and multi-cultural teams. Strong coordination skills to ensure effective collaboration between global functions, members, and country offices.
2. Policy and Process Development: Extensive experience in developing and implementing comprehensive response policies, frameworks, tools, and guidance for humanitarian operations. Experience in developing and implementing frameworks for assessing and managing threats and risks within humanitarian operating environments. Proven ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond early to potential crises.
3. Stakeholder Management & Communications: Proficient experience in engaging with multiple stakeholders, including global functions, members, and country offices. Experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with partners, donors, and other key actors. Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to advocate for needs-based priorities and mobilise resources effectively. Able to engage and influence diverse stakeholders at all levels. Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners, ensuring a collaborative approach to humanitarian efforts.
4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Solid understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Proven track record of ensuring these principles are integrated into organisational practices and humanitarian responses. Commitment to pursuing cultural competency throughout the organisation, ensuring an inclusive environment that respects and values diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
5. Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and creatively, anticipating future trends and scenarios, and developing long-term plans in alignment with Save the Children's goals and mission.
6. Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, standards (e.g., Sphere Standards, Core Humanitarian Standard), and evidence-based tools and practices in humanitarian response.
7. Problem-Solving and Decision Making: Proven ability to analyse complex situations, identify problems, and implement effective solutions promptly and ethically. Demonstrated aptitude in making decisions under pressure that reflect the organisation's values and principles.
8. Resource Management: Proficiency in managing and optimising resources, including surge capacity, funding, and pre-positioned stock and supplies, ensuring that humanitarian responses are well-supported and sustainable.
9. Agility and Adaptability: Demonstrated flexibility and resilience in the face of changing contexts and dynamics in crisis settings. Willingness to take disciplined risks and adapt approaches as needed to achieve outcomes.
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- A master's or equivalent advanced degree in Humanitarian Affairs, International Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
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.