Country Director, Laos

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Country Director, Laos to join our Country Office in Laos.

Team and Role Purpose

Save The Children works across 12 urban and rural provinces across a range of thematic areas including Health & Nutrition Education, Child protection and Child Rights Governance. Activities are mostly implemented through or in conjunction with local authorities, and to lesser degree UN agencies, INGOs and CSOs. The organization has built up its programming over the last couple of years in a challenging environment. Long term sustainability is dependent on delivering quality interventions through a cost-effective model and sustaining a context-relevant and innovative programming portfolio by and maintaining a strong NBD unit.

Economic and climate challenges together are negatively impacting children on a greater scale than we have seen in decades. To counter these forces, during the 2025-27 strategy period Save the Children will transform our impact for children with renewed urgency. We will globally drive four strategic goals that are mutually reinforcing in a child’s life – ensuring a healthy and nutritious start, a safe return to school and learning, a life free from violence, and a resilient family with resources to support them. We will change how we work as one global diverse organisation, more strategically with partners, and in alliance with children and local actors, so we can accelerate impact – leveraging advocacy and campaigning, digital and data, and improving our efficiency and return on resources.

Role Purpose

As a member of the Asia Senior Leadership team, you will have shared accountability for Save the Children’s international development and emergency programming in Asia region of approximately $300-350 million each year through an organisation of nearly 5,500 people.  To achieve our ambitious goals and breakthroughs for children, the leadership team globally, in collaboration with Save the Children Members and in conjunction with the other regional organisations, aims to drive our organizational goals. 

The Country Director in Laos will have accountability for Save the Children’s international development and emergency programming in the country. Country Director will continue to build impact and program quality to new standards, whilst also delivering Save the Children’s strategy within the country through delivering quality programmes, including advocacy and campaigning; ensuring world class stewardship of resources from Members and their donors and driving new business development (NBD).

• Job Title: Country Director, Laos
• Reports To: Regional Director, Asia
• Work Pattern: On-site
• 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
• Contract Length: Permanent
• Grade: Executive
• Right to Work: The successful candidate must have the right to work in the country where the role is based, for the duration of employment. 
• Language Requirements: English
• International Travel: Yes
• People Management: Manager of a team: Yes; Manager of multiple teams: Yes; Number of reports: 6 directs, 130 indirect 
• Budget Responsibility: $12-15m per annum
• Remit: Country

Principal Accountabilities

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
• Collaboration with colleagues in the region to deliver any regional programmes and advocacy, in line with regional strategies, operational plans, budgets and Save the Children Member requirements that result in significant impact for children
• Supporting the development of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service to our Members and donors.

Deliver transformational change in-country, including:

• 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
• Defining and implementing the new operating model for the country, in consultation with the Regional Director and Operations Team. 
• 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
• Visioning for localization by working closely with all the stakeholders at regional and centre level 

Be accountable, and develop the capacity of, mentor and hold staff accountable for:

• Developing a 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 (with a focus on Global Initiatives) 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, NBD and advocacy, in line with regional strategies, operational plans, budgets and Save the Children member requirements that result in significant impact for children
• 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 ensuring compliance with all Save the Children Minimum Operating Standards, 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
• Drive the high performing organization (HPO) programs so that CO is able to deliver high quality programs on time and on budget

Be accountable, and develop the capacity of, mentor and hold the Senior Management Team accountable for:

• Role modelling and leading the way on the new values and ways of working
• 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 (with a focus on Global Initiatives) and theory of change
• Preparing for and implementing rapid and effective responses to emergencies in-country affecting children
• Collaborating with colleagues in the region to deliver any regional programmes and advocacy, in line with regional strategies, operational plans, budgets and Save the Children member requirements that result in significant impact for 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, develop a pool of successors for leadership and key positions, manage talents for career growth within the organization.
• Contributing to global knowledge and learning in Save the Children

Experience and Skills

Essential

1. Substantial experience of building, leading and developing a team of senior staff to deliver both development and humanitarian programs
2. Experience of working with donors to secure and/or manage new and/or competitive funding
3. Experience of leading high-profile advocacy and campaigning initiatives
4. Experience of managing a crisis situation requiring quick changes to priorities and rapid action to respond
5. Experience of leading change in an organisation which has led to considerable results for the organisation and its stakeholders
6. Experience of building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organisation
7. Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in
8. Excellent understanding of programme, financial and operational management processes
9. Good understanding of key trends in international and humanitarian development
10. Strong and nuanced cultural awareness
11. Fluency in speaking and writing in English 
12. Commitment to the Save the Children values

Education and Qualifications 

Essential

• Master’s Degree in development or other social sciences, or equivalent experience in the sector

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 at SCI Careers. 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.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are successfully shortlisted should expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of the advert deadline.

Our Recruitment Process

1. Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
2. Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
3. Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
4. 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.