Lead Associate, Portfolio Management (P2)

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

 

The Role

Save the Children’s Impact & Evidence division strives to serve people who serve children—providing high-quality, strategically aligned resources, insights, and support to drive measurable, transformative change. We work efficiently and collaboratively, guided by shared purpose, mutual respect, and accountability to the communities we serve. By testing bold ideas, proving what works, and scaling effective solutions, we improve children’s lives—while always ensuring we contribute more value than we consume and make space for others (SCI Center, members, partners, etc.) best positioned to lead.

 

The Lead Associate, Portfolio Management will provide financial support for Save the Children’s international portfolio.  In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring financial and operational processes are running timely and efficiently. You will report to the Senior Director, Portfolio Management and will provide budget holder support, award management, and expense allocation guidance to the cost centers supported. 

 

Location

Hybrid – Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations

 

 

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change

Award Management (65%)

• Manage and monitor a portfolio of low‑ to medium‑risk awards across the full award lifecycle, from start‑up through closeout, in alignment with donor requirements and Save the Children policies.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned awards, coordinating with Country Offices, finance, technical teams, procurement, and fundraising staff to ensure consistent and timely information flow.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews to assess award health, implementation progress, and compliance, identifying risks and variances and escalating issues as appropriate.
• Support award start‑up activities, including coordination of meetings, documentation review, systems set‑up, and onboarding of Country Office teams.
• Lead or support award closeout processes, ensuring financial, contractual, and documentation requirements are met and award files are audit‑
• Maintain organized and up‑to‑date award documentation in Save the Children award management systems.

Budget and Financial Management (25%)

• Track and analyze award budgets versus actual expenditures, identifying trends, variances, underspend or overspend risks, and required follow‑up actions.
• Support annual workplan and budget development in collaboration with Country Offices, international staff, and HQ program staff.
• Review financial transactions, expense reports, invoices, and timesheet coordination for assigned awards to ensure allowability, allocability, and accuracy.
• Contribute to donor financial reporting processes by reviewing financial data and supporting timely and accurate submissions.
• Provide budget holders and program teams with guidance on financial policies, procedures, and donor requirements.
• Support agency new business development efforts by contributing to proposal and concept note processes.
• Assist with cost proposal inputs, budget templates, pipeline tracking, internal approvals, and coordination with Country Offices and fundraising teams.

Knowledge Management & Capacity Building (10%):

• Assist with the development of financial training materials and conduct regular trainings for finance and program staff on financial policies, procedures, and award compliance.
• Work with Managing Director and Senior Director to update financial policies and procedures and implement best practices across the team.
• Support the completion of needs assessments to identify staff training requirements, evaluate the effectiveness of training programs, and make improvements as needed.
• Assist in training both internal and external stakeholders on various financial topics including:
  • Budget holder guidance
  • Financial policies and procedures
  • Donor compliance and reports
  • Federal regulations, i.e. 2 CFR 200, EDGAR, and others.
• Work with Sr. Director to ensure training