Head of Global Strategic Influencing and Policy (SCI)

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

To oversee and lead the development and coordination of organizational policy ensuring alignment with Save the Children’s long-term strategy.  This role holder will direct the creation of unified policy positions and approaches on priority crisis-specific and thematic issues, supporting Save the Children’s proactive engagement in international and global discourse and fostering collaboration across Save the Children to enhance the influence and impact of the organization within the sector.   

Location 

Hybrid – Washington DC office location 

Remote – United States 

 

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)  

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

• Oversee and lead the development and coordination of organizational policy ensuring alignment with Save the Children’s long-term strategy for sustainable impact for children. Ensure articulated strategic policy positions align respond to CO and Member needs.
• Direct the creation of unified policy positions and approaches on priority crisis-specific and thematic issues, supporting Save the Children’s proactive engagement in international and global discourse and fostering collaboration across Save the Children to enhance the influence and impact of the organization within the sector.
• Provide expert advice on principled policy engagement and application in all contexts and thematic issues
• Support raising the understanding and awareness on the organizational policy positions, trends and leverage expertise across the movement and champion a unified approach to policy development.
• Foster collaborative relationships with key stakeholders in the sectors to strengthen collective advocacy and maximise influence on policies affecting children. Map the key Global strategic stakeholders and develop a strategy to ensure a networked approach across SCA to develop strong partnerships with key stakeholders
• Oversee and guide research and report initiatives on global issues that drive evidence-based policy and advocacy efforts, ensuring a clear prioritised and streamlined approach while ensuring Save the Children remains relevant.
• Guide and develop the policy and influencing sub-team, implementing best practices in line management, resource allocation, and performance development to meet organisational goals. Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that encourages professional development and high performance and in alignment with Save the Children’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Required qualifications for the role 

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience 
• Extensive Experience: Experience in driving global policy and advocacy work, particularly in child rights across development, nexus and humanitarian contexts.
• Extensive Experience: Directing the creation of unified policy positions, with a strong understanding of global political dynamics.
• Extensive Experience: Experience working within a global NGO or similar setting,
• Extensive experience: Managing high-stakes relationships internally and externally and ensuring strategic alignment across multiple teams and leadership groups.
• Crisis Management and Resilience: Experience in managing global policy and advocacy priorities in complex, high-pressure environments, demonstrating resilience and adaptive problem-solving
• Extensive experience: Overseeing the Development of Global Reports and Research and ensuring strategic prioritisation.
• Significant experience working collaboratively across advocacy, comms, campaigns and media in various contexts with a strong understanding and grasp of policy issues and risk managemen
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite 
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English 

Preferred qualifications for the role 

• Master’s Degree in International Relations, Political Science, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field is preferable.  

Compensation 

Save the Children is offering the followin