Senior Director, Global Diplomacy, Engagement and UN Representative (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

Save the Children’s ability to engage and influence the UN is central to our aim of creating lasting positive change for the world’s most deprived and marginalized children. The Senior Director Global Diplomacy, Engagement and UN representative across New York and Geneva will lead the unified strategic thinking and planning for Save the Children’s engagement at the United Nations and the multilateral fora and processes globally. They will lead our organizational engagement and strategy with and towards the UN in NY and Geneva, its agencies and delegations, and the civil society organizations active in this arena. The post holder will make a key contribution to our global advocacy success in our priority areas, continually seeking to strengthen our position and credibility as the world’s leading child rights organization. They work closely with colleagues from across the organization to drive changes for children at the international level as well as ensure implementation at the national level. 

 

Location

Remote – United States

 

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

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

• Lead the development and implementation of ambitious strategic plans to engage and influence the UN system and multilateral fora and processes globally and shape the wider Save the Children global advocacy efforts in line with the organisation Global Strategy and 2030 ambition.
• As the UN Leader, drive the strategic thinking and planning for Save the Children’s UN engagement including developing a comprehensive UN Strategy and driving its delivery together with colleagues across the Movement. 
• Oversee the engagement and representation in key global influencing spaces across New York, Geneva, the African Union and Gulf.
• Advocate for change for children with key UN, Gulf and African Union policy makers and decision makers and across key multilateral fora across Save the Children priority issues across all contexts. Using local to global approach to facilitate voices from children, community, local Civil society organizations to the UN influence space in a safe and meaningful manner, as well working with regional, country and member office’s colleagues to translate the commitments made in the UN multilateral space at national level. Lead on the diplomatic engagement and influencing with Member States including humanitarian diplomacy.
• Forge networks and partnerships with influential allies, within the UN, with governments and among civil society, media and the private sector, recognizing that we cannot achieve the change we want by ourselves.
• Build profile and thought leadership for Save the Children, especially on our priority issues and future vision for the organization, by playing an active representational role in external forums and the media and being a convincing spokesperson for the organization.
• Lead a high performing UN, African Union and Gulf facing team, by providing strong leadership to the team, line management and support to each team member with a focus on wellbeing, talent growth in line with Save the Children’s strategic priority on DEI.
• Oversee Fundraising, Budget and operational management for the UN, African Union and Gulf global advocacy offices, by attracting quality funding to resource the priorities, playing the budget holder and legal person for Save the Children international’s entity in New York and Geneva (alongside the Deputy UN Rep). Ensure fully compliance of Save the Children policies and procedures and local legislative requirements as well relevant donor compliances.
• Drive innovation, quality and results supporting the scale up of effective and evidence-based advocacy approaches and models.
• Ensure knowledge is well-managed and key information is shared across the organization relating to political processes and partnerships opportunities.
• Ensure a meaningful and ethical child centered advocacy and campaigning approach to engagement and policy development at the UN through collaboration with relevant teams and offices ensuring Save the Children’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Gender, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded.
• Train, develop, coach, l