Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Head of Programme Funding, Asia to join our CO team.

Team and Role Purpose

To provide strategic leadership and direction on all Programme Funding matters across Save the Children. Optimise and align our local-to-global programme funding portfolio and drive continuous improvements in our capabilities, funding practices and donor partnerships. Blend art and science to turn insights into action. Collaborate extensively across the movement, and partner closely with key stakeholders, both within and beyond StC, to directly inform, shape, and connect key strategic programme funding trends and initiatives that advance the movement’s Global Strategy and Global Funding Framework ambitions.

Role purpose

To lead strategic programme funding efforts across all market channels and leverage relationships to support funding growth regionally, ensuring alignment with the Strategic Plans of Countries in the region. Acting as the primary ‘Business Partner’ and principal point of contact for all Implementing Offices in the region, this role will develop and drive the region’s Programme Funding Strategy, will lead an active Programme Funding Community of Practice, will focus on enhancing business development and donor partnership practices in the region, will maintain oversight on the region’s programme funding risk monitoring and reporting, will lead on all regional Fundraising Protocol support, will ensure that effective cross-functional programme funding ways of working are followed across the region, and will foster key relationships with donors, partners, and civil society stakeholders across the region to help Country successfully secure their flagship programme funding opportunities.

• Job Title: Head of Programme Funding, Asia
• Reports To: Global Head of Programme Funding Country Support
• Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available
• Location: Asia – Any approved SCI office location in Asia Pacific Region. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: SCI Careers
• Required Time Zone: GMT + 4 to + 8
• Contract Length: Permanent
• 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, up to 20%
• People Management: Number of people managed in total: 2; Manager of a team: YES; Team Manager (manager of multiple teams): No
• Remit: Regional

Principal Accountabilities

• Lead ASIA’s strategic programme funding efforts across all market channels, ensuring alignment and coherency across the region’s Country Strategic Plans, while fostering a local-to-global culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Act as the primary point of contact and ‘Business Partner’ for all Implementing Country Offices in the ASIA region on all programme funding matters, on all Fundraising Protocol support needs and requirements, on all multi-country business development activity, and on local-to-global programme funding strategic initiatives; directly supporting Country Offices as needed to help them achieve their funding growth targets and organisational objectives.
• Develop and drive the ASIA region’s Programme Funding Strategy – aligned to the Global Funding Framework and Global Strategy; ensuring the Regional Programme Funding Strategy creates impactful partnerships with donors, partners, and civil society stakeholders that helps Country Offices secure necessary funding and impact that fulfils Save the Children’s mission.
• Oversee the support and risk monitoring (and escalation) of the region’s programme funding portfolio, ensuring that funding risks are identified, reported, and managed effectively to secure and maintain funding stability.
• Lead ‘Communities of Practice’ within the ASIA region on programme funding, fostering an inclusive environment where best practices, innovation, and learnings are shared and applied to improve business development and donor partnership practices across all funding streams.
• Drive effective cross-departmental coordination and collaboration within the global Programme Funding function, with other departments across SCA/I and Members across the global movement; driving global and regional initiatives that support ASIA’s programme funding priorities, and, working with other regional Heads of Programme Funding, ensuring that all regional funding strategies and activities are well-aligned and mutually reinforcing.

Experience and Skills

Essential

1. Significant programme funding experience in Asia, developing and implementing programme funding strategies that align with organisational objectives in the international development and humanitarian sector in Asia.
2. Extensive experience in managing programme funding donor relationships and engagement to drive funding growth across multiple channels.
3. Considerable experience in overseeing risk management related to programme funding portfolios, with a proven track record of identifying, reporting, and mitigating risks.
4. Demonstrable experience in leading high-impact fundraising and programme funding strategies within an international context.
5. Excellent knowledge of international funding landscapes, including institutional donors, multilateral organisations, and corporate funding streams.
6. Proficient experience in facilitating cross-departmental and cross-regional coordination for programme funding activities.
7. Leadership and Strategy: Ability to lead strategic programme funding efforts, develop comprehensive funding strategies, and foster collaboration across departments and regions.
8. Communication: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to articulate complex ideas and strategies compellingly to a diverse range of stakeholders.
9. Relationship Building: Proven track record of building and maintaining effective relationships with donors, partners, civil society stakeholders, and internal teams.
10. Analytical: Strong analytical skills with the capacity to interpret data, funding trends, and forecasts to inform strategies.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a country / implementing office or regional office of SCI/A or equivalent
• Experience in fostering and leading Communities of Practice within a region, ensuring knowledge sharing and best practice development in programme funding.
• Strong understanding of compliance and regulatory requirements related to programme funding in the international non-profit sector.
• Project Management: Highly developed project management skills with a focus on aligning funding activities and programmatic goals.
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to develop innovative solutions to fundraising challenges and adapt strategies in response to changing funding environments.
• Cultural Competency: Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and understanding cultural differences to build stronger global partnerships

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Education: Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience – in international development, business administration, economics, marketing, or a related field.
• Multi-Language Proficiency: While English is essential in ASIA, some proficiency in other languages commonly used in SCI/A programme funding operations, such as French, Spanish or Arabic, is desirable. Other languages relevant to the region would also be a distinct advantage.
• CPD: Commitment to continuous professional development to stay updated with the latest trends in ODA markets, programme funding and business development is required
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel to different country offices as required.

Desirable

• Professional certification or training in international development, programme management, programme funding or relationships management.
• Accredited membership of relevant professional bodies is desirable

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.