Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Specialist, Strategy & Planning – Maternity cover to join our global team.

Team and Role Purpose

The Strategy, Planning and Movement Development team plays a critical role in supporting SCI and the wider SCA movement deliver on its 2030 breakthroughs by leading the development of a global strategy and supporting country strategies, facilitating planning, resource allocation and strategic partnerships to implement the strategy, and monitoring strategy outcomes. The team ensures Save the Children can respond to new and emerging opportunities by conducting horizon scanning and monitoring of developments across the sector, supporting leadership with strategic analysis on high priority issues, and leading on initiatives to shape the future of the movement. The team also plays a critical role in maintaining common and high-quality standards across all SCA entities, managing the Quality Framework within SCI and the Mutual Accountability Framework across members, and providing technical assistance on implementing office operating models and member governance. We are a diverse, inclusive and high performing team that delivers insightful, actionable outcomes to support the effectiveness and sustainability of the Save the Children movement.

Role purpose

The Senior Specialist, Strategy & Planning, role will support specific projects in the Strategy, Planning & Movement Development team. Projects will range from providing surge analytical and problem solving support on strategically important issues to taking the lead on the organisation’s annual planning process. The Senior Specialist will lead research, analysis, problem solving and stakeholder engagement to provide high quality findings, insights and recommendations to solve strategic problems and strengthen the Movement. The Senior Specialist will support capability building across the movement, helping to establish a centre of excellence for strategy, planning and analytical capability in Save the Children.

• Job Title: Senior Specialist, Strategy & Planning – Maternity cover
• Reports To: Director of Strategy, Planning, and Movement Development
• Work Pattern: On-site/Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available
• 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
• Required Time Zone: Any
• Contract Length: Fixed Term Contract (6 months (1st November 2026 – 30th April 2027)
• 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: up to 10%
• Remit: Global

Principal Accountabilities

• Under the guidance of a Lead or other manager, support projects focused on surge analytical and problem solving support across a set of strategically important areas for the organisation. Take ownership of key modules of work, proactively developing own work plan and analysis and delivering high quality draft output.

Own or support a Lead or other manager with ongoing responsibility for one or more key strategy and planning areas including, for example:

Develop, guide, and drive forward the execution of strategy, ensuring appropriate oversight and support to identify and raise critical issues as needed, manage interdependencies, and troubleshoot execution, and manage risks.

Report on strategy progress to key governance, executive and management bodies, as well as external audiences.

Strengthen planning and coordination mechanisms across the organisation to facilitate rigorous prioritisation aligned to strategy.

• Support the Director and other leaders to build a strategy and planning community of practitioners across the organisation. Includes development of curriculum and training materials, developing communication and engagement plans, delivering trainings and facilitating community meetings.
• To identify and act on opportunities to make significant improvements to rocesses, systems and ways of working within the team and across the department, including taking on lead roles in supporting the team.

Experience and Skills

Essential

1. Strategy and Planning: Experience in strategic planning, analysis, project and/or change management (preferably in a large, complex global organisation and/or not for profit setting). Demonstrated ability to own a key module within a strategic initiative or project.
2. Supporting Change: Experience supporting strategic initiatives that require cross-functional collaboration and coordination. Experience in working on a project or initiative end-to-end, with ability to support and troubleshoot in the management of timelines, budget, risks and interdependencies.
3. Network and Influence: Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with counterparts across the organisation, including in decentralised setting. High level of cultural awareness and the ability to operate effectively in diverse and international environments.
4. Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex issues and data into simple and clear communications. Experience in presenting to leadership on findings and insights from strategy analysis. Capacity to contribute content and support development of clear, concise, and actionable reports for governance and executive bodies.
5. Problem Solving and Analysis: Strong analytical skills to conduct strategic analysis, identify and understand trends and support well-informed decisions and proactive planning. Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in. Ability to gather data and analyse external trends. Demonstrated ability to think critically.
6. Team Support: Demonstrated ability to support a diverse team and high performing team. Approachable team member and good listener.
7. Language: Fluent spoken and written English. Additional languages, particularly Spanish, Arabic, French, valued.

Desirable

• Technical Program Knowledge: Knowledge of technical program areas in Save the Children as well as other areas of the Save the Children organisation. Experience working in implementation on programming and advocacy related to child rights strongly regarded.
• Project Management: Understanding of Project Management methodologies to ensure effective strategy execution and reporting.
• Data Analytics: Ability to use advanced analytics tools and familiarity with potential of AI and Machine Learning to support strategic analysis and improve ways of working.

Education and Qualifications

Desirable

• Master’s Degree is highly desirable in a field relevant to international development, strategy, or business management. Will consider relevant work experience in related fields in lieu of advanced degree.
• Project Management Certification or equivalent highly regarded: Such as PRINCE2, PMP, or an equivalent, focusing on managing complex projects efficiently.

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.