About The Role

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Officer, Program Operations to join our global team .

Team and Role Purpose

The Global Programme Operations team enables Save the Children to deliver high-quality, compliant, efficient and impactful programmes for children worldwide. The team acts as a strategic partner and connector across the organisation, facilitating excellence in programme delivery, operational performance, risk management, learning, and continuous improvement.

Through field-focused support, global standards, systems, data-driven insights, capacity strengthening and collaborative problem-solving, the team supports implementing offices to meet organisational quality standards, donor requirements and regulatory obligations. The team also drives operational transformation, organisational learning, programme risk management and performance improvement initiatives that strengthen Save the Children's ability to achieve sustainable impact for children.

Role purpose

The Senior Program Operations Officer plays a critical role in enabling the success of the Global Programme Operations and Program Risk, Delivery and Performance function by providing strategic coordination, project management, performance monitoring, communications and operational support across the teams.

The role supports the planning, delivery and monitoring of key Global Programme Operations and Programme Risk, Delivery & Performance priorities, helping ensure that strategic initiatives are effectively coordinated, communicated and implemented across a complex global environment.

Acting as a connector across teams and functions, the post holder will strengthen collaboration, support organisational learning and knowledge management, contribute to programme risk and performance processes, and facilitate the effective delivery of transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

The role requires strong project management, analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, as well as the ability to operate confidently in a global, matrixed environment with diverse stakeholders.

Job Title: Senior Officer, Program Operations
Reports To: Director for Program Risks, Delivery and Performance (PRDP)
Work Pattern: 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 (12 months)
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, only exceptional basis to support team meeting
Remit: Global

Principal Accountabilities

Global Programme Operations Coordination and Program Risks, Delivery & Performance (40%)

Coordinate the planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting of the Global Programme Operations and PRDP annual workplan and strategic priorities.
Support the tracking of key performance indicators, milestones and deliverables across the Global Programme Operations portfolio, escalating risks and dependencies where appropriate.
Facilitate collaboration across GPO teams and wider International Programmes stakeholders to promote integrated planning and delivery.
Support leadership decision-making through the preparation of reports, dashboards, briefing materials and presentations.
Contribute to the development, implementation and continuous improvement of operational processes, governance mechanisms and ways of working.
Support organisational change and transformation initiatives by coordinating implementation activities, communications and stakeholder engagement.

Programme Risk, Delivery & Performance Support (30%)

Support the Programme Risk, Delivery & Performance agenda through coordination of risk management, performance monitoring and continuous improvement activities.
Coordinate the collection, consolidation and analysis of programme risk information and action plans, ensuring quality and consistency of reporting.
Support preparation of strategic risk and performance reporting for senior leadership, governance forums and Board-level discussions.
Contribute to the identification of trends, lessons learned and opportunities for strengthening programme delivery and organisational performance.
Support cross-functional initiatives designed to improve programme effectiveness, operational efficiency and accountability.

Learning, Knowledge Management & Capacity Strengthening (20%)

Support the design, coordination and delivery of learning and capacity strengthening initiatives across the Global Program Operations community.
Maintain and continuously improve knowledge management platforms, ensuring access to relevant guidance, tools, lessons learned and resources.
Help foster a culture of learning, collaboration and innovation through communities of practice, knowledge-sharing events and engagement activities.
Support the collection, synthesis and dissemination of operational learning and good practices from across Save the Children.

Communications, Engagement & Leadership Support (10%)

Develop high-quality communications, newsletter and engagement materials that promote alignment, visibility and understanding of team priorities and achievements.
Coordinate leadership meetings, team events, workshops and strategic planning sessions.
Support leadership communications and stakeholder engagement activities across the wider Global Programmes Operations community.
Provide high-level project and operational support to senior leaders as required .

Experience and Skills

Essential

Experience supporting complex projects, programmes or operational initiatives in an international organisation.
Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and workstreams within a matrixed environment.
Strong project management and organisational skills, including planning, monitoring and reporting.
Experience supporting performance management, risk management, change initiatives or continuous improvement processes.
Proven ability to analyse information, identify trends and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Experience producing high-quality presentations, reports, briefing materials and communications for senior stakeholders.
Excellent facilitation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications, collaboration platforms and virtual engagement tools.
Ability to balance strategic thinking with strong delivery and execution focus.
Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, inclusion and continuous learning .

Desirable

Experience within an international NGO or humanitarian/development organisation.
Knowledge of programme management, risk management or organisational performance frameworks.
Experience supporting organisational change or transformation programmes.
Knowledge of SharePoint, Power BI or similar reporting and knowledge-management tools.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

Bachelor’s degree in international development, Business Administration, Project Management, Public Administration, Organisational Development, Risk Management, Management, Social Sciences, or a related field; or equivalent relevant professional experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of programme and project management approaches, planning and performance management practices.
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint.
Professional fluency in English, with excellent written, verbal, facilitation and presentation skills.

Desirable

Professional certification in Project Management (PRINCE2, PMP, Agile, MSP or equivalent).
Certification or training in Risk Management, Organisational Performance, Monitoring & Evaluation, Change Management, Continuous Improvement or Knowledge Management.
Experience with Power BI, data visualisation and performance reporting tools
Specialized training in social change and locally-led programming or partnerships
Written language skills in French, Spanish or Arabic

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

Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
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.