In anticipation of forthcoming opportunities, we have opened a talent pool for Programme Managers in our Global Programmes division.   So please do submit a CV if you are interested in a Programme Manager role with Save the Children and we would like to keep your CV on file for when an opportunity arises within our Global Programmes division.

The job of a Save the Children UK's Programme Manager is impactful and varied.

• Do you have extensive experience in project cycle and grant/contract management, with knowledge of institutional donor compliance requirements?
• Do you have hands-on experience in the international aid sector and understanding of the contextual and operations issues in Asia, Africa or the Middle East?
• Are you motivated by our vision of creating a world where every child doesn't just survive, but thrives, and can go on to change the world?

If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!

About Us

Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

Job Purpose

Reporting directly to the Programme Management Lead and working very closely with the Senior Programme Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the quality management of programmes and related awards (grants & contracts) that are part of a portfolio covering several country offices or donors.

This role involves the direct management of programmes and related awards implemented in specific country offices or in support of particular corporate and philanthropy donor(s).

In this role, you will also help to ensure the effective development and implementation of regional and strategic partnership strategies; in identifying and addressing systemic risks and issues and in improving; and creating new internal processes.

Main Accountabilities

The Programme Manager's key duties will be to:

Support to quality programming in Country Offices

• Implement the COAC (Country Offices as Agent of Change) agenda across relevant teams
• Develop strong a knowledge of in-country context and current issues, as well as Save the Children's key programmatic themes and priorities, for the countries or programmes under their portfolio
• Provide input to the Programme Management Lead and influencing Save the Children UK's funding strategies for the countries or strategic programmes under their portfolio
• Act as the focal point within Save the Children UK for any matter or question regarding the countries or programmes under their responsibility
• Contribute to the growth of Country Office's funding portfolio and facilitate this is in line with their Country Strategic Plans (CSPs)
• Build strong and effective relationships with key staff and counterparts in country and regional offices and coordinate the provision of appropriate support for the effective delivery of quality programmes
• Strengthen and build capacities of country office staff, particularly around quality programming and funding management and donor compliance
• Develop a strong knowledge of donors/ partners priorities and interests in the country(ies) under their responsibility
• Develop and maintain relevant donor relationships, serving as the focal point for HQ-level donor staff, for the countries or programmes under their portfolio
• Travel to country offices as required, in order to provide operational and technical support

Business development and award management and donor compliance assurance

• Monitor and oversee all Save the Children UK supported programmes for the countries or programmes under their directly managed portfolio. Identify related risks and managing issues
• Grant and contract management. Ensure awards in the portfolio are compliant with donor requirements and SC quality standards
• Ensure relevant quality assurance processes are completed so that programmes are running effectively and on time. Ensure that awards management and other relevant information systems are up-to-date, and that global and internal processes are followed
• Identify new funding opportunities. Provide input in or lead on bid management for Save the Children UK institutional and non-institutional proposals

Other accountabilities

• Represent Save the Children UK as required in external meetings/other forums
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Programme Management Team's annual workplans and strategies, as well as to the Programme Partnerships Department's strategies, including the department's commitment to wellbeing
• Contribute to the review and development of internal processes and procedures, so that they are fit for purpose
• Contribute to the development of new organisational practices and tools to streamline processes and improve quality and efficiency of work in the team
• Participate in working groups, team / department / organisational projects and other initiatives on behalf of the team
• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects Save the Children's commitment to safeguarding children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy
• A commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission, values and approach

Person Profile

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Extensive experience in project cycle and grant/contract management, with knowledge of institutional donor compliance requirements
• Extensive experience working with institutional donors such as FCDO, UN and multilateral agencies (e.g. UNICEF, OCHA, World Bank), or with corporate and philanthropy donors, particularly on proposal development and report writing
• Experience of working in the international aid sector and in overseas role (i.e. Asia, Africa or the Middle East) with practical experience and understanding of the related contextual and operational issues in challenging environments
• Working knowledge of international development/humanitarian issues
• Significant financial processes (e.g. budget building and management and forecasting) and basic accounting experience (e.g. ensuring accurate transaction lists, accruals management, cash flow management and analysis) with strong reporting skills
• A commitment to safeguarding, anti-racism, eradicating inequality and child rights in all aspects of your work
• Ability to manage a complex and varied workload, in order to organise and prioritise multiple tasks efficiently, manage reactive and proactive work, and deliver tasks to tight deadlines. Proactive approach to work
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention for detail
• A high degree of flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing needs and effectively address issues
• Good team skills, with the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and collaborate both within and outside the team
• Strong communication skills, with good written and spoken English
• Willingness to travel internationally

Please note:

To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Ways of Working:

Remote First – The majority of our roles can be performed remotely, however you may work from the office as often as you wish. Whilst you will be predominantly  working from home,  we may at times require you to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter).  Note: This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team. This is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building. 

On-site – There are certain roles that cannot be performed remotely and so your role will be based in an office location and you may occasionally be able to work from home.

Flexible Working - We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: 

Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think. 

We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here. 

To see our full statement please visit this link: https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/our-policies/diversity/

Salary Structure: 

Save the Children is committed to paying staff in a fair and equitable way and will benchmark all salary offers in line with the pay of existing staff. To see our full offer please visit this link: https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/what-we-offer/

Interview Expenses: 

Candidates should note that unfortunately it is not our policy to reimburse expenses accrued when attending interviews at Save the Children UK unless you are requested to attend an interview in an alternative location to where the role is based.

Pre-employment Checks:

Any Employment with Save the Children UK will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• a satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International Criminal Record Check (If applicable)
• receipt of satisfactory references
• proof of eligibility to work in the national location for this role

If you have any questions, we have an FAQ section here. For anything else you can email us on: careers@savethechildren.org.uk