(Internal Vacancy) Senior Global Advisor, Sponsorship Operations (maternity cover)

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Global Advisor, Sponsorship Operations (maternity cover) to join our global team.

Team And Job Purpose

Team purpose

The Global Programme Operations team is a natural catalyst and connector, facilitator of various functions, that drives the implementation of our strategy with impact, quality, on time, on budget and with compliance. It is a highly collaborative team that works daily with stakeholders throughout Save the Children across the world, to facilitate a culture of strong operational and programmatic delivery. Global Programme Operations enables implementing offices meet relevant Quality Standards and external regulatory requirements through simple & accessible policies and procedures, systems support, tools, capacity strengthening and data analysis, while continuously improving, adapting and simplifying the framework based on country learning and regulatory changes. The team delivers compliant project and award management, supports regulated and complex programmes (including sponsorship and regional programmes) through ‘field-first’ thinking and partnering support towards contextualisation of the above. The team provides direct support when implementing offices escalate issues, acting as a cross-functional convenor when necessary.

Role purpose

The Senior Global Advisor for Sponsorship Operations coordinates and consolidates global performance data and provides assurance of compliance and risk management to drive functional

excellence in the quality of Sponsorship programme. The role holder achieves this by equipping

ROs and COs with the policies, standards, procedures, tools and resources they need for

successful implementation of Sponsorship. The role holder will also facilitate strategic

conversations to ensure minimum sponsorship quality standards are met and support cost

efficient and effective use of resources to deliver our global sponsorship strategy.

Job Title: Senior Global Advisor, Sponsorship Operations (maternity cover)

Reports To: Head of Sponsorship Operations

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available 

Contract Length: Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover for 6 months) 

Grade: P4

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

Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Any

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment.

Language Requirements: English

International Travel Requirements: up to 15%

Principal Accountabilities

Strategic Guidance and Change Management (20%):

Develop necessary tools/guidance and provide strategic support for start-up or exit of Sponsorship programming in a country, as well as the gradual phase-out of Individual Child Sponsorship (ICS) and relevant revisions to sponsorship offerings.

Develop a clear and fit-for-purpose strategy for global sponsorship phase overs that aligns with the new long-term vision for sponsorship programming, based on learnings from the Proof of Concept pilot and informed by Sponsorship Steering Group priorities.

Provide subject matter expertise to projects to ensure solutions are technically sound, practical, meet the business objectives and to ensure that business impact of the change can be comprehensively understood.

Ensure that processes and tools are in place for compliant and efficient global operational delivery amidst changes to global sponsorship model.

High-Quality Delivery of Sponsorship Programme Globally (40%):

Develop/maintain global functional performance measures as required (KPIs, MI, Essential Standards etc); Monitor and analyse global performance against KPIs and other metrics.

Generate bi-annual reports about global trends and/or risks across all sponsorship countries with continuous improvement actions, as needed.

Work cross-functionally to ensure the effective implementation of Sponsorship programs and deliverables according to the project timeline in Sponsorship Offices and SCI systems (PMM, PRIME, ProSave and Projects on Track).

Maintain and socialize the Global Sponsorship Procedures and tools. This involves regular review of mandatory documents as well as working with RO to understand the CO field realities and use this to design fit-for-purpose policies, procedures, tools and global continuous improvement projects.

Support the proper conduct of the Quality Framework Self-Assessment (QFSA) by providing Sponsorship Offices with clear guidance and tools on how to assess their performance against the sponsorship quality standard.

Develop, update and disseminate functional tools, best practice and global guidance for sponsorship operations. Provide functional advice, and feedback to ROs as needed, remotely and during visits to RO and COs.

Effective Management of Global Risks in Sponsorship Operations (20%):

Develop and implement a global sponsorship risk management strategy. This involves leading the safeguarding efforts to ensure that sponsor and child services and other marketing requirements adhere to SCI Safeguarding Framework.

Ensure that robust mechanisms are in place for managing sponsorship specific risks and breach of policies. Identify issues and risks and devolve to relevant level or work with RO and CO to resolve.

Lead global management of all Sponsorship Reviews, utilizing the sponsorship risk matrix which generates risks ratings to identify where and when a review is necessary.

Consolidate knowledge and lessons learned from completed Sponsorship Reviews to capture common themes and risks that can inform strategic decisions across Sponsorship operations globally.

Use internal communications tools to create opportunities for COs and ROs to share learning.

Provide support to Regional Offices through Letter Review guidance and templates to ensure adequate spots checks for grooming (with real-life anonymous samples) and safeguarding risks are consistent, timely and effective.

Provide support, advice and decision making as needed on escalated issues and risks from ROs & COs.

Ensure Cross-Functional Alignment & Active Socialization of Sponsorship (10%):

Provide first-line business partnership specific to policies, procedures and delivery of sponsorship operations for Regional Office Sponsorship Program Managers and Centre Functions supporting Global Sponsorship.

Maintain/develop process maps to ensure effective coordination between or among Global Communications and Content Unit (GCCU), Project Sponsorship, Child Information Management (CIM), Business Technology Solutions (BTS) and others to ensure clear and timely guidance is provided regarding child data management, content collection restrictions, implementation freezes, etc.

Work closely with Centre Finance and Award units to ensure proper stewardship of sponsorship pooled funds and effective sponsorship budget management.

Drive Continuous Improvement and Innovation in Sponsorship Operations (10%):

Identify global challenges and trends and use the analysis to improve policies, procedures, tools and guidance to support COs and ROs delivery of sponsorship programme quality, as well as to reduce complexities and increase efficiencies in Sponsorship delivery.

Lead/Support sponsorship-specific projects and/or innovation projects via continuous improvement (CI) and non-CI project management approaches.

Provide oversight support to the Child Experience Task Force, a multi-country and multi-discipline core group that ensures sponsorship remains accountable to children and communities where sponsorship is implemented.

Essential

Experience and Skills

* Previous NGO experience with a good understanding of award and project management.
* Proven influencing skills with the ability to communicate compliance requirements to stakeholders in the most appropriate way.
* Proven planning, setting objectives and determining courses of action.
* Excellent Microsoft Office skills with the ability to draw out complex data from various sources.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to explain complex issues to both staff and peers.
* Ability to manage a varied workload quickly and efficiently, and work effectively under pressure to organise and prioritise work for yourself and others to ensure deadlines are met.
* An energetic, flexible and proactive approach with the ability to work both independently and cooperatively within a team setting.
* Strong team skills and the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships at all levels both within and outside the team.
* Demonstrable commitment to equal opportunities and an awareness of what constitutes good practice.

Desirable

* Experience of working in a complex international organisation.
* Language skills, alongside English, particular in Spanish or French.
* Experience managing multi-departmental projects and in business process.
* Understanding of human rights and children’s rights.
* Knowledge and/or skills in change management.
* Excels in planning, setting objectives and determining courses of action.
* Team player with strong leadership skills.
* Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build effective relationships.
* Strong communication skills across all cultures and ability to handle difficult situations with tact and professionalism.
* Able to prioritize time and tasks and handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
* Able to make sound decisions with minimal supervisory support.
* Knowledge on risks and crisis management.
* Experience generating and analyzing data to identity and frame issues, propose options supported by “what if” scenarios and financial model.
* Ability to create metrics to specify objectives and track progress versus key milestone.

Education And Qualifications

Minimum of a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in non-profit management or related field.

Competencies

Cluster: Leading

Competency: Leading and Inspiring Others

Level: Leading Edge

Behavioural Indicator: Creates and engages stakeholders in a shared vision and strategy that will deliver transformative sponsorship programs that address inequality and discrimination.

Competency: Delivering Results

Level: Leading Edge

Behavioural Indicator: Establishes and monitors performance metrics to drive operational efficiency and risk mitigation in sponsorship operations.

Cluster: Thinking

Competency: Problem Solving and Decision Making

Level: Leading Edge

Behavioural Indicator: Provides a framework to support decision making across sponsorship functions, applying a child-centric risk-based approach.

Cluster: Engaging

Competency: Working Effectively with Others

Level: Leading Edge

Behavioural Indicator: Builds strong collaborative networks across global sponsorship offices to enhance operational performance and accountability.

Competency: Communicating with Impact

Level: Leading Edge

Behavioural Indicator: Delivers influential advice and briefings to diverse audiences, promoting alignment and engagement in sponsorship initiatives.

* Job Identification 14183
* Job Category Programme Operations
* Posting Date 09/23/2025, 10:14 AM
* Apply Before 09/30/2025, 11:55 PM
* Locations CENTRE - London