Senior Director, Global Diplomacy, Engagement and UN Representative (SCI)

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world's hardest-to-reach places - over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you're creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

Save the Children's ability to engage and influence the UN is central to our aim of creating lasting positive change for the world's most deprived and marginalized children. The Senior Director Global Diplomacy, Engagement and UN representative across New York and Geneva will lead the unified strategic thinking and planning for Save the Children's engagement at the United Nations and the multilateral fora and processes globally. They will lead our organizational engagement and strategy with and towards the UN in NY and Geneva, its agencies and delegations, and the civil society organizations active in this arena. The post holder will make a key contribution to our global advocacy success in our priority areas, continually seeking to strengthen our position and credibility as the world's leading child rights organization. They work closely with colleagues from across the organization to drive changes for children at the international level as well as ensure implementation at the national level.

Location

Remote - United States

What You'll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• Lead the development and implementation of ambitious strategic plans to engage and influence the UN system and multilateral fora and processes globally and shape the wider Save the Children global advocacy efforts in line with the organisation Global Strategy and 2030 ambition.
• As the UN Leader, drive the strategic thinking and planning for Save the Children's UN engagement including developing a comprehensive UN Strategy and driving its delivery together with colleagues across the Movement.
• Oversee the engagement and representation in key global influencing spaces across New York, Geneva, the African Union and Gulf.
• Advocate for change for children with key UN, Gulf and African Union policy makers and decision makers and across key multilateral fora across Save the Children priority issues across all contexts. Using local to global approach to facilitate voices from children, community, local Civil society organizations to the UN influence space in a safe and meaningful manner, as well working with regional, country and member office's colleagues to translate the commitments made in the UN multilateral space at national level. Lead on the diplomatic engagement and influencing with Member States including humanitarian diplomacy.
• Forge networks and partnerships with influential allies, within the UN, with governments and among civil society, media and the private sector, recognizing that we cannot achieve the change we want by ourselves.
• Build profile and thought leadership for Save the Children, especially on our priority issues and future vision for the organization, by playing an active representational role in external forums and the media and being a convincing spokesperson for the organization.
• Lead a high performing UN, African Union and Gulf facing team, by providing strong leadership to the team, line management and support to each team member with a focus on wellbeing, talent growth in line with Save the Children's strategic priority on DEI.
• Oversee Fundraising, Budget and operational management for the UN, African Union and Gulf global advocacy offices, by attracting quality funding to resource the priorities, playing the budget holder and legal person for Save the Children international's entity in New York and Geneva (alongside the Deputy UN Rep). Ensure fully compliance of Save the Children policies and procedures and local legislative requirements as well relevant donor compliances.
• Drive innovation, quality and results supporting the scale up of effective and evidence-based advocacy approaches and models.
• Ensure knowledge is well-managed and key information is shared across the organization relating to political processes and partnerships opportunities.
• Ensure a meaningful and ethical child centered advocacy and campaigning approach to engagement and policy development at the UN through collaboration with relevant teams and offices ensuring Save the Children's global policies for Safeguarding Children and Gender, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded.
• Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, clearly communicating organization, division and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission and supports Save the Children values

Required qualifications for the role

• Minimum of a Bachelor Degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 15 years of relevant experience
• This requires a strong substantive grasp of Save the Children priorities, strategic vision, humanitarian mandate, significant and proven experience in international work environments and intercultural communication, including a strong understanding of NGO structures and the UN human and child rights system.
• The post holder will need to be an excellent spoken and written communicator, and able to tailor messages to a variety of different audiences. They will need an excellent ability to manage and distil large amounts of information, make informed judgements quickly, prioritise among competing demands and opportunities, and have a clear understanding of how UN-based influencing fits into wider global, regional, and national level advocacy plans. and personal experience in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of international politics and shifting power dynamics, political processes, and policy development as well as a deep and thorough understanding of multilateral and UN systems and diplomacy
• Experience of creating networks, building partnerships and forging coalitions to achieve change, and an ability to manage diverse relationships to secure new opportunities.
• Proven ability to speak and communicate effectively, and to tailor messages to different audiences including at a political level.
• Excellent political judgement, and ability to manage disagreement and build consensus.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, and knowledge and understanding of key development, human rights, and humanitarian issues
• Knowledge and understanding of the UN system, and an ability to navigate it effectively, and translate it for non-specialists.
• Demonstrated understanding of development, child rights, and humanitarian issues.
• Ability to manage individuals and build an effective team, in a way that balances support and challenge.
• Experience in resource mobilization and ability to manage project and budget one time and in compliance with different types of requirements.
• Experience of successfully operating in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Commitment to Save the Children's mission, values and approach (includes child focus and equal opportunities).
• Ability to travel internationally, sometimes at short notice.
• Ability to work in English, capacity of another UN official languages an advantage.

Preferred qualifications for the role

• Experience working at country and regional levels across all contexts is highly desirable

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• Flexible schedules and time off: Flexible schedules, generous PTO, 11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays and hybrid working opportunities
• Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family
• Family: A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits
• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
• Retirement: A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
• Wellness: 15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days), mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
• Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org.