Careers at Save the Children

Principal Accountabilities

• Lead the strategic direction for application development and SCI’s core operating systems, aligning with SCI's architectural principles and industry/vendor best practice to ensure future-ready, scalable, reliable and high-performing solutions.
• Manage diverse global software development and application management teams, fostering an inclusive environment where innovation is encouraged, and applications meet global needs efficiently.
• Embed the appropriate use of Agile methodologies into development processes, ensuring defined structured ways of working are in place and followed. Developing, coaching and educating team members, the wider IT team and key stakeholders as required. 
• Implement the principles of continuous improvement to enhance the SCI SDLC and maintain the move towards a Dev-Ops function.
• Work closely with the TDIT Leadership team to ensure the continuous improvement of core applications and IT platforms and the alignment of Digital Systems to our wider technology vision and TDIT direction.
• Cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders, ensuring that applications are able to continue to meet business requirements and maintain a reputation of reliability and trust within SCI and its partner members.
• Implement governance frameworks for vendor management and key stakeholders, ensuring that external partnerships align with SCI standards for quality and integrity.
• Drive security and compliance strategies within our digital systems, safeguarding data protection and aligning with SCI’s values for accountability and ethical practice.

Experience and Skills
Essential

• Extensive experience in leadership of IT functions including applications development and management.
• Proficient experience managing SDLC and solutions delivery through Agile.
• Considerable experience in in a fast-paced environment
• Significant experience working with non-technical staff, successfully translating and negotiating requirements into detailed technical specifications, handling complex technical specifications and managing priorities.
• Experience across diverse cultural contexts with a proven ability to deliver solutions internationally, working alongside offshore teams.
• Proficiency in understanding and implementing software design patterns and object-oriented principles.
• Solid understanding of development and QA processes, ensuring quality delivery of software solutions.
• Clear grasp of web services, SOA, APIs, and micro services architectures.
• Familiarity with application lifecycle management, test-driven development (TDD), and continuous integration.

Desirable

• Non-profit sector knowledge/experience
• Experience with ERP solutions (Oracle FMS preferred)

Education and Qualifications 
Essential

• A degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related field is preferred
• Equivalent practical experience may be considered
• Familiarity with configuration management and change management tools

Desirable

• Professional qualifications in project management (e.g., PMP, Scrum Master), Agile development, Testing and software development methodologies will be beneficial

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Role purpose

• The Senior Lead Growth Acceleration plays a pivotal role within the Global Fundraising Team, driving complex strategic projects and initiatives under the Horizon B umbrella to help accelerate the growth of global private fundraising. This demanding role requires strong strategic, financial and project coordination skills, as well as the ability to manage stakeholders at an executive level. The role involves close collaboration with the F&C Executive Director, Member Fundraising & Marketing Directors, Global and Member Finance Leadership, and Senior Leadership Teams across SCI and its members.

Principal Accountabilities

• Development of a new Global Investment Model & Mechanism: Analyse the global investment situation and existing models, develop a problem statement, design an appropriate approach/project, explore potential solutions and build the case for a new investment model/fund/mechanism.
• Provide strategic support for priority markets: Provide targeted support to key markets to enable step-change growth as part of our Horizon B initiative. Work closely with the Head of Market Development & Individual Giving, as well as other key stakeholders at both the member and global team levels.
• Support and engage in other critical initiatives as directed by the Global Fundraising Director (e.g. planning and delivering 'Acceleration Workshops', setting up new global working groups, conducting global FR talent assessments and developing a new Donor Lifetime Value/Scenario Planning Model).

Experience and Skills
Essential

• Proven leadership at a senior international level, in a multi-cultural context, and ability to work in a networked organisation, influencing others through ‘soft power’. 
• Track record of developing and implementing ambitious and complex global initiatives / projects; a demonstrated ability to identify the necessary steps to deliver to ambitious goals and significantly increase growth in income for global organizations.
• Must have experience working in more than one market, ideally as Fundraising Director, in a networked international global organization.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with senior leadership and fundraisers at a national level providing strategic inputs to help them drive growth all areas of income.
• Demonstrable experience in the areas of strategy development and implementation, budgeting and investment. Highly developed data analysis and budgeting skills, with the ability to interrogate data to make strategic decisions and develop long term business plans. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, with the gravitas to inspire and influence a wide range of stakeholders. Demonstrated experience and capability of leading, facilitating and influencing change and the delivery of major projects. 
• Able to think creatively and strategically, overcome obstacles to cooperation and progress.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, defining a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in.
• Ability to work in a culturally diverse setting.
• Commitment to Save the Children’s values and ways of working.

Key Relationships
Internal (excluding direct team and manager)

• Head of units in the global Fundraising Team, Finance and other SCI teams, member CEOs, CFOs and FRDs.

External 

• Agencies, consultants, freelancers, NGO peers

Education and Qualifications 
Essential

• A university degree in business/marketing, social sciences or a related discipline 
• Relevant work experience at the professional management level, with private sector fundraising experience in a not-for-profit organisation, or an international organisation, or a marketing/fundraising consultancy firm at an international level. 

Desirable
Professional Certifications: Certifications in Fundraising / Non-Profit Marketing will be considered an advantage.