Save the Children Canada is a member of Save the Children International, a federation that works in more than 120 countries worldwide delivering programs focused on health and nutrition, education, child protection, child poverty, humanitarian response, and child rights governance. As the world's leading independent organization for children, Save the Children’s vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.
Position Title: Senior Advisor- Education and Child Protection Status (FT/PT/Contract): FT
Department: International Programs Job Level Classification: V
Reporting to: Head, Thematic Quality Bargaining Unit (Y/N): N
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada People Manager (Y*/N): Y
Revision Date: 2015-11-26 *Number of Reports:  
  Primary Job Purpose This position plays a role in leading thematic strategy and supporting technical quality across a portfolio of projects. The Senior Advisor leads cross functional teams to achieve thematic strategy, business development and advocacy goals. The Managing Advisor distills learnings from this portfolio to produce programming guidance, thought leadership, and compelling fundraising proposals. The Senior Advisor stays abreast of industry developments and maintains relationships with key players in the thematic space.   Responsibilities  
  Responsibilities Time %
1. Thematic Leadership and Technical Quality Assurance: -Translate global thematic strategy into local objectives and initiatives -Collaborate globally with Member peers and participate in relevant Global Initiative working groups to achieve thematic outcomes and drive breakthroughs -Provide high quality technical assistance to program delivery teams, building a solid evidence base to support progressing innovations to scale -Maintain line of sight on technical quality at the country level through effective relationships with Regional and Country offices, enabling timely provision of technical input and oversight -In coordination with Project Officers, review project deliverables and donor reports from a technical quality control perspective -Communicate with key stakeholders including Donors and Country Offices regarding program technical quality -Contribute to the development, dissemination, and monitoring of program quality tools including supporting program evaluations -Representation on relevant Save the Children working groups 35%  
2. Advocacy & Business Development: -New opportunity generation and assessment for funding programs in alignment to global and strategic plan and growth targets -Support proposal development, leveraging technical expertise and project learnings from Save the Children projects to review concept notes and proposals in partnership with Country Offices and Resource Development & Business Development teams -Support execution of advocacy strategy to influence policy changes and resource mobilization, including producing high quality thought leadership materials and leading positioning activities such as representation at industry panels, presentations to donors, participation in external practitioner networks, and global Working Groups -Cultivate and strengthen relationships with key funders/donors, research institutes, peer NGO agencies, partners, and sector thought leaders in respective thematic sector 30%    
4. Program Learning & Innovation: - Support Country Offices in the design, testing, and evaluation of innovations to advance programming -Distill learnings and evidence generated into succinct and compelling programmatic guidance and thought leadership for internal and external consumption -Monitor developments in the sector and field to develop and refine program models and identify new research opportunities -Partner with the Communications team to develop and disseminate technical and project materials 10%
5. Matrix Leadership, Mentoring, and Management of Field Resources -Lead matrixed cross-functional teams of Advisors and Program Officers to implement thematic strategy and achieve business development and advocacy objectives, providing expert guidance on thematic area -Provide mentoring and coaching, actively supporting the professional development of Programs employees and their efforts to build knowledge of relevant program theory and practice -Manage field thematic resources representing Save the Children Canada, adopting effective people management strategies to manage the performance of remote team members -In compliance with HR policies and the Collective Agreement, lead employees using a performance management process that includes performance goal setting, timely feedback, and recognition -Manage new employee onboarding, ensuring employees receive relevant training and tools to be successful in their roles -Model behaviours consistent with Save the Children values, actively creating an organizational culture that reflects values -Managerial responsibilities of ensuring health and safety, proactive risk management through organizational policy enforcement and maintaining currency of organizational policies and procedures, and integrating Child Safeguarding practices across our work 15%
6. Capacity Building: -Support development and implementation of training technical support workshops to build capacity of Country Offices and partners to design and implement quality programs -Educate Country Offices on Canadian donor priorities, providing advice on fundraising approaches and donor-specific language and terminology 10%
  Qualifications and Experience
  • PhD in relevant area of expertise; or Master degree with 10+ years’ relevant work experience in International Development / Relations or related field
  • 10+ years’ work experience in field and head office setting managing and/or providing technical assistance to child and youth programs in developing countries
  • Successful proposal development track record, with prior experience with GAC -funded projects; knowledge of  GAC policies and procedures; knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM) approach
  • Knowledge of gender equality principles and practices
  • Demonstrated thought leadership expertise such as contributions to academic journals, books, articles; speaking engagements, leading conference presentations and panels
Competencies, Skills and Behaviours
  • Is a strategic big picture thinker, with the ability to engage at detailed project level
  • Is innovative, develops new ideas, and demonstrates adaptability
  • Ability to synthesize and develop high-quality knowledge products from diverse data sources including programmatic materials and tools
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to develop strong working relationships across cultural and organizational boundaries with internal and external stakeholders, and managing through influence
  • Superior English verbal and written skills; proficiency in French/Spanish/Arabic considered an asset (Proficiency in Spanish is preferred)
  • Comfortable working independently with no supervision
  • Ability to travel internationally on occasional basis
Other Requirements
  • Adhere to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding policy and protocols
  • Police check vulnerable sector screening
OUR VALUES IN PRACTICE Accountability:
  • Holds oneself accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
  • Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
  • Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
  • Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  • Future orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:
  • Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
  • Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  • Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
  • Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  • Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
  • Honest, encourages openness and transparency
  If you are interested in this position, please e-mail a letter of application and a resume by Wednesday, October 19th 2016 to jobs@savethechildren.ca with Subject heading “Senior Advisor – Education and Child Protection”. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.