Summary

The Director, Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) manages Save the Children US (SCUS)’s work in early childhood care and development, overseeing a team of ECCD experts and a multi-country, multi-donor portfolio of programs. In consultation with the senior management of the Department of Education and Child Protection (DECP), and in collaboration with the other members of the ECCD technical team, the Director determines and communicates the Strategy and Operational Plan for ECCD. The Director is responsible for setting clear objectives and measures for self and the other members of the team, and is accountable for achieving results with management support in accordance with SC’s core values of ensuring results for children. The Director manages and coordinates technical staff and related budgets to ensure quality throughout SCUS’s ECCD program, including fundraising, program development, technical assistance, thought leadership, advocacy, and representation to internal and external audiences. This position will be expected to clearly articulate DECP’s program strategy and contribute as a member of DECP’s expanded management team.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

· Exercise independent judgment and discretion on significant matters concerning the ECCD team.

· After approval by their senior management, objectives are implemented independently, with management support, to determine accomplishment, key milestones and overall success.

· Functional based policy and practices exist. Incumbent is provided with the “why” and often determines the “what”, but must always determine the “how”.

Program Leadership and Direction (10%)

· Lead the ECCD team to Develop and implement the vision, strategy, theories of change and desired results for Save the Children (SC)’s early childhood care and development program.

· Develop work plans to achieve the ECCD strategic objectives and results.

· Respond to requests for information from throughout the organization as necessary to represent and promote SCUS’s approaches and work in ECCD.

· Collaborate with Save the Children International (SCI) and SC members on technical, policy, and advocacy issues related to ECCD.

· Collaborate with the SCUS Public Policy and Advocacy department to advance key advocacy objectives in the ECCD sector.

· Represent SCUS with international organizations working on ECCD program policy, including international NGOs, the Basic Education Coalition, InterAction, global early childhood development (ECD)/early childhood education (ECE) networks, UN and others.

Program Development and Portfolio Management (50%)

· Provide remote and in-person technical assistance to a sub-set of ECCD portfolio awards.

· Monitor and document program accomplishments across the portfolio, identify needs for technical assistance to keep programs on track, and oversee global progress toward agreed-upon goals and related indicators.

· Understand and contribute to development of ECCD best practices, and guide implementation of the same at the local level.

· Ensure ECCD awards maintain program quality levels expected by both donor and SC. Anticipate risks and problems with ECCD awards, escalate issues as appropriate to find acceptable solutions to identified issues.

· Promote program quality across sites; guide and coordinate capacity building of staff and Country Office (CO) teams to implement successfully technical program designs.

Resource Mobilization (15%)

· Develop long-term funding strategies for ECCD programs. Identify new global resources to support ECCD programming and position SC to access them. Play a key role in creating and sustaining relationships with existing and potential donors.

· Collaborate closely with the SCUS New Business Development (public) and Resource Development (private) teams identify upcoming opportunities and position Save the Children to successfully respond.

· Coordinate and take a leading role, as required, in proposal development, ensuring compliance with donor regulations and the submission of quality technical and cost proposals.

· Serve as a DECP proposal director for USG funding opportunities, including non-ECCD opportunities.

Human Resource Management (25%)

· Supervise a team of (5) ECCD technical experts ensuring programmatic, conceptual and strategic integration of programs and capacities. Facilitate open communication within the team and support a work culture that is collaborative, collegial, optimistic and values diversity.

· Serve on the DECP SMT and collaborate and coordinate with the SMT to drive cross-sectoral integration of best practice and coordinated planning and technical support for program and proposal development.

· Develop and review personnel budgets and Time Splits to ensure level of effort (LOE) coverage across the ECCD team and makes adjustments in consultation with the DECP Finance Director.

· Conduct personnel appraisals/reviews and develop and implement professional development plans for ECCD staff.

Required Qualifications

· Strong Level of Technical and/ or Managerial knowledge, skills, and experience to direct the operational activities of a Unit or Team, or provide technical advice, guidance and management related to various size programs, grants or projects.

· Minimum 7-10 years’ experience in early childhood (0-8 years) development-related work, preferably in international settings

· Bachelor’s Degree in Education (preferably in ECD) at a minimum

· Teaching / service experience with young children and their families;

· Experience in program design and proposal development for private foundations, bi- and/or multilaterals, and/or USAID

· Experience in representation with international bodies, government, and funding sources

· Experience in gender integration

· Advanced knowledge of programs related to education, early childhood development, child protection and integrated and multisector programming approaches.

· Ability to travel internationally (up to 25%).

· Proven excellence in management of grants and contracts.

· Highly skilled and experienced in the provision of technical assistance to international field programs. Ability to work effectively with multi-cultural teams, using interpersonal styles to gain acceptance of ideas or plans, modifying behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals involved.

· Ability to play a strategic and lead role in developing programs, proposals, and policies desired.

· Excellent written and oral skills in English.

· Ability to work under tight deadlines, manage multiple tasks simultaneously

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience leading teams

· Spanish and/or French language proficiency preferred.

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, pet insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more.

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in YOU!

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

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 Save the Children is in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation. Any violations of this policy will be treated as a serious issue.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.