Member Association Support Director
Unit: Member Association Development and Support (IDS)
Preferred location: Nairobi (Kenya)
Duration: 5 years with possibility of extension
About us
SOS Children's Villages, founded in 1949, is the world's largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it.
Child neglect, abuse and abandonment is everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we provide quality care according to their unique needs.
Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child's rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment.
Mission
As the umbrella organization, SOS CVI (SOS Children's Villages International) runs global support functions to enable the federation to drive delivery of its agreed Vision, Mission and strategy for children and youth. SOS CVI comprises two units: the Federation Secretariat unit (“FSC”) and the International Development Support unit (“IDS”).
The Member Association Development and Support function within IDS enables SOS CVI to achieve global and national impact for children and youth through provision of support to MA capability and capacity building in
- Strategy, Impactful Programming, MEAL and Advocacy
- In their development/ strengthening of capability for implementing SOS’s Safeguarding approach, management of Safety and Security, Crisis Management and effective Governance
- Effective internal operations - HR, Finance, ICT & cybersecurity
The guiding approach of the function is to enable MAs to build their internal capabilities so that they are self-sufficient and do not need future support in the above areas
The position has overall strategic responsibility for the delivery of support to build the capabilities and capacities of Member Associations to deliver increased programme impact, for their organisational strengthening and income raising alongside the provision of global support services and systems used by MAs for income generation and donor management.
Tasks and responsibilities
- Strategy and Programme Quality and Delivery: Oversees the development of Member Association (MA) capabilities in designing and implementing national strategies, programme development, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), and advocacy. This includes providing guidance, training, tools, and standardized, replicable processes.
- Compliance, Risk, and Safeguarding: Oversees support to MAs in strengthening capabilities to implement the Federation’s safeguarding approach and manage incidents effectively. Supervises initiatives aimed at enhancing governance, risk management, and compliance capacities across MAs.
- Internal Operations Capability: Oversees support to MAs in building capacity within internal operational services, particularly in human resources, finance, and ICT, including cybersecurity.
- People Management: Leads, manages, and develops direct reports and departmental staff, ensuring effective performance and professional development.
- Safeguarding: Promotes awareness and implementation of safeguarding policies and principles aimed at protecting programme participants, families, communities, staff, and partners from all forms of harm, including abuse, exploitation, harassment, violence, and discrimination. Ensures the immediate reporting of any safeguarding concerns, allegations, or incidents in accordance with established procedures. Acts as a role model by upholding and demonstrating values-based conduct within the organization.
Responsibilities to uphold safeguarding standards and promote a safe environment
As someone working for or on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages, you are responsible for helping to create and maintain a safe and protective environment for staff, as well as for the children, young people, and adult programme participants supported and cared for by SOS Children’s Villages. You are expected to:
- Commit to the Code of Conduct and reflect on the safeguarding implications of your work on an ongoing basis.
- Actively participate in team discussions to identify risks and share and apply preventative and mitigation measures and strategies.
- Integrate safeguarding principles into your daily decisions and tasks.
- Report any safeguarding concerns promptly and in line with procedures.
- Promote values-based culture, accountability and zero tolerance of harm.
Requirements
- A minimum of 15 years progressive and relevant experience in provision of global support services to a large number of diverse national organisations / members
- At least 5 years senior level experience in an INGO or equivalent global organisation
- Willingness to travel 30%
- Excellent English language skills, desired: French, Spanish & Arabic
Technical Skills
- Strong track record of capacity building in national organisations
- Extensive experience in the provision of shared services
- Experience of role modelling and supporting an effective values-led and organisational working culture including safeguarding
- Experience of working with a highly diverse and multicultural staff body in a relevant leadership role
- Specific expertise in one or more areas of the support services (desired)
Other Competencies and Soft Skills
- Authentic commitment to and role modelling of the vision, mission and values of the SOS Children’s Villages federation in its work for children
- Outstanding interpersonal skills, ability to collaborate, engage and build trust amongst stakeholders, in a complex networked global system, able to influence without direct authority
- Strong strategic thinking
- Passion for service delivery, provision of outstanding customer experience and strong experience in stakeholder management
Ways of working:
- Global collaboration and communication – Working effectively across countries, cultures, and time zones by maintaining clear communication, transparency, and shared understanding within distributed teams.
- Cross-functional collaboration – Working closely with colleagues across different functions and areas of expertise to combine knowledge, solve problems collectively, and deliver meaningful outcomes aligned with the organisation’s mission.
- Effective collaboration within matrix structures – Working constructively within solid and dotted reporting lines by maintaining open communication, aligning priorities with both line and functional managers, and ensuring clarity on roles, responsibilities, and expectations to support coordinated delivery across teams.
- Flexibility and adaptability – Remaining responsive to evolving contexts and adjusting priorities, approaches, and ways of collaboration as projects, services, or organisational demand evolve.
- Ownership and accountability – Taking responsibility for advancing tasks and initiatives, proactively addressing obstacles, and ensuring that commitments, decisions, and actions are carried through to completion, taking initiative within your scope of responsibility rather than waiting for direction.
- Strengthening member associations and their autonomy – Ensuring that knowledge, tools, and lessons from projects and services are shared with member associations so they can learn from the work carried out and progressively strengthen their capacity and independence.
- Continuous feedback and transparency - Contributing to a culture where feedback and data are shared openly and constructively, enabling teams and stakeholders involved to reflect, learn, and continuously improve their work and impact.
What We Stand For
SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, and prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organization, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting and ease response. They range from human resource development actions such as training and counselling to measures such as suspension, dismissal, and legal action.
SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a safe working environment for our staff, the children and young people and the communities that we work for. The organization prohibits harassment, exploitation and abuses by or of any employee, supervisor, manager, child, young people, community, contractor, applicant, or other individual with whom SOS Children’s Villages employees come into contact by virtue of their work. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our prevention and protection against Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse policy.
In addition, SOS Children’s Villages apply a zero-tolerance concerning any fraud situation. The organization does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Successful candidates will have to submit a criminal record certificate, current within the last three years. In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, these positions will be subject to criminal record checks.
How to apply?
If you are interested in this position, please send your detailed application in English through ICISMs https://careers-sos-kd.icims.com/ by 31st of May 2026.
Please note that applications will be reviewed and suitable candidates will be contacted for interviews on an ongoing basis. The position will remain open until filled.
