Senior Officer, Award and Project Management Functional Excellence

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Officer, Award and Project Management Functional Excellence to join our global team.

 

Team and Role Purpose

To develop and enhance policies, procedures, and systems, including sub-award management, to enable functional excellence in award delivery. Provides support and insights to the Business Partnering team and countries, ensuring AMDC and Project analytics and data quality to enable portfolio management, drive right first time performance and manage risk. The team is accountable for Service Level Agreement requirements in system management and development, working with Business Partnering and Donor Compliance as required to resolve queries. The team leads transformation and continuous improvement in the function, collaborating cross-functionally and across teams in the function. The team also coordinates cross-functional strategic planning and leadership to streamline operations and align with organizational goals. Our purpose is to provide excellence in award management functions, thereby contributing to the overall success and efficiency of the organization.

Role purpose

The role will provide operational support to the Award Management Functional Excellence team to ensure award and project management processes are updated, fit for purpose, and thus enable country offices to deliver awards and projects on time, with quality and compliance. This role will perform key enabling activities that include managing information and learning materials in intranet and contributing to cross functional engagement with strategic and high priority projects, and to help ensure compliance with systems and processes while fostering a culture of collaboration, operational excellence, and learning.

 

Job Title: Senior Officer, Award and Project Management Functional Excellence

Reports To: Head, Award Management Excellence

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available

Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: SCI Careers 

Required Time Zone: Any, but must be willing to flex to GMT + 2 to meet the needs of project(s) meetings/ collaboration required

Contract Length: Fixed Term Contract

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment

Language Requirements: English

International Travel: up to 10% 

Remit: Global

 

Principal Accountabilities

• Support the Award Management Functional Excellence team with information management and compliance with award management and project management systems and processes, supporting the delivery of high-quality award and project delivery across the organisation.
• Develop, maintain and continuously improve documents, learning materials, procedures, and tools, ensuring alignment with the Quality Framework, donor requirements, OneNet, LMS learning content, and relevant cross functional processes.  
• Champion processes and ensure they are understood by stakeholders, embed best practices, strengthen system utilisation, and enable data driven decision making. Collaborate proactively with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure effective dissemination and consistent adoption across the organisation. 
• Design, deliver and facilitate targeted capacity-building initiatives for diverse stakeholders (including Global Teams, Country Offices, Members) to enhance practical knowledge and application of award and project management.
• Work in close partnership with AMS and PRIME System teams, Data Analytics, Business Partners, and Country and Member offices to prepare and analyse data, identify process and system pain points, conduct root cause analysis and collaborate with stakeholders to propose solutions. 
• Provide operational support on problem solving of issues and risks escalated to the Head that require analysis, information gathering, or performing required tasks and activities in line with AMDC departmental mandate, under the direction of the Head of the team.
• Contribute to fostering a culture of operational excellence and high programme quality through strong collaboration, continuous improvement and alignment with organisational values and goals.
• Ensure inclusion, diversity, and equity aligning with Save the Children’s commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation.

 

Experience and Skills

Essential

1. Communication: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
2. Analytical: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to assess complex data and operational challenges.
3. Organisational and Detail-Oriented: Good organisational and time management skills to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines efficiently; Able to operate independently with minimal supervision; High level of accuracy and attention to detail in documentation and reporting.
4. Computer Proficiency: Proficient in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint) and familiarity with grants management tools or local intranets.
5. Team Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively within diverse teams and contribute to a positive work environment.
6. Adaptability: Willingness to adapt to changing circumstances and perform efficiently under pressure.
7. Continuous Learning: Demonstrates a proactive approach to personal development and staying updated with industry best practices.
8. Foundation Experience: Administrative or operational roles, preferably within the I/NGO sector. Coordination and support of project or programme activities and using data to analyse performance and provide management reports to Senior leadership
9. Experience: Award management, project management, including monitoring and donor reporting. Working with institutional donors such as USAID, EU, UN, FCDO etc.
10. Proficient Experience in: Implementing award management systems and processes. Supporting compliance and quality assurance within an international NGO setting; experience in developing and maintain learning materials, delivery trainings and capacity building support to diverse audience.

 

Education and Qualifications 

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject (e.g. International Development, Project Management, Finance, Humanitarian/Human rights, etc.) or qualified by equivalent relevant professional experience.

Qualifications:

• Proven ability to manage and coordinate multiple projects and responsibilities effectively.
• Strong knowledge of award management, project management, and donor compliance requirements.
• Understanding of financial management, budgeting, and reporting principles relevant to award and project management.

Desirable             

• Advanced degree (Masters) in International Development, Project Management, Business Administration, Finance, Humanitarian/Human Rights or other related field.
• Professional certifications in project management (PMD Pro, PRINCE2) or grant management are a plus.
• Training in donor regulations, sub-award management or risk management

 

Working at Save the Children International

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.

We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.

 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.

 

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found at SCI Careers. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are successfully shortlisted should expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of the advert deadline.

 

Our Recruitment Process

1. Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
2. Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
3. Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
4. If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse.  All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-Harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.

 

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.