JOB DESCRIPTION

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Advisor, Climate and Anticipatory Action to join our global team.

 

Team and Job Purpose

The Breakthrough team drives strategic, technical, and operational leadership for Save the Children’s global goals in order to achieve programmatic breakthroughs while ensuring high-quality, evidence-based, and integrated programming across our portfolio. The team delivers context-responsive, demand-driven technical support to Country Offices to enhance programme effectiveness in line with local needs and global priorities. The team also advances sector innovation and learning through external engagement in clusters, in inter-agency groups, with donors, peer agencies and foundations. The team is responsible for new business development and resource mobilization efforts as well as developing partnerships to strengthen our collaborative impact globally.

Role purpose

To strengthen and amplify Save the Children’s climate and anticipatory action efforts, this role exists to guide and elevate national and local capacities for effective climate interventions, ensuring alignment with our ambition to safeguard children”s future. The Senior Advisor will lead advancements in programme quality and innovation, offering strategic guidance and technical support to fortify global partnerships and collaborations, whilst nurturing a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and evidence-based learning. This role will be pivotal in shaping our collective impact on climate resilience and anticipatory strategies, reinforcing our commitment to serve the world”s most vulnerable children and communities.

 

Job Title: Senior Advisor, Climate and Anticipatory Action

Reports To: Lead, Climate and Anticipatory Action

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available

Contract Length: Permanent

Grade: P4

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

Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Africa ESA WCA time zones

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 (additional language of French, Spanish or Arabic preferred)

International Travel Requirements: up to 40% 

 

Principal Accountabilities

• Provide specialized technical guidance and advice to Country Office teams, ensuring high standards in programme implementation, with a focus on specialized support in Climate and Anticipatory Action. Technical support for the current position will likely be particularly focused for East and Southern Africa.
• Conduct regular reviews and analyses of Climate and Anticipatory Action awards to ensure compliance with donor requirements and organisational policies, identifying areas for improvement.
• Apply specialised Climate and Anticipatory Action technical and donor knowledge to support the development and implementation of high-quality proposals and strategic plans in collaboration with country teams, ensuring alignment with Save the Children”s mission and values.
• Oversee the design and quality assurance of capacity building and training initiatives for national and local partners to ensure sustainable and effective Climate and Anticipatory Action interventions
• Lead on the strategic development and coordination of partnership strategies with global and regional climate and forecasting institutions as well as supporting engagement local actors, local authorities and peer agencies to advance Climate and Anticipatory Action work
• Play a leadership role in external and internal working groups to continually learn and adapt best practices in Climate and Anticipatory Action and institutionalize key learning.
• Supporting and mentoring colleagues in the application of best practice, to aid the development of Climate and Anticipatory action processes, tools and guidance.
• Ensuring internal systems are in place to support and learn from country office colleagues implementing Climate and Anticipatory Action programs
• Manage global and multi-country projects and initiatives to strengthen Climate and Anticipatory Action, including supporting coordination of SCI engagement with World Meteorological Organisation.
• Deploy to priority countries as needed for emergency response and provide in-person technical support and guidance (up to 40%).
• Promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within all programmes, ensuring all interventions are accessible and effective for all community members, regardless of background or identity.

 

Experience and Skills

Essential

1. Technical Expertise:

• Deep understanding of sector specific principles and practices related to climate adaptation, resilience-building and anticipatory action. This should include experience in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs and interventions.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and staying updated with the latest trends and best practices in relevant sectors.

 

1. Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills:

• Strong ability to analyse complex data, review programme performance metrics and translate findings into actionable improvements. For example, experience in reviewing available forecast and climate-related information to consider how this can be applicable to different thematic and geographic areas of focus.

 

1. Capacity Building and Mentoring:

• Considerable experience in building capacity, delivering training, and mentoring staff and local partners on sector specific practices and broader technical approaches. For example, experience in developing and facilitating training related to climate resilience, use of weather and climate information and anticipatory action.

 

1. Proposal and Strategic Plan Development:

• Proven experience in developing high-quality proposals and strategic plans. A track record of writing successful proposals for donor-funded projects is essential.

 

1. Compliance and Quality Assurance:

• Proficient experience in reviewing and assuring compliance of awards with donor requirements and organisational policies. Demonstrated ability to identify and implement areas of improvement.

 

1. Communication and Interpersonal Skills:

• High proficiency in communication, including experience in negotiation, influencing, and coaching. Must demonstrate the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with diverse teams and stakeholders. Proficient in communicating key climate and forecasting concepts and information in accessible ways to colleagues and partners.

 

1. Ability to Operate in High-Pressure Environments:

• Ability to travel and work independently, occasionally in challenging environments and with short notice (up to 40%).
• and occasionally work in challenging environments, potentially on short notice.

Desirable

• Experience in providing climate and anticipatory action technical support to East and Southern Africa is particularly welcomed for the focus of the current position.

Education and Qualifications 

Essential

• A post-graduate degree in degree or equivalent in Environmental Science, Climate Change, Development Studies or a related field is essential. Consideration for a combination of relevant academic qualifications and substantial work experience is also possible.

Desirable

• Professional training or certification of Project Management, Climate-related programming or related areas would be beneficial.  Desirable
• Sample

 

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 here via the job listing. 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.