Senior Managing Director, Humanitarian Portfolio (M4)

Save the Children US•Washington, DC

6d•$138,975 - $190,950•Hybrid

About The Position

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share. As the Senior Managing Director, Humanitarian Portfolio you will lead and oversee Save the Children US’s (SCUS) portfolio of humanitarian awards (domestic and USG PHFFA funded) ensuring high-quality, compliant, on-time, and on-budget delivery. In this role, you will provide strategic oversight, capacity building, and accountability, fostering operational excellence, innovation, continuous learning, and an inclusive work environment. Reporting to the Head of Program Implementation and serving on the Program Implementation Senior Leadership Team, you will oversee the performance and growth of SCUS’s humanitarian portfolio and team, directly supervise Project Directors/COPs, and strengthen donor engagement in partnership with Program Quality & Impact (PQI). You will also partner closely with Save the Children International (SCI) country, regional, and Centre teams to ensure effective coordination and high-quality emergency response programming. A significant focus will be setting up international implementation for USG PHFFA funded projects, in addition to supporting the existing domestic humanitarian team and portfolio.

Requirements

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 13 years of relevant experience
Proven experience within humanitarian context with responsibility for overseeing and direct oversight of large and complex USG project implementation development and award management
Strong knowledge of USG humanitarian funding modalities and compliance.
Successful experience leading, managing and developing high-performing teams, including strong managerial knowledge and skills to provide direction and support staff professional development and retention
Proven ability to manage ongoing change in external and internal environments in an effective and transparent manner, while promoting staff engagement and morale
Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically and proven ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion on significant matters with minimal guidance
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% as required, including to humanitarian response settings
Demonstrated ability to successfully communicate and collaborate with individuals and teams at all levels, both internal and external
Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
Professional proficiency in spoken and written English

Nice To Haves

Professional proficiency in a second language (Spanish, French, or Arabic preferred)
Ability to manage by influence internally and to work in a federated structure
Experience with Save the Children

Responsibilities

Lead the team ensuring high quality projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in full compliance with organizational standards and policies.
Lead partner-led program/project implementation
Ensure program interventions are aligned with technical best practices, humanitarian standards, and emerging national and local policies, as well as country and global strategic priorities
Lead and implement rapid, effective responses to emergencies affecting children, including building relationships with key humanitarian and development stakeholders and partners in-country
Lead operational and programmatic adjustments in response to the evolving humanitarian, economic, and security context, including displacement dynamics and access constraints
Ensure that effective monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems are implemented in line with organizational policies and guidelines and program learning is effectively captured, documented, and shared.
Monitor programs and services to ensure excellence, adapt services to community needs, provide effective training and technical assistance, and improve program quality and data management, including KPIs
Inspire and promote innovation across the team and with partners
Collaborate with SCUS leaders, technical colleagues (including SCI) to standardize and continuously improve processes, and strengthen strategic linkages and interdependencies between technical colleagues, program implementation, portfolio managers, and account managers.
Set direction for operational design/modality as well as organizational structure for USG PHFFA funded proposals/projects with proposal design/development teams.
Accountable for achieving project deliverables, annual goals, and long-term strategic objectives, including development and emergency response in the recovery phase.
Hold team accountable for executing with excellence and meeting high standards.
Identify and mitigate internal and external risks to program implementation, ensuring teams' operations are risk-aware and nimble.
Reinforce the advancement of risk management and compliance priorities as identified through internal reviews and global assurance processes
Ensure compliance with all host authority requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labor law, auditing, fraud prevention, and related areas
Ensure effective cross-functional collaboration for financial management, donor compliance, and award/grant management.
Oversee engagement with SCUS and SCI technical teams to ensure adequate and appropriate technical support for program delivery.
Collaborate closely with the Head of Program Implementation, stepping in to manage senior responsibilities when necessary.
Deliver clear, timely, and constructive feedback to support managerial excellence and team performance.
Champion the professional development and career growth of direct and indirect reports through targeted coaching and skill-building initiatives.
Ensure robust Child Safeguarding measures are in place to protect children across all activities, promoting awareness and prevention.
Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, clearly communicating organization, division and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission and supports Save the Children values.
Proactively budget for and in partnership with the People and Culture team, recruit permanent and temporary staff, and consultants to meet workforce and professional development needs.
Actively lead new hire onboarding, as well as retention, leadership development, succession planning to meet strategic goals.
Model and uphold a team culture of knowledge management and sharing. Advise, guide, and mentor team members, including managers, as they troubleshoot challenges and develop plans to proactively address issues.
Ensure effective financial budgeting, management systems, processes, and controls are in place and compliant with organizational standards and local legal requirements
Ensure effective, compliant procurement and asset management systems are established and maintained
Ensure that partner organizations are assessed against financial management and governance standards and are supported to address capacity gaps

Benefits

Flexible schedules
Generous PTO
11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays
Hybrid working opportunities
Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family
A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits
Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days)
Mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships