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The job of a Save the Children UK's Programme Lead involves working on an exciting project.

• Do you have experience in and knowledge of the early years and education sector?
• Do you have an understanding of early child development or evidence-based interventions?
• Have you got experience with building and maintaining strategic relationships and partnerships with individuals and organisations for strategic and operational objectives?
• Are you motivated by our vision of creating a world where every child doesn't just survive but thrives and can go on to change the world – and of inspiring and leading others to do the same?

This role is based in Northern Ireland for a 12-month fixed term contract period with the potential to extend, subject to funding. Secondment opportunity considered.

We are looking to hold interviews towards the end of the week of the 13th February, so please bear this in mind to allow time for potential interviews.

If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!

Note:

To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

About Us

Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

Job Purpose

In the UK we work to reduce the level of child poverty and its impact on children's early learning and development. We work closely with the communities we aim to support. We recognise their diversity and strengths as well as the challenges they face, and we aim to reflect their diversity and experiences in our UK staff team.

Reporting directly to the Senior Partnership & Practice Manager, you will be responsible for building relationships with key stakeholders across the statutory, community, voluntary and business sector in Northern Ireland with a strategic interest in shaping services and interventions that improve early learning outcomes for children living in poverty.

As a rights-based organisation, we are committed to anti-racism and actively opposed systemic oppression of any form. You will support our commitment to celebrate diversity, challenge inequality, and build an inclusive environment for every one of our employees so we can better represent the children we protect.

Main Accountabilities

The Programme Lead's key duties will be to:

• To scope regional strategies and implementation plans in relation to educational attainment and place-based approaches to addressing children's early learning outcomes in Northern Ireland

• To review the research evidence base pertaining to early learning outcomes for children living in poverty. Engage with experts in the field and those within the early learning and education sector to identify gaps and opportunities for collaboration

• To support the development of strategic partnerships and local area strategies, based on the needs and opportunities to enhance educational attainment for children living in poverty

• To influence local and national policy, service shaping and investment in evidence-based approaches that improve children's early learning outcomes

• To carry out data, research, and evaluation tasks to support the generation of the evidence and learning required to influence investment in evidence-based interventions

• To support fundraising and our relationships with strategic partners, including compiling persuasive business cases, impact reports, presentations, and organising high-quality visits

The post-holder must carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects:

• Save the Children's commitment to safeguarding children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy;

• A commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission, values and approach

• A commitment to effective management of risk, by operating within the Charity's code of conduct, policies, procedures and controls and by carrying out the risk management and assurance responsibilities of the role as set out in the Risk Policy and Procedures.

Required Skills

Essential Experience and Skills:

• Knowledge of the early years and education sector and experience of working within it
• Knowledge of key policy areas in relation to educational attainment
• Understanding of early child development and broad knowledge of the evidence about effective approaches
• Strategic skills in partnership management and market assessment in relation to overall positioning with partners
• Proven strong programme management and project management skills
• Experience of distilling evidence and learning data to produce internal and external influencing documents
• Interest and knowledge of systems change theory and approaches
• Understanding of the impact of poverty on children, families and neighbourhoods and the barriers that communities face in seeking to bring about positive change

Abilities

• Strong leadership behaviours, including external orientation, situational agility, partner focus, strategic vision and purpose, entrepreneurial approach, negotiating and influencing
• Solutions-focused with a creative problem-solving approach
• Excellent co-ordination and relationship building in forming and maintaining internal and external relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including senior level briefings for internal and external audiences
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to present complex information in a clear and succinct manner
• An excellent team player. Someone who is open and ambitious and who is able and willing to deliver beyond his or her personal brief
• Positive, resilient, and committed to improving the lives of young children and families
• A willingness and ability to travel

Save the Children UK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work both external and internal. We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBT+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ways of Working:

Remote First – The majority of our roles can be performed remotely, however you may work from the office as often as you wish. Whilst you will be predominantly working from home, we may at times require you to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter).

Note: This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team. This is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.

Flexible Working: We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Save the Children UK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work both external and internal. We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBT+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

To see our full statement please visit this link: https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/our-policies/diversity/

Jobs are positioned within the salary structure on the basis of evaluation. New employees would normally be appointed at the bottom of the grade, however the appointed salary may also take into account the relevant experience a candidate brings to a role. Save the Children is committed to paying staff in a fair and equitable way and will benchmark all salary offers in line with the pay of existing staff.

Save the Children UK has a comprehensive benefits package. To see our full offer please visit this link: https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/what-we-offer/

Interview expenses: Candidates should note that unfortunately it is not our policy to reimburse expenses accrued when attending interviews at Save the Children UK unless you are requested to attend an interview in an alternative location to where the role is based.

Pre-employment Checks: Any Employment with Save the Children UK will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• a satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International Criminal Record Check (If applicable)
• receipt of satisfactory references
• proof of eligibility to work in the national location for this role