Job Description
Job Advert- Somalia Country Office
Title: Head of Climate & Child Poverty Reduction open to Somali nationals only
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Head of Climate and Child Poverty Reduction will play a pivotal role in shaping and advancing Save the Children International’s strategic ambitions in Somalia. This position sets the direction, growth, and coordination of our work on Climate and Child Poverty, encompassing a diverse portfolio that includes cash transfer programming, social protection and shock-responsive safety nets, economic resilience, disaster risk reduction (DRR), anticipatory action, climate change adaptation and resilience, food security and livelihoods, and youth economic empowerment including TVET.
Aligned with our Country Strategy (2025–2027) and Global Strategy, this role reflects our commitment to sustainability, and context-driven programming. The Head of Climate and Child Poverty Reduction will lead the development and delivery of high-quality, cost-effective programs in both humanitarian and long-term development settings—resulting in immediate and lasting change for children.
In collaboration with the Research and Evaluations team, the Head of Climate Child Poverty Reduction will provide technical leadership in climate and child poverty-focused studies and drive the documentation and dissemination of innovations and good practices to inform project design, implementation, and policy advocacy, in line with the Country Office’s Evidence & Learning Agenda.
The role also involves strategic networking and partnership building with government ministries, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and donors. A key responsibility will be to mobilize resources and expand donor relations to support the sector’s strategic growth and impact.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Senior Director of Programme Quality and Impact
Staff directly reporting to this post: 2 Technical Specialists (1 on Youth Economic Empowerment and 1 on Social Protection)
Budget Responsibilities: None
Primary Technical area: Head of Climate & Child Poverty
Secondary Technical area: Food Security & Livelihoods/Economic Resilience, Anticipatory Action/DRR, Child Sensitive Social Protection/Shock Responsive Safety Nets, Youth Economic Empowerment
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree in social sciences; economics; natural resource management or a related field.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- 8 years’ experience in developing, overseeing and delivering high quality and cost-effective poverty reduction programmes (experience in social protection or youth economic empowerment or climate change/economic resilience preferable)
- Experience in strategic planning, including an ability to prioritize among competing demands and opportunities, and an ability to scan the horizon and manage risks
- Experience working in Somalia or similar fragile/conflict/humanitarian contexts is desirable
- Experience of working with local/national governments and capacity building of systems, partners and staff
- Ability to extensively travel for project monitoring and provide on-site technical support to field teams
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner, and experience of being a strategic influencer with relevant stakeholders, building personal networks at senior levels, resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the organization
- Experience of building, leading and developing staff in a matrix management and remote management environment
- Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
- Strong results delivery with the ability to solve complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in
- Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
- Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required
- Commitment to Save the Children values.
Application Information:
Please apply in English saving your cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document.
For more information about Save the Children in Somalia and to see a full a job description, visit our website at SCI Career Site Careers (oraclecloud.com)
Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer, and our working environment is inclusive and accessible.
We need to keep children safe, so our selection process includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy
Application will be closed on 2nd November 2025
We need to keep children safe, so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy
Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified talent.
Disclaimer:
Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents.
