Job Description
Job Advert- Somalia Country Office
Title: Head of Child Survival (Health, Nutrition and WASH) open to Somali nationals only
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Head of child survival takes overall responsibility for the strategic direction and coordination of Save the Children International’s work on health, nutrition and WASH in the Somalia/Somaliland programme. As a senior member of PDQ and ESMT, the Head of Child survival is responsible for leading and overseeing the development and delivery of high quality, innovative, cost-effective programmes in Health, Nutrition and WASH (HN&W) both in emergency as well as long-term development, resulting in immediate and lasting change for children. The Head of H&N is also responsible for initiating and taking technical leadership in H, N&W focused studies, documentation and dissemination of innovations and good practices by working together with quality programmes team; leading on policy research and advocacy on HN&W through networking and collaboration with relevant civil society organisations and other institutions; playing a leading role in establishing, maintaining and expanding donor relations for the sector. The Head Child survival will use their in-depth contextual understanding, technical and practical expertise, and relationship building skills to define and deliver our strategic ambition of Child Survival themes for SC Somalia/Somaliland. The role will involve building high performance team, strategy development lead and the technical design and implementation of high-quality programmes that deliver change for children and families and save lives in both emergency and development programming. The role will work closely with other Heads of Themes (HoTs), operations colleagues and partners including government.
In alignment with our Country Strategy for Somalia (2025–2027) and our global commitment to strengthening national systems and locally led development, this role represents a strategic opportunity to deepen collaboration with Somali institutions and technical leadership. It fosters stronger partnerships with government ministries, enhance national ownership of the health and nutrition agenda, and build institutional capacity for long-term resilience.
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, Program Quality & Impact
Staff reporting to this post: Staff reporting to this post: 5 direct reports 2 Health TSS, Senior Nutrition TS and WASH TS, Health Cluster Co-chair. Also expected to provide coaching and mentoring support to operational and other technical colleagues and local partners
Budget Responsibilities: None
Context: Humanitarian and development
Primary Technical areas: Health and Nutrition, WASH
Primary Sub technical area: Child Health, Maternal and Newborn Health, WASH
Secondary Technical areas: Social Behavior Change, Sexual and Reproductive Heath
Role Dimensions:
The role is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and
external stakeholders including Save the Children members, the Country Office Programme
Development & Quality team, advocacy colleagues, Regional Advisors, technical counterparts in other organisation, donors etc. The role is also expected to engage with internal technical working groups and communities of practice
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree in health, Nutrition, Public Health, Medical or Public Health undergraduate or related qualification.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- Recommended a minimum of eight years of relevant technical experience in Health, Nutrition and WASH including at senior level
- Knowledge of current global and regional public health debates especially with reference to “child and new-born health” and emergency obstetric care
- Proven experience of developing and managing high quality, innovative and cost-effective technical HN&W projects in fragile and insecure environments, preferably in Somalia context and with International NGOs
- Proven experience and skills in research and advocacy and influencing institutional, private and/or corporate donors and writing up high quality donor reports
- 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 influencing, negotiation and coaching
- Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international and matrix management environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
- Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
- Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
- Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
- 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.
Key competencies required :
Technical competencies:
- Drives Quality Health and Nutrition Programming: Trains and mentors others on the application of relevant health sector standards
- Understanding of Impact of emergencies on health and nutrition programming and health outcomes:
- Engages in the humanitarian aid architecture, the cluster approach and inter-cluster coordination of public health information
- Able to build integrated multi-sectoral health and nutrition programmes: Builds the capacity of othersto design and implement integrated health sensitive and specific programming and advocacy
- Able to link local to national and global level advocacy efforts, supporting localisation of change and influencing global policy development.
Generic Competencies
- Being the Voice of Children: Promotes evidence-based policy and public engagement that includes the voices of children and their communities
- Advancing Equality & Inclusion: Displays a commitment to ensuring everything we do considersthe most deprived and marginalised children
- Building & Strengthening Partnerships: Promotes working with diverse partners as critical todelivery
- Child Rights: Promotes the rights of children in own work and in work with colleagues and peers
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.
