Director of Impact, Innovation, and Influencing

Role Purpose

As a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Director of Impact, Innovation, and Influencing provides strategic leadership in programme design, evidence generation, and policy influence to deliver measurable results for children across Kenya and Madagascar. This role steers the development and execution of the country office’s programme strategy, annual plans, and impact reporting, aligned with Save the Children’s global breakthroughs: Survive, Learn, and Be Protected.

The Director ensures all programming is grounded in evidence, strong and cutting-edge innovation, and child rights, with robust systems for monitoring, evaluation, accountability, research, and learning (MEARL). Part of the core focuses are to ensure that quality data informs strategic decisions, that technical excellence is consistently achieved across all sectors, that strategic partnerships beyond aid industry are systematically formed and strategically leveraged, and that innovative and original solutions that can elevate program quality and sustainability are delivered.

Equally, the Director leads the integration of advocacy, campaigns, media, and partnerships into a cohesive influence agenda that shifts policies and systems in favour of children. Through mentoring, capacity strengthening, and coaching of technical teams, the role builds a strong national leadership pipeline, while also supporting donor engagement and resource mobilisation to sustain impact at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Positioning

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of Save the Children’s impact and influence agenda.
• Drive alignment to the Country Strategic Plan and Global Breakthroughs, ensuring child rights, equity, and innovation remain central.
• Champion evidence-led programming, with cross-cutting themes including, but not limited to, T4D, gender, localisation, and climate resilience.

Programme Design, Innovation, Strategic Partnerships, and Resource Mobilization

• Ensure all new programmes are evidence-based, child-centred, and aligned to Save the Children’s global priorities and Kenya and Madagascar’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP).
• Lead the country’s resource mobilisation strategy and engagement plan, cultivating institutional donors, corporate partners, social enterprises, think-tank, academia, and Save the Children (SC) Members and affiliates.
• Establish and leverage different resourcing modalities, such as blended investment, climate financing, and impact investment.
• Promote innovation and adaptive learning in programme design and delivery.

Evidence, MEARL, and Learning

• Oversee the MEARL system to ensure timely, accurate, and actionable insights.
• Institutionalise learning loops and knowledge management across the portfolio to drive adaptive programming.
• Promote a strong evaluation culture and lead research that drives strategic decision-making and policy influence.

Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications, and Policy Influence

• Use programme evidence to influence national policy, systems, and practices for children.
• Lead national advocacy strategies aligned with global campaigns and local realities, engaging civil society, government, and other influencers.
• Ensure media and communications strategies elevate children’s voices and promote Save the Children’s thought leadership.
• Represent the organisation at national and international levels, forging partnerships that enhance our influence and legitimacy.

Technical Leadership & Programme Quality

• Ensure thematic and technical excellence across all programme sectors, rooted in Save the Children’s Common Approaches.
• Support national ownership of technical roles and advance the localisation agenda.
• Regularly review performance and uplift program quality against quality benchmarks.

Organisational Leadership & Culture

• As a core SMT member, provide strategic input to the Country Office’s direction, performance and culture.
• Model agile, inclusive, and high-impact leadership, championing accountability and wellbeing.
• Lead, manage, and coach a diverse team across MEARL, technical sectors, business development, advocacy, and media.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree in relevant social science, human rights, development studies, NGO management or equivalent fields.
• A minimum of seven years of progressive senior management and/ or development experience in a corporate, social enterprises, or an NGO environment.
• Experience directing and implementing programs for children.
• Experience in more than one of Save the Children's thematic sectors: education, child protection, child rights governance, health and nutrition, child poverty, or emergencies.
• Basic understanding of advocacy, policy, and government systems in the host country.
• Experience managing teams for resource mobilisation and submitting proposals in excess of US$10 million.
• Strong skills and proven experience in new program development, project design, and donor proposal design with corporate, foundations and institutional donors.
• Strong skills in leading strategic planning, change management and program management processes.
• Expertise in developing and managing monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEAL) systems.
• Ability to research, write and represent well, manage time, multi-task and delegate tasks.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the Save the Children recruitment portal on hcri.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com. Click here to apply.