Director International Programs – Strategy and Partnerships

About ChildFund Australia

ChildFund Australia is an independent international development organisation working to reduce poverty for children in developing communities. Our mission is to partner to create communities and systems change, which enables vulnerable children and young people, in all their diversity, to assert and realise their rights.

We’re also a member of the ChildFund Alliance – one of the world’s oldest and most experienced child-focused development agency networks. With a global network of 12 organisations, the ChildFund Alliance assists almost 23 million children and families in 70 countries around the world.

ChildFund Australia directly implements and manages development programs in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Vietnam, while also supporting projects delivered by partner organisations throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas; our work is funded through, among other sources, generous public donations and government grants.

Join us in realising our vision of a world without poverty where all children and young people can say: “I am safe. I am educated. I contribute. I have a future.”

About the role

As the Director of International Programs, Strategy & Partnerships, you drive international program strategy that enables the delivery of quality development and humanitarian programs across the Asia-Pacific region. You champion locally-led development approaches across all aspects of ChildFund’s work. You set clear criteria, workplans and indicators of success to guide the roll-out of strategy and also contribute to the ChildFund Alliance global program.

This role is a permanent full time role based in our office in Surry Hills, Sydney. We’re also supportive of flexible working arrangements, including allowing our employees to work-from-home some of those days if the responsibilities of the role permit it.

Key duties of the role

• Lead the roll-out of strategy, helping grow ChildFund’s impact in the region.
• Further strengthen the program partnerships work at the organisation and Country Office level, including advancing the locally led development agenda in both development and humanitarian programs.
• Ensure programming is innovative and impactful and delivers excellent results for ChildFund Australia’s project stakeholders.
• Champion advocacy efforts that advance the rights of children and young people.
• Provide strategic leadership regarding ChildFund’s humanitarian programming, including through the ChildFund Alliance.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders i.e. ACFID, Pacific partners, DFAT, research bodies, other NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies.
• Participate as a member of the Executive Team in developing integration of activities with other departments and contribute to the overall strategy and management of the organisation.
• Implement risk management strategies, including bi-annual risk assessments that respond to current or anticipated risks in program operations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Masters degree in relevant field or equivalent practical experience
• Substantial experience in leading the design and implementation of multi-sectoral and inclusive international development programs
• Significant experience working in a developing country as a country or regional director, or equivalent
• Experience in assessing inclusive programming in development
• Demonstrated commitment to children’s rights and experience in child-centred development programs
• Substantial senior management experience in staff management and leadership
• Experience in negotiating with government, multi-lateral and non-government agencies
• Experience in the coordination or delivery of humanitarian emergency response initiatives

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Technical specialisation in child development or children’s rights programs, education or child protection

Skills & Qualities

• Excellent leader, supporting others in achieving their and the organisation goals
• Change champion and solution provider mindset
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, building strategic alliances and partnerships in countries where ChildFund Australia operates and in Australia
• Comfortable in navigating relationships in different cultural contexts

Working at ChildFund Australia

Some of the benefits of working with ChildFund Australia include:

• A remuneration package continuously benchmarked against local employment conditions to ensure we offer competitive employment conditions appropriate to our sector
• Support for flexibility in the ways you work, which allows our people to to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• A hybrid working model (we currently allow employees to work from home 50% of the time).
• Not-for-profit salary packaging benefits. This allows our employees to reduce their tax liability on a portion of their income.
• Access to mental health support through our EAP, Uprise, a service that gives our employees access to professional psychological support for personal, family, mental health, and employment-related matters for you and your family.
• Support for employee learning & development, including through on-the-job & external training, coaching, workshops, and our online learning platform, the ChildFund Academy.

Department: International Programs

Location: ChildFund Australia, Level 8, 162 Goulburn Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Employment: Full Time

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Other Information: Must have full working rights in Australia.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so please don’t hesitate to apply as soon as possible!

Email us at [email protected] using the subject line: Director International Programs – Strategy and Partnerships enquiry via EthicalJobs if you have any other questions about the role.

A position description is attached.

ChildFund Australia believes in a global community where children are safe and can reach their full potential. We take extensive steps to safeguard children in any work done by our people, i.e., our staff, volunteers and interns, supporters, partners, board members, ambassadors and suppliers. We strive to keep children safe through child safe practices, and rigorously ensure we prevent, oppose, and combat all exploitation and abuse of children and vulnerable people. As part of this commitment, all people working with us will undergo relevant background checks before joining ChildFund Australia.

At ChildFund Australia, all staff must remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding or sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment (SEAH) risks. Staff will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to understand our Child Safeguarding and PSEAH policies & procedures, promote strong safeguarding practices, and conduct themselves consistent with these policies.

In line with our values, diversity of people and ideas is critical to our work and our success at ChildFund Australia. We strive for a team culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and supportive. Childfund is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and strongly encourages people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply for any vacancies.