Save the Children: Head, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) – Illinois

Save the Children Action Network

Save the Children Action Network (“SCAN”) – a 501(c)(4) organization – is the political advocacy arm of Save the Children. We are building bipartisan support to make sure every child has a strong start in life. We’re doing this by advocating for high-quality early learning and ending child hunger in the U.S., the safety of children arriving at the southern U.S. border and educating and protecting kids around the world.

The Role

As the Head, SCAN, you’ll be integral to our work in helping vulnerable children achieve a brighter future. You will provide strategic, operational and managerial leadership to SCAN, Save the Children’s (SCUS) U.S.-based grassroots advocacy and political engagement arm – (501(c)(4)). You will lead the development and execution of SCAN’s grassroots organizing and campaign strategy – including state legislative, electoral and federal advocacy and campaigning efforts – oversee strategy, operations and state organizing teams, drive organizational performance, and ensure integration across Save the Children’s other divisions, including Impact & Evidence (I&E), Policy & Advocacy, and Marketing & Growth (M&G), and serve as the principal liaison with SCAN’s Board of Directors.

You will advance SCAN’s role as a dynamic, externally facing political and advocacy powerhouse – mobilizing citizens, influencing decision-makers, and driving tangible policy change for children in the U.S. and globally. This role requires a seasoned innovative leader with political acumen, campaign and Capitol Hill experience, and a proven ability to manage complex teams, partnerships and political and advocacy campaigns.

Location

Hybrid – Washington, DC

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change.

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Partner with executive leadership to guide SCAN’s strategic direction and execution, ensuring cohesion with enterprise policy, Further position SCAN as a leading bipartisan political force advancing children’s well-being in the US and abroad.
• Work with relevant divisional leadership to lead power mapping efforts across priority states, assessing political, legislative, and electoral dynamics to guide SCAN’s state footprint, oversee coordinated state legislative strategies, and inform electoral power mapping that advances long-term advocacy influence.
• Partner closely with programmatic colleagues to align SCAN’s state presence with broader organizational programming, ensuring coordinated investments that reinforce one another and maximize impact at the state level.
• Leverage SCAN’s state-based grassroots advocates to advance the organization’s federal policy priorities, translating state-level engagement into national advocacy impact.

Organizational Leadership & Management

• Supervise and lead a large multidisciplinary team.
• Oversee day-to-day SCAN operations, including strategic and operational planning, budget oversight, compliance, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and inclusion across SCAN and SCUS functions.
• Ensure SCAN’s staffing and structure are aligned with organizational priorities and evolving needs.

Fundraising, Donor Engagement & Strategic Partnerships

• Co-manage a portfolio of high-value donors with the fundraising team.
• Represent SCAN in donor meetings and fundraising strategy sessions with M&G.
• Work with relevant divisions on developing a talent and thought leadership strategy to advance SCAN’s strategy.
• Partner with relevant divisions to translate program strategies and impact stories into compelling donor-facing narratives.

External Affairs & Influence

• Serve as a spokesperson for SCAN with policymakers, coalitions, donors, advocacy networks and media.
• Build strategic partnerships to expand SCAN’s reach and influence at state and national levels.
• Elevate SCAN’s role as a convener and thought leader within the advocacy ecosystem, in collaboration with the government relations team.

Collaboration & Integration

• Partner across SCUS divisions to align strategy, messaging, and execution.
• Collaborate with relevant divisions to ground advocacy in evidence and research, and to integrate advocacy into public engagement and fundraising campaigns.
• Foster strong, ongoing collaboration with programmatic teams to ensure integrated planning, shared accountability, and cohesive execution of advocacy and programmatic strategies across states.
• Ensure SCAN’s work is fully aligned with SCUS organizational priorities and messaging.

Governance, Compliance, Board and Political Engagement

• Ensure SCAN’s operations fully comply with 501(c)(4) governance and political engagement laws.
• Oversee the management of SCAN’s board of directors, in partnership with relevant divisional leadership.
• Manage relationships with political advisors, vendors, and consultants to ensure effectiveness and integrity.

Required qualifications for the role

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in advocacy, political strategy, campaign leadership, or related fields.
• Proven experience in c3 and c4 donor cultivation and strategy
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex teams, build partnerships, and deliver measurable advocacy outcomes.
• Deep understanding of U.S. political systems, grassroots mobilization, electoral campaigning efforts and policy influence
• Strong experience bridging programmatic, fundraising, and marketing functions.
• Exceptional relationship management and communication skills.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.

Compensation

Save the Children Action Network is offering the following salary ranges for this position, dependent on candidate location:

• Geo 1 – NY Metro, DC, and other locations with labor costs significantly above national average: Target Salary for this position is $205,700 – $229,900 base salary

• Geo 2 – Locations around the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $187,000 – $209,000 base salary
• Geo 3 – Locations significantly below the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $168,300 – $188,100 base salary

The salary ranges listed above are for US based candidates. For candidates located outside of the US, salary ranges will be based on the salary scales of the local employer of record. Actual base salary may vary based on, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location (more information on job structure is available here).

About Us

We are looking to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive team at Save the Children Action Network. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• Flexible schedules and time off: Flexible schedules, generous PTO, 11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays and hybrid working opportunities
• Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family
• Family: A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits
• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
• Retirement: A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
• Wellness: 15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days), mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
• Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children Action Network will invest in you.

Save the Children Action Network is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children Action Network representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children Action Network is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org.