Save the Children invites applications for the above-mentioned position. We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

The Opportunity
The Programme Director- Start Bangladesh (also known as Country Manager in the Start Network’s structure) has the overall responsibility of national operations in Bangladesh. The position needs to ensure that all country programmes are effectively run and positioned to grow to scale. The position will oversee the evolution of this Fund to a more nationally owned pooled funding mechanism, also enable our anticipatory action work in country and finally fundraise for additional contributions to the Start Bangladesh programmes while effectively collaborating with relevant stakeholders to change the humanitarian system. The post holder will provide leadership to the Start Bangladesh team to amplify its work to effectively service the member agencies, to diversify its programmes and donor base and contribute to the evolution of the Start Network. The position will closely oversee the relationships with the programme hosts (i.e., currently SCI and ESDO) and closely working with them to ensure hosting agencies providing quality supports to the Secretariat and platform members.

WHAT IS START NETWORK?
Our purpose is to be a catalyst for system-level change that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian action. We do this by working as a network to develop, test & spread new ways of collaborating and resourcing locally led crisis response and anticipation.

Our current membership is made up of nearly 100 local, national and international NGOs based all around the world. We also support 10 national and regional hubs made up of civil society organisations and NGOs as our vehicle for devolving power, resources and accountability.

Start Bangladesh
The Start Bangladesh Hub is a Network of humanitarian NGOs and relevant civil society actors supported by the Start Network (UK). The journey of Start Bangladesh started with the establishment of Start Fund Bangladesh (SFB) in 2017, a Start Network programme, modelled on the successful Start Fund that activates funding within 72 hours of a crisis alert. The Fund is accessible to 47 national and international member NGOs, with diverse experiences and backgrounds, operating in Bangladesh. The Fund provides rapid and anticipatory funding to humanitarian agencies through a national civil society owned mechanism that is governed by transparent, neutral, collective decision making and responsive to humanitarian crisis in any parts of the country.

Qualifications and experience

• At least 10 years’ experience in strategy, planning and implementation in a relevant sector
  
• Significant experience in managing large and complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders.
  
• Demonstrable ability in financial management of budgets over £10m.
  
• Strong understanding of the localisation agenda and the specific national/local civil society context in Bangladesh.
  
• Experience of process design and process planning leading to improvements in efficiency and value-for-money.
  
• Demonstrable ability in resource mobilisation and in award and financial management.
  
• Proven ability to drive a strategic agenda. Influence stakeholders to address difficult or complex issues by listening to diverse perspectives, finding common ground and avoiding criticism or complaint.
  
• Good understanding and experience of interagency collaboration and partnerships. Extend trust-building in others by giving them opportunities to lead, the chance to share their perspective and safe space to discuss lessons learn.
  
• Generate and support implementation of ideas that have impact at organisational, network and/or humanitarian systems-level by promoting these ideas to relevant internal and external stakeholders.
  
• Enable the network to develop in a way that embraces diversity and creates space for local and national agencies to gain power by driving the vision, mission and purpose and defending it against those who do not support it
  
• Create and promote a learning culture, authentically sharing own learning and supporting others to do the same at organisational, team and network level.
  
• Set strategic direction and provides clarity of vision, purpose and culture, enabling space for the team, members, Hubs and other stakeholders to shape the journey.
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in Bengali and English.
  
• Post-graduate degree in relevant discipline (e.g. humanitarian, international development, or other relevant field).

The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
  
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
  
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated.

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Please apply using a cover letter and an up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

For a detailed job description and to apply online, please visit:

https://hcri.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/11274

Application deadline: January 19, 2025

Only short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview
‘Save the Children promotes diversity in its workforce.’

We need to keep children safe, so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.