Joining Forces Lead

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type:

Local – Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

Job Description:

Six of the world’s leading child-focused NGOs – ChildFund Alliance, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes and World Vision (WVI) – agreed in 2017 to come together to collaborate on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals under the direction of the international CEOs Oversight Group.

This collaboration, called ‘Joining Forces’ (JF), is working under the direction of a JF Steering Committee (JFSC) that reports to and receives direction from the international CEOs Oversight Group. JF is currently hosted by WVI.

On behalf of the JF partnership WVI is looking for a dynamic, experienced and committed individual who can drive delivery of the Joining Forces Initiative to fulfil its strategy, objectives and work plan. The incumbent must be able to plan and communicate clearly and efficiently, ensure that administrative tasks are delivered on time, manage multiple demands, and be personally committed to the goals of the JF initiative and the principles and approach of the supporting organizations.

Specifically, the JF Lead works with the JFSC in coordinating the day-to-day administrative services of the partnership. He/she organizes meetings and events, guides knowledge management and communications, as well as oversight and support forjoing initiatives. The JF Lead also manages finances and supports the JFSC and other JF groups and task forces to be focused on implementing the strategic decisions of the CEOs Oversight Group. Leading a team of specialists, the JF Lead will ensure that the JF’s core documents and coordination mechanisms are maintained and up to date

The JF Lead will be an experienced professional able to play a central role in establishing momentum, implementing agreed accountability mechanisms for delivery, suggesting opportunities for partnership and innovation, and anticipating and solving problems. While the JF Lead is not expected to be a specialist in the issues covered by the initiative, they will need to have a good understanding of children’s rights, protection and participation, and a strong grasp of the JF’s objectives.

The JF Lead will need to do this across six federated International NGO structures, working in a ‘horizontal’ structure with people in different time zones and diverse organizational cultures. He/she must be able to support the development and administration of online collaboration platforms for the JFSC and the Global Action Plan Taskforce/ different working groups, including between and among the groups, country teams, and global capitals.

The JF Lead will work with the JFSC chair to prepare the quarterly CEO meetings and plan JFSC meetings; provide support to draft and monitor annual work plans for JFSC input and approval; maintain a regular rhythm of meetings for the JFSC and other groups and ensure that these drive forward action; and keep participating countries fully engaged and informed.

General purpose of the position

Under the direction of the Chair of the JFSC, the JF Lead is responsible for the planning, design and good functioning of coordination platforms and accountability mechanisms that ensure implementation of the strategic directions established by the CEOs of the six agencies and the Global Action Plan. This includes day to day operations, management of the Secretariat, administrative services, and support to the JF partnership as requested by the JFSC.

Reporting

Line reporting will be to the JFSC chair with logistical and administrative support provided by the host organization.

The JF Lead leads a team of two part-time staff: the Finance & Project Administrator and Project Officer, and consultants as and when applicable. She/he will provide supervision, oversight, and day-to-day management support to ensure the functioning of the JFSC.

Location

The location is flexible, and will be determined by the home country/country in which the successful candidate is eligible to work, provided it is in a jurisdiction where any member of Joining Forces is registered to operate. From a practical perspective, given the location of most of the project participants, there is a preference for time-zones +/-2 hours from CET and some of the countries to include those from Africa, Latina America or Europe. The incumbent will be placed on a local contract.

Duration of contract: August 2025 – November 2026

Essential duties and responsibilities

Coordination

• Support the CEO Oversight Committee and the JFSC chair and vice-chair with setting meeting agendas, logistical arrangements, minute taking, and follow-up on agreed-upon actions, working with the team of the JFSC.
• Serve as liaison with the technical support pool coordinator to ensure appropriate support to activated and confirmed JF countries.
• Coordinate with the Global Action Plan Taskforce to deliver and report on the agreed-upon plans.
• Gather and prepare information, data and reports from the Global Action Plan Taskforce/ Working Groups on the implementation of the strategic directions, and Global Action Plan so the JFSC can make good decisions.
• Guide the planning, design and good functioning of collaboration platforms and accountability mechanisms.

Knowledge management

• Collaborate with the Global Action Plan Taskforce to assure that core JF documents are updated and shared using collaboration platforms.
• Coordinate learning and evidence building agendas of JF.
• Support the development of JF knowledge management plans, including a package for the orientation of new JF country teams or new JF Alliance members.
• Organize events, including workshops to drive Joining Forces content and ambition.

Day-to-day operations

• Support the JFSC point persons to execute the decisions made by the JFSC and support effective functioning of other JF groups.
• Provide supervision, oversight and day-to-day management support to JFSC staff.
• Track and report against progress for objectives and key performance indicators.
• Perform financial and administrative services and lend support to JF as requested by the JFSC.
• Oversee budget implementation

Required education, skills and experience

• Bachelor’s degree level education; Master’s degree in a relevant field is an advantage.
• Extensive management experience in a complex organizational setting and, ideally, within secretariats or Boards of multi-organization initiatives/partnerships
• A high level of written and spoken communication skills.
• Experience working in multicultural environments, participation in networks and coalitions, and working effectively in non-hierarchical settings.
• Great interpersonal relationships and negotiation skills.
• Understanding of multi-stakeholder funding processes, and an ability to manage them and transparently report on them (in cooperation with finance experts from the six organizations if required).
• Excellent written and verbal English. Other languages (especially Spanish or French) are an asset, but not a prerequisite.
• Experience working directly on child rights and/or the Sustainable Development Goals is an asset

Competencies

• Communicating Information Effectively: Communicates in writing and orally clearly and persuasively. Facilitates appropriate information flow amongst members.
• Practicing Innovation and Change: Develops new and innovative ways to improve strategy and engagement to create new opportunities. Assesses problem situations to identify causes, gathers and processes relevant information, generates possible solutions, and makes recommendations and/or resolves the problem.
• Building collaborative Relationships: Works cooperatively and effectively with others in a non-hierarchical setting to establish goals, resolves problems and makes decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness. Manages complexity and drive for results.
• Achieving Quality Results: Sets priorities, develops a work schedule, monitors progress toward goals, and tracks details/data/information/activities
• Managing relations: Carries out her/his relations within the working group and across the global projects with tact and diplomacy as relations are developed with senior level staff.

Recruitment Process

The recruitment process is managed on behalf of the six organizations through the HR- Department of World Vision International. Final interviews will be conducted by a panel representing the JFSC and its chair.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only

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