Managing Director, Humanitarian Policy

Role Overview

• Develop and lead U.S. global policy and advocacy strategy on countries and issues where Save the Children is providing major humanitarian and recovery assistance (55%)
• Lead Save the Children’s humanitarian policy agenda on our full portfolio of issues, including conflict, natural disaster, famine, complex emergencies, civilian-military relations, and other humanitarian responses.
• Manage and prioritize federal humanitarian policy portfolio, leading agenda setting, development, and implementation of issue-specific advocacy strategies
• Lead policy development and strategic planning for ongoing and emerging humanitarian crises, leveraging the full range of U.S. government policymaking tools, including legislation, appropriations, executive actions, regulatory authorities, and internal agency policies.
• Advance Save the Children’s humanitarian priorities through strategic engagement with Congress, the Executive Branch, and multilateral institutions, with a strong emphasis on bipartisan outreach.
• Represent Save the Children in humanitarian policy coalitions, fostering bipartisan collaboration and leading or managing coalition efforts when appropriate.
• Monitor and develop subject-matter expertise on emerging humanitarian crises beyond the core portfolio, ensuring organizational readiness and strategic response.
• Brief Chief Policy Officer, Head of Policy, and senior colleagues on emerging developments, risks, and opportunities, and lead Save the Children’s outreach to policymakers on new and evolving humanitarian situations.
• Oversee the development of policy products, including reports, briefs, and external-facing materials, to support advocacy and public engagement.
• Identify and promote opportunities for bipartisan engagement with policymakers and stakeholders.
• Maintain regular communication and coordination with the Head of Policy on progress toward goals, challenges, and emerging priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership during critical legislative or administrative developments, responding rapidly to evolving policy environments.
• Manage the Humanitarian Policy Team and serve on the Government Relations Senior Management Team. (20%)
• Supervise a team of policy and advocacy professionals focused on humanitarian issues.
• Hire, train, and manage humanitarian policy staff. Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise humanitarian policy team staff, clearly communicating organization, division, and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission and supports Save the Children values.
• Oversee performance management, goal setting, and professional development, including mid-year and annual performance reviews.
• Participate in the Government Relations Senior Management Team and align strategies across policy areas and teams to achieve strategic and campaign goals.
• Improve the reach and scope of Save the Children International’s (SCI) humanitarian advocacy through collaboration with wider SCI membership. (15%)
• Represent Save the Children US in global Save the Children humanitarian policy and advocacy teams.
• Prepare, contribute to, and review reports and other written materials related to humanitarian policy and advocacy, as well as key crises and conflicts.
• Develop relationships with peers in other Save the Children member, regional, and country offices, as well as Save the Children International and Save the Children representative offices for international organizations. Monitoring, accountability, and administrative. (10%)
• Track progress toward objectives and grant deliverables, including contributing to reporting and administration.
• Assist with the completion of Save the Children quarterly and yearly reporting.
• Contribute to department strategy, annual work planning, budgeting, and fundraising.

Requirements

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience
• Proven experience in legislative/lobbying, government relations, or humanitarian policy advocacy, including on Capitol Hill or relevant federal agency.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the legislative process, including authorization and appropriations.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain bipartisan relationships and navigate politically diverse environments.
• Strong people and program management experience, including planning, prioritization and execution skills, along with demonstrated experience in managing multiple priorities and competing demands.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytic skills.
• Experience working in coalitions or cross-sector policy alliances.
• Proven ability to communicate and work with individuals and across teams at all levels in a collaborative, contributory manner while leveraging the strengths and buy-in of others.
• Ability to adapt to changing environments and develop creative solutions to strategic challenges.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.

Benefits

• 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