Specialist, Global Sponsorship Operations (Architecture)

Summary

The Specialist, Global Sponsorship Operations will help ensure achievement of sponsorship strategic, financial, operational, marketing and programmatic objectives in country offices.  The employee will develop and implement global standards, policies, practices and tools for all aspects of Sponsorship management and monitor country office performance. The employee will also provide technical assistance to help country offices meet standards and ensure quality programs for children and lead projects that create measurable improvement in processes that operate across locations and functions.

What You'll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Ensure Excellent Sponsorship-funded programs in Country Offices (40%) – Together with the supervisor, ensure high quality marketing, operations, finance, and programs by overseeing all aspects of Sponsorship in country offices across all Global Sponsorship (e.g. all COs, all members) through strategic initiatives, policies, and systems.

• In collaboration with country offices and other staff ensure success of Sponsorship programs in country offices, as assigned, for the following key areas: strategy, operations, marketing, finance, and programs.
• Collaborate with country offices to ensure child availability is maintained and sufficient at all times.
• Work cross-functionally with operations, program, and country office colleagues to ensure effective implementation (including phase-over planning and implementation) and opportunities for improvement by evaluating the quality of Sponsorship funded programs; the use of Sponsorship funds; and the level of understanding & compliance with Sponsorship operations policies and procedures.
• Ensure sponsorship/country offices adhere to Sponsorship and SCI/Member Child Safeguarding practices and policies as it applies to in-country Sponsorship Operations and Marketing efforts.
• Ensure Member and Global Sponsorship Marketing and Operational processes adhere to SCI/Member/Sponsorship Child Safeguarding practices and policies and ensure a gender-sensitive, positive and safe child experience.
• Conduct calls with country offices to discuss current issues with a focus on financial, operational and programmatic objectives.
• Serve as the single point person in Global Sponsorship and respond to inquiries and solve problems for country offices as assigned.

Project Management and Continuous Improvement (CI) (15%) - Together with the supervisor, create, manage, and implement projects across Global Sponsorship to address identified challenges and opportunities.

• Lead on identifying, analyzing and implementing systematic improvements via CI and non-CI project management approaches across Global Sponsorship both at the Global and CO level.
• Lead projects related to the Global Sponsorship Department and agency strategic objectives, more broadly, including continuous improvement projects, support for specific initiatives and other topics to be defined by GS leadership.
• Utilize data and financial information to identify issues, provide context, analyze problems and propose solutions specific to child inventory, transfers, and country office financial management.
• Provide support for the overall Sponsorship model.

Member and Global Sponsorship Strategy and Fundraising Efforts (15%) - Ensure that country offices are providing timely and effective high quality marketing materials and operational requirements for members.

• Coordinate with member's respective acquisition and retention teams to ensure marketing efforts are operationally efficient, effective, and appropriate.
• Together with all members implement successful country office based revenue generating initiatives and improving Sponsorship's core business for member's acquisition and retention initiatives.
• Together with all members ensure CO originated marketing material is timely, accurate, and of a high quality to ensure the continued growth of Sponsorship revenue.
• Work with Global Partnerships & Innovation to identify and address member-specific operational issues and concerns.

Annual Sponsorship Reviews and Self-Assessments (10%) – In conjunction with the supervisor, play a leading role in this key county office performance and quality improvement process through the following:

• Lead country office Sponsorship reviews.
• Train Sponsorship review team members on conducting reviews.
• Write, edit, and review and Sponsorship review reports and CO self-assessment as needed.
• In collaboration with Country Offices develop and track progress of Sponsorship Review Action Plans.
• Refine, where appropriate, guidelines for country office reviews and self-assessments.

Sponsorship Management Reporting (10%) – Identity, prioritize and work with country office staff to improve financial, operational and programmatic issues through the following:

• Hold accountable country office staff in adhering to Sponsorship Policies and Procedures.
• Analyze Monthly Management Reports (MMRs). Transmittal Letters and Sponsorship Monthly Performance Reports (SMPR) data from country offices to determine areas where there are performance issues and/or compliance concerns; provide feedback via emails and phone calls and coordinate with COs in developing action improvement steps for areas of concern.
• Develop and issue Annual Scorecards with a focus on needed key areas of operational and strategic improvement.
• Ensure field office reporting is timely and accurate (e.g. based on internal data).

Sponsorship Budgeting, Planning and Reporting (10%) – Ensure that country offices use Sponsorship funds to implement quality programs through effective planning, budgeting and spending:

• Help develop and review annual Sponsorship planning and reporting tools including, Vision Impact Area Presence Plans, 3 Year Plans, Sponsorship Annual Plans (SAP) and Annual Reports.
• Review monthly Country Office Budget vs. Actuals (BVAs) to ensure effective and correct utilization of Sponsorship funding as well as adherence to policies such as: Program/Admin split, correct expense coding, burn rate, and sponsor servicing and Cost Allocation Management (CAM).
• Collaborate with country office phase-over planning and implementation. Ensure quality long-term plans are in place for all Sponsorship funded programs.
• Perform other duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years' experience in international development or related field.
• High School or Technical/Vocational Degree.
• Willingness and ability to travel at least 15% of the time.
• Experience in maintaining budgets and performing financial analyses.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to prioritize among competing objectives and manage multiple complex tasks independently.
• Demonstrates good judgment; ability to diagnose situations or conditions using data and facts.
• Experience in planning, setting objectives and recommending courses of action.
• Team player with a strong sense of accountability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build effective relationships.
• Strong communication skills and ability to handle difficult situations with tact and professionalism.
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent computer skills with solid knowledge of Microsoft Office software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Spanish, French and/or Portuguese.
• Experience generating and analyzing data to identity and frame issues, propose options supported by “what if” scenarios and financial models.
• Ability to create metrics to specify objectives and track progress versus key milestone.
• Experience managing multi-departmental projects and in business process.
• Project Management experience.
• Effective technical/instructional writing skills.

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, pet insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more. 

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in YOU!

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Save the Children 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 Save the Children is in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children's policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation. Any violations of this policy will be treated as a serious issue.

 We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.