About this role
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Head of Survival Health and Nutrition with integrated WASH |
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TEAM AND PROGRAMMEProgramme Quality and Impact (PQI) |
LOCATIONJuba, South Sudan Country Office, with frequent travel to field locations |
| GRADE: 2 |
CONTRACT LENGTH: Fixed term, 12 months. Open to national and international applicants. |
CHILD SAFEGUARDINGLevel 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people frequently (for example, once a week or more) or intensively (for example, four days in one month or more, or overnight) because they work in country programmes. |
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ROLE PURPOSEThe Head of Survival provides strategic and technical leadership for Save the Children's Health and Nutrition portfolio in South Sudan, including complementary Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions. The post holder’s primary accountability is to ensure that Health and Nutrition programmes are technically sound, safe, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of children, women, adolescents and communities, while providing strategic leadership for the development and sustainability of the Survival portfolio. Based in the Programme Quality and Impact (PQI) team, the role leads thematic strategy, programme design, technical quality assurance, resource mobilisation, learning and sector representation across humanitarian and development programmes. |
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| Working closely with Operations, technical specialists, government and partners, the role strengthens the quality and resilience of health and nutrition systems and ensures WASH is effectively integrated to support infection prevention, safe service delivery and better health and nutrition outcomes. | |
| The Head of Survival provides technical direction and oversight, working through appropriately qualified technical specialists where specialist expertise is required. The role leads through supportive supervision, collaboration and influence across the country programme, while Operations and project teams retain responsibility for day-to-day implementation and grant management. In a humanitarian emergency, the post holder may be required to work outside the normal role profile and vary working hours to support the response. | |
SCOPE OF ROLEReports to: Director of Programme Quality and Impact (DoPQI). |
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| Staff reporting to this post: Provides technical leadership for Health and Nutrition and strategic oversight of WASH integration within Survival programming; specialist WASH technical design and engineering assurance remain with appropriately qualified WASH technical staff. | |
| Role dimensions: Countrywide thematic leadership across the Survival portfolio and contribution to the Extended Senior Leadership Team (ESLT). | |
| Key internal stakeholders: Country leadership; Operations and field teams; Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL); Business Development; Awards; Finance; Supply Chain; Advocacy; Safeguarding; other thematic leads; and Save the Children member, regional and global technical colleagues. | |
| External representation: Ministry of Health and relevant WASH authorities; state and county authorities; civil society and national partners; donors; the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Programme (WFP); and relevant clusters and technical working groups. | |
| Budget responsibilities: No routine programme budget holding. Provides technical input to budgets, resourcing and value-for-money reviews; exercises financial authority only where formally delegated. | |
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KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY Thematic Strategy and Thought Leadership Lead the implementation and review of the country Survival strategy and technical priorities, aligning Health and Nutrition programming and relevant WASH components with the Country Strategic Plan, national priorities and Save the Children's thematic approaches. |
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| Use needs assessments, service coverage, programme evidence and community perspectives to identify priorities for children and women, including people affected by displacement, disability, poverty and limited access to services. | |
| Guide teams in applying and contextualising relevant organisational approaches, technical standards and guidance, ensuring emergency interventions support recovery, resilient service delivery and, where appropriate, longer-term systems strengthening. | |
| Convene technical learning across the portfolio and draw on regional, global and member expertise to translate emerging evidence into practical improvements in programme design and delivery. | |
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Programme Quality and Technical Leadership Set and monitor technical quality benchmarks for the Survival portfolio. Conduct regular field support visits and joint reviews with Operations, MEAL and partners; agree corrective actions, follow up delivery and escalate unresolved quality or safety risks. |
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| Health: Provide technical direction for integrated primary and community health services, including maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, reproductive health, immunisation, prevention and management of common childhood illnesses, and functioning referral pathways. | |
| Nutrition: Lead technical quality across prevention and treatment of malnutrition, including community screening and referral, management of acute malnutrition, infant and young child feeding, and maternal and adolescent nutrition, in accordance with applicable national protocols. | |
| WASH: Oversee the quality and integration of WASH components that support Health and Nutrition outcomes, particularly safe water, sanitation, hand hygiene, infection prevention and control, and healthcare waste management in supported facilities and communities. Engage WASH specialists for technical design and engineering assurance. | |
| Provide strategic oversight of clinical governance and patient safety, working through appropriately qualified clinical technical leads, and ensure systems are in place for supportive supervision, adherence to clinical standards, incident reporting and learning, quality improvement and escalation of significant patient-safety risks. | |
| Work with pharmacy, nutrition, Supply Chain and Operations colleagues on technical specifications, forecasting, storage, appropriate use and availability of medicines, vaccines, nutrition supplies and other essential commodities; identify and escalate stock-out and quality risks. | |
| Promote integrated programming with Child Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Education, and food security and livelihoods teams, using coordinated referrals and community engagement to address barriers to survival and wellbeing. | |
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Programme Evidence and Impact Work with MEAL and programme teams to establish sound theories of change, results frameworks, indicators, baselines, targets and quality benchmarks for Health, Nutrition and relevant WASH interventions. |
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| Provide technical oversight of Survival indicators and work with MEAL and programme teams to ensure IPTTs and other performance monitoring systems are accurate, timely and appropriately disaggregated. | |
| Lead technical interpretation of programme performance, service quality and community feedback; use regular portfolio reviews to identify gaps, adapt interventions and track whether agreed improvements are achieved. | |
| Shape assessments, evaluations and operational research with MEAL and technical partners, ensuring appropriate ethical processes. Capture learning and review technical content in donor reports, impact products and policy briefs so findings inform programming and advocacy. | |
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External Representation Policy and Advocacy Build and maintain strong relationships with the Ministry of Health, relevant WASH authorities, donors, United Nations agencies, civil society, academic institutions and other health and nutrition actors. |
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| Represent Save the Children in Health and Nutrition clusters, sector forums and technical working groups, and in relevant WASH coordination through designated colleagues. Contribute technical evidence to joint analysis, planning and national policy discussions. | |
| Work with Advocacy colleagues and partners to advance equitable access to quality health and nutrition services, sustainable financing, an effective health workforce and removal of barriers faced by marginalised children and women. | |
| Translate programme evidence and community priorities into clear policy positions and engagement plans, and contribute to Save the Children's relevant national, regional and global advocacy initiatives. | |
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Programme Development and Resource Mobilisation Lead technical contribution to positioning and development of the Survival funding pipeline with Business Development, Operations, Awards and member offices; identify opportunities that fit strategic priorities and demonstrated needs. |
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| Lead the technical design and review of concept notes and proposals, ensuring coherent intervention logic, achievable results, sound staffing and supply requirements, appropriate partnerships and realistic costed implementation arrangements. | |
| Cultivate technical relationships with donors and prospective partners, contribute to consortium design and engage in donor discussions, briefings and visits to demonstrate programme quality and impact. | |
| Provide technical input to budgets, revisions and grant reviews, linking resource requirements to quality standards, coverage and outcomes, and addressing technical gaps that could affect delivery or donor commitments. | |
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Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Lead the technical Health and Nutrition contribution to contingency planning, anticipatory action and emergency preparedness, including relevant WASH measures for floods, disease outbreaks, displacement and acute food and nutrition crises. |
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| Support rapid assessments, response design and technical surge arrangements with Operations and emergency teams; prioritise continuity of essential services, safe referrals and appropriate integrated assistance for affected populations. | |
| Coordinate technical engagement with government and humanitarian mechanisms during emergencies. Support readiness of staff, partners, supplies and referral systems, and use response reviews to strengthen future preparedness. | |
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Partnerships Localisation and Systems Strengthening Build equitable partnerships with national and local organisations and government counterparts, involving them in strategy, programme design, technical decisions, learning and representation. |
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| Support partner assessments and jointly agreed capacity strengthening plans, with practical mentoring, supportive supervision and follow-up on technical quality, safeguarding and accountability commitments. | |
| Strengthen local service systems, workforce capacity, referral networks and community ownership. Build sustainability and responsible transition arrangements into programme design and support greater national leadership of the Survival portfolio. | |
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Management and Capacity Building As a member of the ESLT, contribute to country office leadership, strategic planning, cross-sector collaboration and decisions that strengthen programme quality and impact. |
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| Lead, coach and manage direct reports through clear objectives, regular feedback, performance reviews and development plans; build an inclusive working environment and address performance or conduct concerns promptly. | |
| Assess technical capacity needs across staff and partners and coordinate practical training, mentoring and supportive supervision with Operations and technical specialists, including development of national staff and succession planning. | |
| Contribute to technical recruitment and performance reviews, and manage consultants and short-term technical assignments with clear deliverables and quality checks. Mobilise specialist support when needs exceed the expertise available in-country. | |
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Safeguarding Accountability and Inclusion Embed child safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, gender equality, disability inclusion and conflict sensitivity throughout programme design, delivery, monitoring and partnerships. |
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| Work with MEAL and Safeguarding colleagues to ensure safe, accessible feedback and complaints channels for children and communities, including confidential referral of sensitive concerns and timely action through established procedures. | |
| Promote meaningful participation of children, adolescents, women and affected communities in programme decisions, and ensure services protect dignity, privacy and equitable access. | |
BEHAVIOURSValues in practice Accountability Holds self accountable for decisions, efficient use of resources, delivery of results and role modelling Save the Children values. |
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| Holds teams and partners accountable, gives them space to deliver, supports their development and takes appropriate action when agreed responsibilities are not met. | |
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Ambition Sets ambitious goals for self and team, takes responsibility for personal development and encourages others to do the same. |
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| Shares a clear vision, motivates others and thinks strategically about future opportunities and challenges. | |
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Collaboration Builds effective relationships with colleagues, members, partners and supporters; listens actively and remains approachable. |
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| Values diversity and works respectfully across disciplines, cultures and organisations. | |
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Creativity Encourages practical innovation, develops solutions and takes considered risks to improve results for children. |
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Integrity Demonstrates honesty and the highest standards of integrity, encourages openness and transparency, and acts consistently with organisational values. |
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QUALIFICATIONS EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Essential Master's degree or equivalent in Public Health, Nutrition, Global Health, Medicine or a closely related field, with a relevant first degree or professional qualification in health or nutrition. |
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| At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in Health and Nutrition programming, including at least three years in senior technical leadership, programme quality or advisory roles in humanitarian and/or development contexts. | |
| Demonstrated ability to lead an integrated Health and Nutrition portfolio. | |
| Strong understanding of clinical governance, patient safety, quality improvement, essential commodities and the application of national protocols and recognised humanitarian quality standards. | |
| Experience in fragile or crisis-affected settings, including emergency preparedness or response, and ability to support programmes in insecure or hard-to-reach locations. | |
| Proven experience leading strategy, programme design and technically sound funding proposals; ability to assess budgets, implementation feasibility and value for money. | |
| Strong analytical skills and experience using monitoring data, assessments, evaluations or operational research to improve programmes and demonstrate results. | |
| Demonstrated experience developing staff and partner capacity, managing technical teams and influencing implementation through effective collaboration with operational colleagues. | |
| Strong representation, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with experience engaging government, donors, United Nations agencies and national or local organisations. | |
| Excellent written and spoken English, including clear proposal, report and presentation skills; proficiency in relevant digital tools for analysis, planning and communication. | |
| Commitment to child rights, safeguarding, accountability, gender equality, disability inclusion and Save the Children's mission, values and ways of working. | |
| Willingness and ability to travel regularly to field locations and adapt working arrangements during emergencies, in accordance with organisational safety procedures. | |
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Desirable Experience in South Sudan or comparable contexts, including collaboration with government health systems and familiarity with national Health and Nutrition priorities. |
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| Experience in senior leadership within an international or national non-governmental organisation, or in a comparable public health institution. | |
| Experience with multi-partner or consortium programmes and with donor-funded Health and Nutrition portfolios, including ECHO, UNICEF or WFP-supported programming. | |
| Practical experience in health systems strengthening, localisation, integrated WASH programming or anticipatory action. | |
| Knowledge of Arabic and/or languages spoken in South Sudan. | |
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Additional job responsibilities The duties and responsibilities above are not exhaustive. The role holder may be required to carry out additional duties appropriate to their level of skills and experience. |
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Equal Opportunities The role is open to national and international applicants. Save the Children welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates and encourages applications from women and persons with disabilities. The role holder must carry out their duties in accordance with Save the Children International (SCI) Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures. |
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Child Safeguarding We need to keep children safe. Our selection process, including rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to protecting children from abuse. The role holder must uphold safeguarding requirements and report concerns through established procedures. |
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Health and Safety The role holder must carry out their duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures, including applicable security requirements for field travel. |
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.
Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
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