Senior Advisor, Early Childhood Development

Position title: Senior Technical Advisor, ECD

Location: Flexible, Africa

ChildFund office: International Office

Manager/Supervisor title: Vice President, Program Resources & Institutional Learning

Position type:
Full-time regular

Work environment:
Remote

This is a full-time, open-ended, remote position open to external candidates in one of ChildFund's existing locations in the Africa region. To be eligible, candidates must have current residence AND work authorization in one of the following: Freetown, Banjul, Dakar, Conakry, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Kampala, Lusaka, or Maputo.

To apply, please submit a current CV and a brief (2-5 page) professional writing sample.

About ChildFund

ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that works in 23 countries to connect children with the people, resources, and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled, and safe, no matter where they are.

ChildFund's Values

We aspire for every person in our organization—program participants, supporters, staff, and volunteers alike—to feel free, safe, and confident to be themselves. In our culture of connection, you will have ample opportunity to grow, learn, and lead while contributing your talents and innovations to our inspiring mission.

ChildFund's Commitment

ChildFund International has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) and all other forms of harm by its staff, partners, and other representatives in the delivery of its mission and services for children. ChildFund is committed to creating a safe environment in the workplace as well as in the communities where it delivers programs and services. ChildFund expects every staff member, partner, and representative to adhere to this commitment and to ensure all organizational policies and standards are followed. This position is subject to a range of vetting checks, including a criminal records check and/or disclosure to ensure program participants are safeguarded.

About This Role

The Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor provides technical support and leadership to strengthen ChildFund International's global Early Childhood Development program portfolio, enhancing program quality and ensuring that Early Childhood Development programs, or components integrated into other sectors, are designed with the latest best practice and ChildFund's impact evidence.

The Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor works closely with the Director of Program and Product Design to ensure that grant proposals are well-crafted and aligned with ChildFund's Results Framework, key sectoral and global practices, and evidence of global impact.

The role requires working closely with the Business Development and the Grant Acquisitions teams to expand and diversify resources for ChildFund Early Childhood Development programs, which is essential for securing funding and creating new opportunities for the organization's education initiatives and global aspiration of positively impacting 100 M children and their families around the world.

The Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor, jointly with the Grant Acquisitions Advisor, lead the Early Childhood Development grant acquisition portfolio, focusing on
proposal development
, which includes proposal development, proposal management, technical design, and documentation of best practices, capacity statements, and technical approaches, among others.

The Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor also partners with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) unit to guide ChildFund's Early Childhood Development program evidence and impact assessment needs, priorities, and thought leadership product development.

Required Experience and Education

Experience

• 8 to 10 years of progressive program management or technical advisor experience in early childhood development across multiple countries or regional contexts, with a minimum of 3 years of international field experience and a proven track record of leading complex program design for grant acquisition.
• Demonstrated experience leading program design for large-scale grants, such as those from USAID, EU, UNICEF, foundations, and multilaterals.
• Extensive experience in developing and submitting successful grant proposals, securing funding from various sources, including government agencies, foundations, and corporations.
• Experience in strategic Early Childhood Development program design with a focus on children's rights and children's and caretakers' well-being and incorporating innovative approaches.
• Strong technical writing and proposal development skills, with the ability to produce well-structured models that showcase the organization's capacity to deliver impactful programs.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strategic relationships internally and externally fostering a focus on a strong donor engagement and creating effective funder-focused communications.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Master of Public Health in Nutrition Degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading program design for large-scale grants (e.g., USAID, EU, UNICEF, foundations, and multilaterals).

Primary Responsibilities

1. Technical Support and Leadership
   : The Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor provides technical support and leadership to strengthen ChildFund International's global Early Childhood Development program portfolio including the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children.
2. Grant Proposal Development
   : The Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor works closely with the Director of Program and Product Design to ensure that grant proposals are well-crafted and aligned with ChildFund's Results Framework, key sectoral and global practices, and evidence of global impact.
3. Resource Expansion and Diversification
   : The role requires working closely with the Business Development and Grant Acquisitions teams to expand and diversify resources for ChildFund Early Childhood Development programs.
4. Education Grant Acquisition Portfolio Management
   : Jointly with the Grant Acquisitions Advisor, the Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor leads the Early Childhood Development grant acquisition portfolio. This includes focusing on proposal development, proposal management, technical design, and documentation of best practices, capacity statements, and technical approaches to the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children.
5. Partnership Cultivation
   : The Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor actively cultivates partnerships with external organizations, stakeholders, and donors to enhance collaboration opportunities, secure funding, and promote ChildFund International's Early Childhood Development initiatives.
6. Collaboration with MERL Unit
   : The Global Early Childhood Development Senior Technical Advisor partners with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) unit to guide ChildFund's education program evidence and impact assessment needs, priorities, and thought leadership product development.

Other

1. Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Child Safeguarding Policy.
2. Travel domestically and internationally up to 20%.

Required Competencies

• Technical Expertise and Leadership
  : The ability to provide technical support and leadership for the Expansion and Diversification of revenue streams.
• Expertise in Child Development
  : Possess a comprehensive understanding of child development principles and practices, with the ability to effectively promote the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children.
• Grant Proposal Development
  : Strong skills in technical writing; ability to collaborate with the Senior Director of Program and Product Design to craft well-aligned grant proposals that adhere to ChildFund's Results Framework, key sectoral and global practices, and evidence of impact.
• Donor Relations and Funding Models
  : Proficiency in identifying global donors, cultivating relationships with key donors, advising on donor trends, knowledge and understanding of existing and emerging funding models.
• Early Childhood Development Grant Acquisition
  : Expertise in leading the Early Childhood Development grant acquisition portfolio, focusing on proposal development.
• Impact Assessment and Collaboration
  : Competence in guiding ChildFund Early Childhood Development program evidence and impact assessment needs, priorities, and thought leadership product development.
• Capacity Building and Training
  : Demonstrated ability to conduct effective capacity building and training in virtual settings.
• Work effectively in a matrix environment
  : involves the ability to navigate and collaborate within a matrix organizational structure, where multiple reporting lines and cross-functional teams are common.
• Effective representation and networking
  : Represent the organization effectively in various forums and build strong networks with technical partners, multilateral agencies, foundations, and other stakeholders.
• Strong computer skills, with familiarity in using Microsoft Office suite applications
  : This competency requires proficiency in using Microsoft Office suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.