Head, Strategic Alliances (E1)

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world's hardest-to-reach places - over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you're creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

As the Head, Strategic Alliances, you'll be integral to our work in helping vulnerable children achieve a brighter future. You will provide enterprise-level leadership for advancing Save the Children's mission through strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and organizational growth initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Impact Officer, this role has primary accountability for the financial performance and strategic direction of the partnerships and M&A function, ensuring integration with broader divisional and organizational goals. The Head develops and executes strategy, influences allocation of resources across multiple divisions, and represents Save the Children with external executives, funders, and potential partners to expand impact and create competitive advantage.

Location

Hybrid - Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations

What You'll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change

Strategic Leadership & Growth (30% of time)

• Develop and execute the organizational strategy for partnerships and acquisitions, aligning with Save the Children's mission and global priorities.

• Influence allocation of resources across divisions to maximize impact and return on investment.

• Serve as a key strategic advisor to the Chief Impact Officer and senior leadership on partnership growth and acquisition opportunities.

Partnerships & Acquisitions (40% of time)

• Lead the identification, evaluation, and negotiation of complex partnership and acquisition opportunities with nonprofit organizations, corporations, and aligned institutions.

• Direct due diligence, integration planning, and execution of M&A transactions, ensuring financial, cultural, and programmatic alignment.

• Cultivate and maintain high-level external relationships that strengthen Save the Children's positioning in the sector.

• In consultation with the Chief Impact Officer identify and designate the POC within Save the Children for existing partnerships and ensure there is consistent communication and management on all aspects of partner relationships.

Organizational Integration & Competitive Advantage (20% of time)

• Ensure partnership and acquisition strategies are integrated with thematic priorities in health, education, early childhood development, and humanitarian response.

• Apply in-depth business expertise to differentiate Save the Children from competitors, creating long-term value and impact.

• Oversee frameworks for assessing financial sustainability, programmatic alignment, and risk management in all partnership and M&A decisions.

• Spend 10% of time providing strategic guidance and support the institutional fundraising teams (public, foundation, corporations) to best position Save the Children for public / private funding opportunities leveraging partnerships. Ensure an open line of communication between divisions and departments to capitalize on trends and business intelligence gleaned from partner and coalition discussions.

Leadership and Team Management (10% of Time)

• Provide full leadership responsibility for the partnerships and M&A function, including strategic planning, organizational development, and resource management.

• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across divisions.

• Represent Save the Children as a senior ambassador with donors, boards, partners, policy makers and regulators.

• Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, clearly communicating organization, division and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission and supports Save the Children values

Required qualifications for the role

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 15 years of relevant experienceincluding progressive leadership experience in partnerships, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, or strategic growth in the nonprofit, corporate, or international development sector.

• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-level strategies, structuring and executing complex deals, and managing financial performance of a business unit or function.

• Comprehensive understanding of partnership models, nonprofit/corporate alliances, and M&A best practices.

• Strong business expertise with ability to integrate across functions and develop competitive advantage.

• Advanced problem-solving skills with experience directing innovative solutions to complex organizational challenges.

• Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills with great latitude on outcomes.

• Proven ability to lead organizational functions and develop strategic plans for long-term impact.

• Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time.

• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite

• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English

Preferred qualificationsfor the role

• Advanced degree (MBA, JD, or equivalent)

Compensation

Save the Children is offering the following salary ranges for this position, dependent on candidate location:

• Geo 1 - NY Metro, DC, and other locations with labor costs significantly above national average: Target Salary for this position is $_$188,700 - $210,900 base salary

• Geo 2 - Locations around the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $171,700 - $191,900 base salary

• Geo 3 - Locations significantly below the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $154,700 - $172,900 base salary

The salary ranges listed above are for US based candidates. For candidates located outside of the US, salary ranges will be based on the salary scales of the local employer of record. Actual base salary may vary based on, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location (more information on job structure is available here).

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• 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

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.

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 we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org.