Lead, IT Change & Interventions

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Lead, IT Change & Interventions to join our global team.

Team and Role Purpose

Purpose of the team is to lead on the development and configuration of Save the Children’s global digital business and operating systems used across SCI and Members. The team are key to maintaining the application portfolio as fit for purpose and developing new and existing systems in line with business requirements, maximising the value they deliver and enabling our organisation to achieve impact for children. Working in partnership with Transformation Delivery and business functions, the team are accountable for delivery of application development and change for Transformation Delivery projects, SCI Functions and internal IT functions. 

Role purpose

The Lead, IT Change and Interventions is a key role within the TDIT function and the scope of the role can be broken broadly into 5 key areas 1) transformation initiatives 2) Change requests 3) IT projects that sit outside the formal transformation portfolio 4) IT Planning & Delivery Oversight 5) continuous improvement. The allocation will vary over time based on the nature of the portfolio and the needs of the organisaiton.

At SCI all TDIT led projects and CRs follow standard methodologies processes and governance . As such these roles are part of a wider community of Project Managers, Change Managers and Transformation Development and Intervention Managers. This community is key in driving consistency and sharing lessons learned on our delivery of change. 

There are 4 Lead of IT Change and Interventions, the framework for the role is standard but the areas of specialism vary. This role needs a focus on Testing.

The Lead, IT Change and Interventions will lead on work across the IT specific elements of the portfolio based on demand and priority. This includes:

Transformation Portfolio initiatives:

• Define, shape or lead certain parts of transformation initiatives e.g. Test, cut over, data migration
• Specifically relating to Testing this role can be expected to partner with project leadership to fully understand transformation initiatives and help the project manager define test approaches, scope and scenarios.The role may need to take an active delivery role in projects in the test space
• Resolve IT related roadblocks or issues unexpectedly identified on transformation initiatives that cannot be managed within existing capacity (these may result in creation of sub projects or CRs that the Lead will manage)

IT Projects:

• Lead on initiatives that sit outside the Transformation portfolio that are run within IT (e.g. migration away from Citrix or implementation of microsoft shared tennancy)
• Identify and address business risks, dependencies and delivery issues 
• Ensure adherence to same governance and standards as transformation portfolio initiatives working closely with PMO
• This role would focus on ensuring testing approaches, methods and scope are appropriate to the nature of the project

Change Requests:

• Triage, impact assess & estimate CRs
• End to end responsibility of the delivery and resourcing of complex CRs where required; including financial management (oversight of estimates and actuals), resource management, stakeholder management and governance 
• Input into CR prioritisation and resource allocation that is coordinated by PMO
• Intervene where CRs are poorly scoped or not in alignment with strategic objectives
• If TDI Managers are leading triage, impact assessment, and estimation of CRs, they should engage the Lead for IT Change Interventions where additional technical input is required. 
• If the Lead for IT Change Interventions is leading, they should liaise with TDI Managers where business input or support is needed.

IT Planning & Delivery Oversight:

• Contribute to the development, maintenance and monitoring of product roadmaps supporting the Senior Lead, Technology Solution Delivery focussing on Roadmaps 
• Ensure IT change and IT projects and initiatives are assessed in the context of delivery timelines and roadmaps and coordinating with relevent teams when required 

Continuous improvement:

The role holder understands the breadth of the transformation lifecycle and is uniquely positioned to drive continuous improvement across IT, dedicating up to 20% of their time to these initiatives. This may include designing and operating certain processes on an interim basis to establish and stabilise them before transitioning to long-term owners. Where relevant, they will work closely with TD leadership (in particular with Director of PMO & Reporting and Director of Project and Change Delivery) to ensure alignment with project delivery. Examples of such initiatives include, but are not limited to:

Use of tooling:

• Drive improvement in use of Atlassian tools by product teams to deliver change e.g. release notes in confluence, jira use for epics, stories and dev tasks
• Use of technologies to support code control, packaged deployment partnering with PDMs to share best practise, instill devsecops practises

Partner with TDIT colleagues to improve methodologies:

• Provide lessons learned to agile methodology
• Work with PMO to ensure CR process is iteratively improved and actively championed
• Improve onboarding documents 

Testing:

• Establish testing community of practise to improve approach to testing across all forms of change
• Capacity build in existing PMs 
• Knowledge base generations and peer reviews to ensure high quality test plans, approaches, methods on transformation initiatives

• Job Title: Lead, IT Change & Interventions
• Reports To: Director Technology Strategy & Transformation
• Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available
• Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: SCI Careers
• Required Time Zone: Any
• Contract Length: Permanent
• Right to Work: The successful candidate must have the right to work in the country where the role is based, for the duration of employment. 
• Language Requirements: English
• Remit: Global

Principal Accountabilities

The Lead, IT Change and Interventions share the following principal accountabilities which may vary depending on the intervention activity; 

• Enable effective IT change working proactively with TDIT and business stakeholders of varying seniority to enable change that delivers clear value 
• Ensure alignment with the IT capabilities (architecture, development, test, release, support etc.) and relevant IT leadership to maintain a cohesive approach to managing interventions sharing necessary support or engagement. Align with TD counterparts to share ways of working when applicable. 
• Ensure high quality testing across all transformaiton initiatives by maturing our testing community of practise and taking active roles in the test space of projects
• Execute intervention plans within transformation initiatives, aligning with established project leadership and governance and Partner with TDI mngrs on feasibility studies where more technical input required
• Work cross-functionally with Product Owners, Technical teams and PMO to manage dependencies and resolve conflicts and support joined-up delivery 
• Focal point for assessment of complex IT Change requests (conducting and/or supporting assesment and estimation activities and leading on delivery of complex CRs) 
•  Promote a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to build capacities and improve processes across IT delivery as well as assessing delivery performance against roadmaps to identify efficiency opporutnities 
• Apply strong project management practices to lead the assesment, plan and delivery of change, operating comfortably across hybrid delivery models. Act as an escalation point for change-related issues and dependencies
• Support the Senior Lead, Technology Solution Delivery in defining consistent Product Roadmap processes and tooling across Save the Children applications aligned to Product and Organisation objectives 
• Support in improving prioritisation, estimation and transparency of Product Roadmaps and IT delivery timelines 

Experience and Skills

Essential

1. Considerable experience working with large, complex IT environments, managing operational change. Demonstrates direct accountability for issue resolution and dependency management and capacity building to empower others in problem-solving
2. Proven experience working in testing creating test approaches, methodologies, strategies and scopes with clear understanding of the functional scope of the project and risk based approach to testing
3. Proven experience in one or more of the following areas: IT Change Requests, Release Management or Product/Technology roadmap delivery. Able to apply structured approaches and adapting to operational constraints and competing priorities. 
4. Ability to assess IT change including impact analysis as well as providing hands on support to functional areas in business case creation, prioritisation and sequencing 
5. Familiarity of industry standards and frameworks (e.g. ITIL, Agile, DevOps, or equivalent), supported by formal training or applied experience, with the ability to apply appropriate levels of governance and hold teams accountable to agreed standards.
6. Demonstrated experience in engaging and collaborating with global stakeholders across various levels of the organisation including Senior Leaders, from diverse contexts
7. Proven ability to operate successfully within a matrix organisation structure, overseeing resource without direct line management accountability and being experienced working across multiple different functional areas
8. Demonstrated ability to provide hands-on guidance, mentoring, and coaching to strengthen capability in IT teams, even where formal line management responsibility does not exist.
9. Experience working in a dynamic environment characterised by high levels of change and quick turnaround times while maintaining high standards of delivery
10. Project Management experience with proven experience operating across hybrid delivery models

Desirable

• Non-profit sector knowledge/experience (especially international development projects)
• Second language – French, Spanish or Arabic

Education and Qualifications 

Essential

• Relevant certifications in Project Management (e.g., PMP, Prince2), Agile methodologies (e.g., 
• ScrumMaster, Agile Certified Practitioner), or specific technologies related to the role.

Desirable

• Continuous professional development in technology management and leadership through courses or workshops.
• ITIL certification or other IT service management qualifications are advantageous.

Working at Save the Children International

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.

We know that great people make a great organisation, 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 environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found at SCI Careers. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are successfully shortlisted should expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of the advert deadline.

Our Recruitment Process

1. Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
2. Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
3. Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
4. If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse.  All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-Harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.