Head of (Global) Safeguarding and Integrity

The War Child Alliance is an international non-governmental organization committed to providing psychosocial support, child protection, youth empowerment programming and quality education to the children affected by armed conflict. We implement evidence-based interventions to empower key stakeholders—including governments, educators, caregivers, and communities—to foster children’s wellbeing, education, and self-determination. War Child has a presence in 19 countries: Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Colombia, Burundi, DR Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Learn more about War Child and our programmes https://www.warchild.net/

Role

We are seeking a committed and compassionate leader for the role of Head of Safeguarding and Integrity within the War Child Alliance. In this vital role, you will lead efforts to create a safe environment for participants and staff, protect War Child's financial resources and assets from fraud, and ensure high standards of responsible behaviour in line with our code of conduct. You will also lead the development and implementation of War Child’s Integrity & Safeguarding Framework. You will develop and guide the delivery of safeguarding and integrity policies, standards, and strategies across the War Child Alliance. Working closely with members and offices of the Alliance, you will help ensure a culture of safeguarding and integrity throughout, implement policies, standards, and strategies, provide training, and ensure continuous improvement across all parts of the organisation. As Head of Safeguarding and Integrity, you will lead a global team of safeguarding and integrity technical staff, supporting country and regional offices, and coordinating a broader safeguarding and integrity network across the War Child Alliance. You will also oversee and ensure that all complaint responses and case investigations are conducted to high standards.

• Safeguarding at War Child is a set of organisational policies, procedures and practices employed to ensure War Child is a safe organisation, responsible for protecting individuals from the risk of abuse, harassment, child abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, as well as other types of harm, abuse, exploitation, and neglect caused by those who have a duty to protect and care for them.
• Integrity in War Child means protecting and supporting the organization, its employees and project participants in-line with War Child’s Code of Conduct and other internal policies, as well as externally with integrity best practices, laws and regulations.

Adherence to Safeguarding and Integrity policy and standards is one of the core commitments of the War Child Alliance members. This system, which is led by this role, will impact on every individual who works in the Alliance and on every child or adult who participates in our programmes or our fundraising.

Team

The Head of Safeguarding and Integrity reports to the Director of People and Culture within the Alliance and manages a team of:

• Two Global Safeguarding Advisors
• One Global Integrity Advisor
• Two regional roles and in country safeguarding roles (roles to be defined and with matrix management with regional/country offices)

This role also has a direct line of communication with the CEO, the International management team (IMT) and the board of the War Child Alliance Foundation, with a duty to raise issues at these levels if they have significant concerns, and also has a dotted line to the Global Internal Auditor / Anti-fraud, Anti-corruption (AFAC) Lead due to aligned working required across related work streams and in cases relating to integrity etc.

Key Result Areas

• Provide model leadership to the safeguarding and integrity function to ensure high sector standards and continuous improvement across the War Child Alliance.
• Systems and procedures for managing and reporting safeguarding and integrity issues, concerns and complaints are in-place and operating effectively.
• All case investigations are conducted to high standards.
• Safeguarding and integrity work across the War Child Alliance is coordinated, with every part of the Alliance showing high levels understanding and compliance
• Strengthening capability in safeguarding and integrity across War Child offices.
• The Management Team and Board of the War Child Alliance has the information and analysis they need to effectively oversee this area of our work, and to hold colleagues accountable for achieving high standards in safeguarding and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Leading the development of safeguarding and integrity policy, standards and strategy to ensure high sector standards and continuous improvement across the War Child Alliance
• Leading the safeguarding and integrity team to provide technical expertise, training, capacity development and services to ensure implementation of policies, standards and strategies and to ensure a culture of safeguarding and integrity across the War Child Alliance
• Coordinating a safeguarding and integrity community of practice and supporting key stakeholders across the War Child Alliance to understand and implement policy
• Ensuring systems and procedures for identifying, receiving, reporting, investigating and responding to safeguarding and integrity issues, concerns and complaints are in-place and operating effectively
• Leading internal and external communication, sector alignment and build external networks
• Reporting, risk-management and participant data management
• Managing people and budgets

Profile Requirements

• Extensive experience in safeguarding and/or integrity work in the humanitarian sector.
• Comprehensive and up to date technical understanding of safeguarding and/or integrity legislation, international standards and donor requirements.
• Proven track-record of implementing safeguarding and/or integrity strategy, policy, practice and developing a safe and trusted organisational culture.
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders in a development/humanitarian context, including implementing safeguarding and/or integrity initiatives with partners and at a community level.
• Proven track record of conducting serious and complex safeguarding and/or integrity investigations in international and/or conflict settings and experienced in survivor-centred approaches.
• Understanding and experience of working in conflict settings and knowledge of safeguarding and/or integrity programmes in conflict affected areas.
• Excellent written and oral English language communication skills. Other War Child operating language skills is an advantage (French, Arabic, Dutch, Dari, Swahili)
• Willingness to travel to other WCA locations.

Our offer

• Contract Type: Initial one-year contract with potential for permanent employment, subject to location and local labor laws.
• Location: ideally in countries where War Child operates
• Professional Development: Opportunities for capacity building and growth, both within the role and through War Child’s broader network.
• Meaningful Impact: The chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families affected by conflict, contributing to long-term, sustainable change.
• Equal Opportunities: War Child is an inclusive employer committed to diversity and inclusion, respecting all individuals regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability.
• Workplace Culture: War Child is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace that prioritizes safety and fairness for all individuals. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying within our organization

Why You Should Apply

• Make a Real Impact: Your work will directly contribute to providing quality education to children who need it most, creating lasting change in their lives.
• Career Growth: Join a dynamic organization that values your professional development and offers opportunities for learning, growth, and innovation.
• Global Reach: Play a key role in scaling a ground-breaking programme that operates in multiple conflict-affected regions around the world.
• Collaborative and Mission-Driven: Work alongside passionate colleagues and partners united in a mission to protect children and help them thrive despite adversity.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications by December 1, 2024, using this hyperlink:

https://www.warchild.net/jobs/head-of-global-safeguarding-and-integrity/

We are reviewing submissions on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly recommended.

Safeguarding

War Child is committed to humanitarian values, standards and norms and we expect the same from job applicants. War Child is especially committed to safeguarding the children and youth we support and doesn’t tolerate any form of abuse. Because we want to prevent and deter any actions that place children and youth at risk, conduct references are an important part of our recruitment procedure. As part of the selection process, War Child will request standardized references in accordance with the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and a recent Criminal Records statement.

The safety of children is essential to War Child. War Child does not tolerate or accept any form of abuse. This subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures.