Job Description

Chief Programme Officer (CPO)

Location: Vienna /Austria

Duration: 5 years with possibility of extension

About us

SOS Children's Villages, founded in 1949, is the world's largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it.

Child neglect, abuse and abandonment is everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we provide quality care according to their unique needs.

Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child's rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment.

They contribute to the leadership of SOS Children's Villages International (CVI) including enabling sound budgeting and financial management by leaders and managers in the two units: FCS (Federation Secretariat) and IDS (International Development Support).

Mission of the area

The Chief Programme Officer /IDS Lead is a member of the Executive Board of SOS Children’s Villages International. The CPO/IDS Lead’s primary responsibility is to enable and strengthen programme impact across the federation and its individual national members for the benefit of children. This includes leading the development and implementation of contract-based services that support members in meeting established minimum standards and ensuring that basic programme and service requirements are consistently achieved in line with federation expectations.

It does this through oversight and highest responsibility for four functions: overseeing facilitation of knowledge management in innovation, evidence & enabling Members and CVI run countries to deliver programme impact at scale. Leading, facilitating and delivering high-quality humanitarian response in emergencies / crises affecting children. Overseeing the delivery of high-quality contract-based services for children in countries directly managed and run by SOS CVI. Establish capacity building of Members so that they can be independently self-sustaining.

As part of the Executive Board the CPO/IDS Lead contributes to the Executive Board decisions is accountable to the International Board and Members for delivery of all the responsibilities of SOS CVI.

Total no. of direct reports: 8

Tasks and Responsibilities

SOS CVI strategic delivery:

• Together with the other members of the Executive Board, operationalizes and is responsible for delivering the overarching SOS CVI strategy as agreed by the International Board

Programme impact for children at scale:

• Oversees and lead knowledge management in innovation, evidence to enable Members and CVI run countries to take up and scale innovative programming, use research, learning and apply high-quality programme policy to deliver programme impact at scale.
• Responsible for, and at the request of members, facilitate and coordinate strategic international programmes/multi-country programming including advocacy programming, that groups of independent member associations and CVI-Run Operations request and opt in to deliver.

Member Development and Support Services:

• Responsible and oversight of provision of “on demand” support and services to members. This includes capacity and capability building to risk and growth members in programme and operations areas.
• Provision of other on-demand support services to supporting members (“PSAs”), sustainable members, and risk & growth members so that they drive impact and meet Federation and external compliance requirements.
• Maintain a contract structure that ensures the stable and sustainable funding of member-focused support projects via PSAs.
• Oversee member-focused support for members to achieve and maintain self-sufficient governance, income and operations. Includes support to Members to raise sustainable income through grant/institutional income development and individual giving and delivery of multi-member systems and global processes such as those enabling child sponsorship, digital fundraising, and CRM systems support.

CVI run / managed countries:

• Overall responsibility for ensuring that CVI-Run Operations are run for maximum programme impact and quality, and are compliant with policies and standards. (Programme funding for CVI-Run Operations is not part of SOS CVI’s budget and responsibility, but of respective location PSAs, who financially support those CVI-Run Operations.)
• IDS has the overall responsibility for ensuring that selected CVI-managed countries transition to independent member associations.

Humanitarian Action

• Oversee and take responsibility for development of the federation’s Humanitarian Strategy and supporting members and CVI-Run Operations to implement in their country (e.g., advice, capability building, development of policy).
• Responsible for coordination of humanitarian response to rapid onset emergencies and for leading those which necessitate the use of international capacities.
• Lead and strengthen overall member and CVI-Run Operations capacity to respond to global emergency situations.

Other areas shared with other EB members

Knowledge Management

• Along with the other members of the Executive board, oversee knowledge management and sharing of best practice across and between member associations, FCS and IDS in programme and operational areas.

People and Culture

• Under FSC leadership, support member associations to live the Federation’s agreed organizational culture and values.

Risk

• Along with the other members of the Executive Board, identify federation-wide opportunities and risks. Work with governance bodies and member associations to develop, and for SOS CVI lead, mitigation strategies and responses.

People management and managing Leadership Team

• Lead and develop direct reports and IDS departments.
• Together with other EB members, lead the International Leadership Team.

Safeguarding

• Support Members in adoption of processes and systems to meet Safeguarding objectives, policies and standards.
• Responsible for ensuring CVI run countries are also meeting Safeguarding objectives, policies and standards.
• Responsible for reporting any safeguarding suspicion, concern, allegation or incident immediately following safeguarding reporting procedures.
• Support the performance of ad-hoc investigations in case of need, both by cautious anticipatory budgeting and increasing investigation capabilities and capacities within SOS CVI.
• Serve as a role model to ensure values-based conduct in the organization.

Responsibilities to Uphold Safeguarding (standards) and Promote a Safe Environment

As someone working for or on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages, the incumbent will be responsible for helping to create and maintain a safe and protective environment for staff, as well as for the children, young people, and adult programme participants supported and cared for by SOS Children’s Villages. You are expected to:

• Commit to the Code of Conduct and reflect on the safeguarding implications of work on an ongoing basis.
• Actively participate in team discussions to identify risks and share and apply preventative and mitigation measures and strategies.
• Integrate safeguarding principles into daily decisions and tasks.
• Report any safeguarding concerns promptly and in line with procedures.
• Promote values-based culture, accountability and zero tolerance of harm.

Requirements

• Master's degree level, preferably in: Public Policy, International Development, Economics, Strategic Management or a related discipline; equivalent senior-level experience may be considered.
• A minimum of 10 years progressive and relevant experience including working in a leadership position (at least 5 years at senior management level) in an INGO / ICSO context
• A minimum of 10 years leadership experience in delivering, managing and overseeing international development and/or humanitarian programme work in multiple geographic locations,
• Experience of working with a highly diverse and multicultural staff body in a relevant leadership role.
• Board level experience – both directly or indirectly reporting to Governance Boards and of being on a Board
• Excellent command of business English, both written and spoken.
• Working knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic and/or German is desirable.
• Willingness to work from Austria as working location
• Willingness to travel up to 50%

Technical skills:

• Extensive management experience in developing, implementing, and coordinating complex projects across multiple organizational levels, from local and national contexts to the global level, and translating global strategies and priorities into effective local implementation.
• Extensive and globally recognized experience and thought leadership in international development or alternatively in humanitarian and emergency contexts
• Strong track record of driving organizational vision and mission, developing multi-year strategy and subsequent development, prioritization and implementation of complex and innovative projects
• Demonstrate development, mentoring and building of effective Leadership Teams
• Experience of building an effective values-led and organizational working culture including safeguarding
• Track record of facilitation of the development and subsequent adherence to polices and standards
• Experience in managing a budget of tens of million euros
• Outstanding communications skills
• Experience in leadership roles in INGO Federations or equivalent complex INGO organizations with multiple national members (desired)

Other competencies and soft skills:

• Authentic commitment to and role modelling of the vision, mission and values of the SOS Children’s Villages federation in its work for children
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, ability to collaborate, facilitate, engage and build trust amongst stakeholders, in a complex networked global system, able to influence without direct authority
• Strong strategic thinking
• Coach and mentor direct reports by role modelling and empowerment
• Develop organizational culture and lead change
• Develop leaders
• Create an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual trust
• Motivate, inspire, lead and manage a diverse, multicultural and globally distributed leadership team
• Ability to manage teams distributed across diverse locations, foster cultural environment development and the ability to build team capacity

Ways of working:

• Global collaboration and communication – Working effectively across countries, cultures, and time zones by maintaining clear communication, transparency, and shared understanding within distributed teams.
• Cross-functional collaboration – Working closely with colleagues across different functions and areas of expertise to combine knowledge, solve problems collectively, and deliver meaningful outcomes aligned with the organisation’s mission.
• Effective collaboration within matrix structures – Working constructively within solid and dotted reporting lines by maintaining open communication, aligning priorities with both line and functional managers, and ensuring clarity on roles, responsibilities, and expectations to support coordinated delivery across teams.
• Flexibility and adaptability – Remaining responsive to evolving contexts and adjusting priorities, approaches, and ways of collaboration as projects, services, or organisational demand evolve.
• Ownership and accountability – Taking responsibility for advancing tasks and initiatives, proactively addressing obstacles, and ensuring that commitments, decisions, and actions are carried through to completion, taking initiative within your scope of responsibility rather than waiting for direction.
• Strengthening member associations and their autonomy – Ensuring that knowledge, tools, and lessons from projects and services are shared with member associations so they can learn from the work carried out and progressively strengthen their capacity and independence.
• Continuous feedback and transparency - Contributing to a culture where feedback and data are shared openly and constructively, enabling teams and stakeholders involved to reflect, learn, and continuously improve their work and impact.

What We Stand for 

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, and prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organization, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting and ease response. They range from human resource development actions such as training and counselling to measures such as suspension, dismissal, and legal action. 

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a safe working environment for our staff, the children and young people and the communities that we work for. The organization prohibits harassment, exploitation and abuses by or of any employee, supervisor, manager, child, young people, community, contractor, applicant, or other individual with whom SOS Children’s Villages employees come into contact by virtue of their work. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our prevention and protection against Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse policy. 

In addition, SOS Children’s Villages apply a zero-tolerance concerning any fraud situation. The organization does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. 

Successful candidates will have to submit a criminal record certificate, current within the last three years. In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, these positions will be subject to criminal record checks. 

How to apply?

If you are interested in this position, please send your detailed application in English https://careers-sos-kd.icims.com/ by 25th October 2026.

Please note that applications will be reviewed and suitable candidates will be contacted for interviews on an ongoing basis. The position will remain open until filled.

Face-to-face interviews are expected to take place in Vienna on 17.11.2026.