Job Description

TITLE: Head of Localization Strategy and Partnership

TEAM/PROGRAMME: China

LOCATION:Flexible

GRADE 2

CONTRACT TYPE： National Only

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Head of Localization Strategy and Partnership is central to operationalizing the organization’s localization strategy in China, and is responsible for its development, execution, and monitoring. This includes leading strategic planning processes and tracking progress to evaluate growth and impact. The role ensures that all strategic initiatives—including those advancing financial sustainability through domestic funding growth and reduced dependency on overseas funding streams—are aligned with Save the Children’s long-term goals in the country.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director of Growth Strategy and Strategic partnership

Dotted Line: No

Number of direct reports : 0

Budget Responsibilities: N/A

Dimensions:

The role requires strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills to effectively engage senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and a range of high-level external stakeholders — including high-net-worth individuals, philanthropists, and senior government officials.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Strategic Planning & Execution

• Develop and continuously optimize the localization strategy, making dynamic adjustments based on contextual changes
• Define clear KPIs for localization—such as domestic revenue ratio, income diversification index, and private income growth rate—to measure performance and inform decision-making.Establish monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress and impact against strategic goals
• Report regularly to management on strategic milestones and proposed adjustmentsLead cross-functional collaboration to ensure effective implementation of strategic initiatives

2. Resource Mobilization & Partnership Development

• Shape multi-year resource mobilization frameworks and establish annual revenue targets that advance the localization strategy.
• Develop a donor engagement model targeting HNWIs, corporations, institutions, and government sources to diversify funding streams and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
• Drive visibility and engagement initiatives—including employee engagement activities, social advocacy campaigns, and in-kind donation programs—to strengthen the organization's public profile.

3. Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Clearly communicate the localization strategy to the Save the Children Global Movement and facilitate related engagement plans
• Maintain and strengthen key external partnerships with philanthropists, HNWIs, external advisory groups and other sernior stakeholders
• Promote the establishment of an Advisory Committee to provide strategic guidance to the China office’s localization strategy, with a focus on enhancing brand credibility, advancing donor cultivation, shaping policy positioning, and strengthening governance oversight. Collaborate with global Resource Mobilization teams and Member Offices to appropriately advance the China Office’s localization agenda
• Develop tailored processes, products and engagement opportunities ecure commitment, buy-in, and strategic investments from Save the Children movement and Member Offices.

4. Innovation & Future-focused Planning

• Identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities relevant to the localization strategy
• Propose innovative implementation approaches to ensure effective advancement of localization effort
• Continuously explore and pilot innovative business models—such as corporate cause marketing, digital individual giving, social enterprise revenue streams, and pooled philanthropy mechanisms—to enhance programmatic and financial impact under the localization framework.Refresh and adapt the localization strategy in response to internal and external changes.
• Monitor strategic milestones and recommend adjustments to ensure continued alignment with organizational goals.

5. Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other ad hoc tasks as assigned by the Line Manager

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

• willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in a relevant field, or equivalent professional experience, with 8+; years as a development professional.
• 5+years of demonstrated experience in strategy design and market analysis.
• Strong knowledge of China's domestic philanthropy ecosystem, including current trends in capital campaigns, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Experience influencing internal transformation processes and driving organizational change, with a track record in project and change management related to organizational development and working with international, cross-functional teams.
• Strong commercial business acumen and risk management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex issues through critical thinking, analysis, and defining clear pathways forward while ensuring stakeholder buy-in.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including communicating with impact, influencing, negotiation, and coaching.
• Proven ability to develop strategic alliances and formal networks, mobilize external resources, and foster relationships with key stakeholders to achieve long-term mutual interests.
• A high degree of flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing needs, including willingness to adjust work practices and hours during major emergencies—such as traveling at short notice and for extended periods.
• Strong communication skills (written and spoken) in English, with the ability to summarize and present information clearly.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All staff has an obligation and a responsibility to:

• Ensure they fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct and Local/Country Procedures.
• Conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy, in their personal and professional lives – which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.
• Ensure the way they are carrying out their work is not putting children at risk (or further risk) – this means constantly scrutinizing their work through a child safeguarding lens and talking to children about possible design/implementation “flaws”.
• Promote the message of child safeguarding to colleagues in other organizations and government ministries, children in their own and beneficiary families, and community members in general.
• Be vigilant about observing possible child abuse/harm in their personal and professional lives.

All managers have the above responsibilities as well as ensuring

• Their staff are doing the above.
• That child safeguarding is integrated and given a “voice” in all management processes including recruitment, induction, performance management, team meetings, annual planning processes, field level monitoring, etc.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.