Job Description

Program Manager (PM)

(28-32 hours per week)

About Save the Children

Every child has the right to a happy childhood. That is why Save the Children is committed to improving the lives of children - and thus the future of our society. As the largest independent children's rights organization in the world, we give children a healthy start and the opportunity to learn. And we protect them from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

How do we do that? With 20,000 employees, we are committed to children in about 100 countries. We respond to emergencies, realize sustainable development and ensure that the voice of children is heard. We are there where children need us. Also, in the hardest to reach places. Every day again. Unconditionally.

Place in the organisation

You will be working in the International Programs team, an ambitious team of 15 staff members. The team contributes to Save the Children Netherlands by managing its project portfolio and realising efficient and effective cooperation with Save the Children International (SCI) country offices and partner organisations. The International Programs team is part of the Programme Department in Save the Children Netherlands. The Save the Children Netherlands office is based in The Hague.

About the role:

Working in the International Programs team means you are directly involved in our work for children worldwide. Our team is responsible for all international projects funded through Save the Children Netherlands, mostly by institutional donors but more and more also by other forms of partnerships. In this position you will manage a part of the program portfolio, and specific focus will be on acquisition and helping to grow our portfolio from non-institutional donors, working closely together with your colleagues in the International Programs team, as well as with colleagues in the Partnerships & Philanthropy team.

Your responsibilities will consist of:

• Pro-active and reactive resource mobilization, relevant to the existing portfolio and within the framework of Save the Children’s thematic and geographic priorities;
• Coordination of proposal development, closely supporting country offices during the process. The program manager is responsible for quality assurance of proposals and budgets, compliance with relevant donor guidelines and regulations, and submission of proposals to the donor;
• Managing the assigned programme portfolio, in close coordination with the Team Lead International Program, colleagues within the program department and other SCNL departments;
• Ensuring that all projects within the assigned portfolio are compliant with donor guidelines and regulations and providing advice and support to colleagues at country offices on donor expectations, requirements, and compliance throughout the project cycle, with particular attention to complex grants;

About you:

You are dedicated to improving the lives of children in need, and you are excited to bring that passion to our dynamic International Programs team. You are flexible, solution-oriented, hands-on and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

You are an experienced Program Manager with a strong track record in both program and financial management. You are a proactive self-starter with a strategic mindset, who takes initiative, works independently and also enjoys collaborating with others towards a common goal.

Just as importantly, you value being part of a warm and supportive team where respect, trust and a good sense of humor go hand in hand.

• Completed academic or higher professional education in a relevant field, or comparable level of work experience;
• A minimum of 5 years of work experience in managing programs within the international development sector, specific experience in those funded by non-institutional donors is a pre.
• Proven track record in development and successful acquisition of high-quality, competitive proposals for non-institutional donors;
• You have significant experience in acquisition, including a strong track record in developing and securing high-quality, competitive proposals for non-institutional donors;
• Strong programme and financial management skills, including experience with proposal development, logframes, budgets, and donor reporting
• Results-driven, proactive, and pragmatic, with the ability to work independently and take initiative
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced, multicultural, and international environments;
• Strong relationship building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to represent the organisation effectively;
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with different stakeholders;
• Willingness to travel independently to the Global South, including fragile contexts
• A collaborative and professional team player with a strong commitment to Save the Children’s mission and values;
• Legal eligibility to work in the Netherlands.

Save the Children has an active safeguarding policy for children. That is why we ask candidates to be willing to comply with our code of conduct and to cooperate in requesting a Certificate of Good Conduct.

What do we have to offer you?

• What you do helps millions of children worldwide;
• Salary of course. We follow the salary scales of the government on the basis of a 36-hour working week. This position is classified according to (BBRA) salary scale 10 (minimum € 3.404,39 and maximum € 5.389,87);
• Your travel costs are fully reimbursed, with sustainable transport being our standard;
• Annually 25 vacation days based on a 5-day working week;
• The possibility to save extra leave days;
• Favorable pension scheme with Pensioenfonds Zorg & Welzijn;
• Plenty of room for training & development;
• A human employer, that is constantly evolving. That means a place where you can be yourself, shape changes together with us and grow individually and as organization.

The initial contract period will be 1 year, for 28-32 hours per week. Preferred start date 1 September 2026.

Offers are subject to positive references and the submission of a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG).

Why do we ask for references and a VOG?

Save the Children participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

As a children's rights organization that fights abuse – in whatever form – we first of all want to be able to guarantee that our own employees are not guilty of this or have done so. That's why we participate in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. And we purchase standardized references when you apply for a job with us. By applying you agree to this.

What kind of employer is Save the Children?

In the Netherlands you work together with approximately 150 colleagues, but you are also part of an international network of more than 20,000 colleagues in 100 countries. We are the world's largest children's rights organization, but that doesn't mean our organization is impersonal. We make sure that everyone's voice – just like that of the children we fight for – is heard. That every colleague can be themselves and develop further.

At Save the Children, we are proud of our diversity. That is why we invite everyone to apply for a job with us, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religious and/or cultural background, personality and/or other visible and invisible characteristics. We celebrate our differences because they allow us to grow together.

Information and application:

For substantive questions about the position, please contact Anne Nieuwenhuis, Team Lead International Programs, email: anne.nieuwenhuis@savethechildren.nl

For questions about the application procedure, please contact Ditte Schrijvers van Zenden: personeelszaken@savethechildren.nl

Are you excited? We would be very happy to hear from you! You can express your interest for this position by 21th of June by sharing your CV and motivation through our website. Applications received in a different way will not be processed.

• The first round of interviews will take place between the 24th of June and 1st of July.
• The second round of interviews will take place in the week of 6th of July.

Save the Children Nederland guarantees that we handle your personal data with care. We only use your personal data to process this application. After termination of the application procedure, all data will be destroyed within 4 weeks, unless you give us permission to keep it longer.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.