Innovation and Learning Senior Specialist

Save the Children International Visit website

Full-time Expires In -3 weeks Kampala Duty Station - Kampala Master's Degree 10 years experience NGO Management Administrative

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About Save the Children International

Save the Children International is a leading global child-rights organisation working on the ground in over 100 countries with approximately 25,000 people worldwide to help children affected by crises or those needing better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs by 2030: No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday, All children learn from a quality basic education, and Violence against children is no longer tolerated. In Uganda, Save the Children implements integrated humanitarian and development programming and hosts the Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL) – part of the global Response Innovation Lab (RIL) network – to test, scale and mainstream innovative, learning-driven solutions with local partners, government and the private sector. We value our people and offer a meaningful, collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity and integrity are highly valued. Learn more at https://www.savethechildren.net.

Job Details

Save the Children International is hiring an Innovation and Learning Senior Specialist for the Uganda Country Office based in Kampala. This is a Full-time position strictly open to nationals only reporting within the U-RIL / Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) structure and working closely with the RIL Central Support Unit (CSU), U-RIL Operations Team, and partners in Uganda.

The Specialist will use in-depth contextual understanding, technical expertise and relationship-building skills to define and deliver U-RIL's strategy. He/she will lead strategy development and the technical design and implementation of high-quality programmes, approaches and activities, support national advocacy and influencing while driving strategic partnerships for new business development, and build capacity, ownership and agency of local organisations. The role has a strong external representation focus on priority issues as defined by the Uganda Country Strategic Plan and U-RIL strategy.

Join us to lead sustainable change for children: Be part of a GLOBAL and DIVERSE technical community, Get EXPOSURE in many different contexts, Test and scale up INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, and Influence policies that affect MILLIONS OF CHILDREN.

Organization: Save the Children International
Country/Region: Uganda, Country Office
Duty Station: Kampala
Employment Type: Full-time
Eligibility: Ugandan Nationals only
Location: Kampala, Uganda 📍
Application Link: Apply

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Advocacy

Ensure overall coherence of U-RIL programming and operations, and alignment to the RIL Global Strategy, U-RIL strategic documents/focus and Save the Children strategy
Maintain strong working relationship with the RIL Central Support Unit (CSU) and ensure two-way dialogue that captures learning from U-RIL programming in Uganda while contributing to overall RIL strategy development
Collaborate with the U-RIL Operations Team and PDQ Team to conceptualize design of U-RIL activities, projects and programmes, ensuring cohesive programming aligned with U-RIL's global priorities and core functions
Design an Innovation Scaling Strategy for U-RIL, including exploring options for scaling innovations within and externally to SCI and RIL founding members, and support the RIL Operations team to deliver against the strategy
Develop and maintain strategic relationships with representatives from RIL founding members, facilitate regular high-level meetings between founding members in Uganda, and identify opportunities for collaboration
Identify opportunities to create uptake of innovations and learnings or leverage synergies between U-RIL programming and programming of other RIL founding members in Uganda
Leverage existing networks and identify opportunities to create new networks with in-country stakeholders to market RIL core functions and services internally and externally
Lead engagement with national and regional innovation and social impact networks or platforms
Collaborate with Save the Children's Global Chief Innovation Hub and explore uptake of global innovations in Uganda and other country offices
Provide mentorship, coaching and technical support to U-RIL Operations Team and Save the Children teams to mainstream innovation and learning in programming, understand innovation principles and U-RIL's operational model, and leverage integration opportunities between SCI and U-RIL programming
Provide guidance to U-RIL Operations Team to ensure RIL's core functions and ethical standards related to safeguarding, Core Humanitarian Standards and Humanitarian Innovation Ethics guide implementation
In collaboration with U-RIL Operations Team and PDQ Director represent U-RIL in technical fora, including relevant working groups
Provide inputs into global RIL strategies, products and programming in collaboration with RIL CSU and SCI representatives to the Executive Committee
Provide input and support RIL Pop-up activities in the East and Southern Africa region
Analyse donor priorities on innovation and learning and identify potential funding opportunities
In collaboration with PDQ Director develop/maintain contacts with technical counterparts at potential donors, partners and key technical agencies
Explore synergies and collaborate with SCI Global Innovation Team, including Kumwe Hub, CUBIC, LIFT Labs, and RIL Central Support Unit to position U-RIL and SCI for funding opportunities
Collaborate with Business Development to develop high-quality, donor-responsive proposals and lead technical inputs, including proposal writing and budget development
Lead/support formation of partnerships with strategic stakeholders including the Government of Uganda and potential partners
Develop and maintain thorough understanding of donor priorities and relevant Government of Uganda and regional policies/frameworks

Programme Quality and Technical Leadership / Programme Development and Resource Mobilisation

Provide technical leadership to ensure quality design and delivery of innovation and learning programmes
Drive business development and resource mobilisation for U-RIL portfolio

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

Collaborate with Head of MEAL and U-RIL Operations Team to ensure development of robust MEAL Frameworks for U-RIL projects
Collaborate with Head of MEAL to support learning activities that leverage evidence and methodologies from U-RIL projects and other stakeholders
Conduct reviews of assessments, reports and other written documents to ensure quality
Support exploration of child-centred innovation approaches to be embedded in SCI programming

Qualifications, Skills and Requirements

Education: At least a Post-graduate degree in Political Science, Social Sciences, International Development, Administration, Management or other relevant subject
Experience: Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in sexual reproductive health and family planning programme management, technical assistance, or advocacy; At least 10+ years work experience in international development and humanitarian assistance, including significant field-based roles
Medical/Health Note for NGO Context: This role lists sexual reproductive health and family planning programme management experience as desirable; however no clinical medical qualification (e.g., Medicine, Nursing, Public Health) is stated as mandatory – the core requirement is a post-graduate degree in social sciences/development/management plus extensive humanitarian/development experience.
Experience creating and managing networks, brokering relationships and partnerships
Strong understanding of the humanitarian system (programming, policies, funding, coordination, etc.)
Demonstrated interest and experience in innovation programming
Ability to provide advice across themes/sectors (experience in market-driven livelihoods, private sector engagement, digital solutions, innovation scale-up is an added advantage)
Highly developed interpersonal and English communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities
Computer literacy and excellent knowledge management skills
Proactive problem identification and problem-solving skills
Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work in international, diverse environments
Excellent time management and planning capacity
Partnership-development skills and ability to present programmes to wide audiences
Experience leading successful funding (narrative and budget) proposals
Previous experience of project management and project cycle management, including design, implementation and evaluation
In-depth conceptual understanding of the Grand Bargain and Localization agenda
Past experience leading/managing programming with significant innovation and learning components
Understanding of digital tools and concepts of digital public goods
Knowledge of human/user centred design / design thinking principles
Experience navigating different perspectives and building consensus while staying true to vision

Application Procedure

Prepare a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document; include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations
A copy of the full role profile can be found at https://hcri.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1
Apply online via the official Save the Children recruitment portal: Apply
Only nationals of Uganda are eligible
Save the Children’s selection process includes rigorous background checks reflecting commitment to protection of children from abuse; Save the Children does not charge any fee at any stage of recruitment and does not act through recruitment agents
Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer – persons with disabilities and female candidates are encouraged to apply
Application closes on September 15th, 2026, at midnight Ugandan Time

Job Summary

Job Category: Administrative
Job Type: Full-time
Deadline of this Job: 2026-09-15
Duty Station: Kampala
Date Posted: 2026-09-08
No of Positions: 01
Application Link: Apply
Location pin: 📍 Kampala, Uganda
Organization: Save the Children International – https://www.savethechildren.net