Please note this position is open to US Nationals and to those with existing work authorization that is not currently sponsored by a present employer or in need of future employer sponsorship.

Children International (CI) is a global nonprofit that delivers child and youth development programming to break the cycle of generational poverty. We serve 218,000 young people in 10 countries around the world for the first two decades of their lives. By providing access to resources that include health care, education, and life and job skills, we are equipping them to eventually become sustainably employed adults. As we empower young people to transform their lives, we also are strengthening their families and communities.    

Children International’s work to end poverty for good is made possible by approximately 3,800 dedicated volunteers and by generous sponsors, donors, corporations and partner organizations. Our mission is also carried out by 1,300 employees worldwide. To ensure that our programs continue giving children and youth the best possible chance, we are growing our people talent. That’s where you come in.  
 

Position Summary 

The Global Lead - Child and Youth Development will be responsible for providing strategic and technical leadership for the one of Children International’s core programming capabilities, focused on creating engaging, age-appropriate developmental experiences that help children build supportive relationships, confidence and essential skills to thrive from early childhood through young adulthood.   

At this stage of CI’s Path of Opportunity, the role will lead the continued evolution, implementation, strengthening and integration of the global approach to child and youth development and workforce development.  Building on CI’s global curriculum, extracurricular experiences, facilitator model, and training infrastructure, the Lead will work closely with a team of program experts to strengthen implementation quality, increase meaningful participation, learn from evidence and experience, and continuously adapt programming to better achieve outcomes for children and youth. 

The role requires a collaborative and adaptive leader who can set global direction while staying grounded in country realities. The Lead will bring together agency teams, technical experts, Monitoring & Evaluation, Operations, and other program capabilities to translate strategy and evidence into practical solutions, strengthen local capacity, and ensure that learning from implementation informs the continued evolution of CI’s program model across 12 countries. 

Responsibilities:

Strategy and Capability Leadership 

  • Advance the global strategy and direction for the Capability, aligned with the Path of Opportunity.  

  • Provide technical leadership on child and youth development and identify opportunities to strengthen CI’s approach. 

  • Lead and develop a team of program experts and engage external experts and partners as needed. 

Program Quality and Implementation  

  • Lead the continued evolution and implementation of CI’s global curriculum and developmental experiences.  

  • Partner with agencies to strengthen implementation quality and appropriately contextualize global approaches.  

  • Identify and address challenges related to participation, engagement, facilitation, and program quality.  

  • Ensure curriculum, extracurricular activities, facilitator approaches and workforce development opportunities work together to create meaningful experiences for children, youth and young adults. 

Capacity Strengthening and Training 

  • Set the global approach to the capability capacity strengthening for agency teams, trainers, and facilitators.  

  • Guide the development and continuous improvement of training, tools, guidance, and coaching approaches.  

  • Strengthen feedback loops between agencies and the global team to improve implementation. 

Evidence, Learning and Adaptation  

  • Partner with M&E and agencies to use data, evidence, and participant feedback to inform program decisions.  

  • Lead global and regional learning and reflection to identify what is working and where adaptation is needed.  

  • Translate learning into recommendations for program strategy, implementation, and investment. 

Cross Functional Leadership and Influence  

  • Serve as the global point of accountability for the capability and child and youth development, building alignment across agencies, Programs, Operations, M&E, and other functions across the organization.  

  • Ensure agency realities and implementation experience inform global strategy and decisions.  

  • Communicate priorities, progress, learning, risks, and decisions to key stakeholders.  

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in child and youth development, program strategy, design, or implementation within an international development or INGO context.  

  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred in international development, education, child or youth development, social sciences, or a related field.  

  • Significant experience leading or implementing programs in low- and middle-income countries, with a strong understanding of countries and frontline realities.  

  • Demonstrated expertise in designing, implementing, and continuously improving programs for children and youth.  

  • Ability to translate strategy, evidence, and learning into practical program approaches and implementation guidance.  

  • Experience leading complex regional or global initiatives across multiple countries or contexts.  

  • Strong understanding of implementation quality, capacity strengthening, facilitation, and meaningful child and youth participation.  

  • Ability to influence across functions and levels, build alignment among diverse stakeholders, and work effectively through participatory and co-creation approaches.  

  • Strong strategic judgment, initiative, and ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize competing demands, and drive work forward.  

  • 3-year minimum people management experience.  

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills with fluency in English required; Spanish proficiency strongly preferred.  

 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT:

  • Willingness to travel up to 30-45 nights a year. 

Organizational Policies:

  • Strictly observe confidentiality and strong ethics with respect to all beneficiary information/financial and other organizational data. 

  • Comply with and ensure adherence to the organization’s policies, safety and security protocols and child safeguarding norms and guidelines by self as well as all stakeholders both internal and external.  

  • Value other cultures, and demonstrate respect while relating with all organizational constituents irrespective of their race, color, faiths, gender, sexual orientation, age, caste, disabilities, experiences, beliefs, and ethnicity. 

Overall Decision Making & Supervision:

  • This position requires significant and complex decisions requiring subject matter expertise, analysis, and evaluation oof intangibles. 

  • This position is monitored on results. 

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.