Head of Safeguarding

Head of Safeguarding

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a meal attracts these hungry children into the classroom, giving them the energy to learn and hope for a better future.

Mary’s Meals International is recruiting for an experienced Head of Safeguarding to join the People & Governance team. In this key role, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight of safeguarding activity across the Mary’s Meals network.

Reporting to the Chief Officer – People & Governance, and working closely with colleagues across the world, you will develop and implement project management plans to ensure our Global Safeguarding Policy is embedded consistently and sustainably across our movement.

As global subject matter expert, you will lead on the development of a global safeguarding strategy and develop our approach to safeguarding in different contexts. You will support, mentor and build a global safeguarding team.

This is a global role, we are happy for you to work remotely and flexibly, and we are open to part-time working patterns. There will be a requirement for travel to countries where Mary’s Meals operates including Kenya, Liberia, Malawi and Zambia.

Duties include: 

• Overseeing the development and continual improvement of the global safeguarding policy framework.
• Developing a comprehensive implementation plan to fully embed the safeguarding standards across the global network with a strong emphasis on a high-quality training programme.
• Through direct and matrix management arrangements, leading, coaching and capacity building the global safeguarding team and ensuring that all activities are consistent and complementary.
• Working with leadership teams globally to develop and embed an organisational culture which is supportive of good safeguarding practice. 
• Continuing to embed our survivor centred approach to ensure that care and support is provided to those who have experienced harm.

Required skills and experience:

• Experience of working in a senior safeguarding or child protection position internationally with in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of sector safeguarding best practice.
• Experience of successfully developing and managing change projects and of implementing safeguarding standards globally.
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy, demonstrating sound judgement based on evidence, knowledge and understanding.   
• Experience of managing and developing a diverse, remote team.
• Experience of conducting and supporting investigations in a survivor centred way.
• Proven leader and influencer, you will bring relevant experience of implementing policies, projects and change.
• Cultural sensitivity, great communication skills and experience of developing productive relationships in a global organisation, up to Board level.
  
  Please see the job description below for further information.