Managing Director, Humanitarian Policy; M3

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

As the Managing Director of Humanitarian Policy, you will be integral to Save the Children’s efforts to protect children affected by conflict, natural disasters, famine, and other humanitarian crises globally. You will oversee Save the Children’s U.S. federal humanitarian policy portfolio, leading policy research and federal relations outreach and strategy, with a strong emphasis on bipartisan engagement to advance child‑focused policies.

Reporting to the Head of Policy, the Managing Director will lead a team responsible for executing specific advocacy strategies that produce measurable results in the legislative and executive branch arenas. This position will coordinate closely with others, including other teams within Save the Children US and globally with other offices within the Save the Children federation. This role will also engage closely with U.S. and international coalition partners, and other leaders in the humanitarian policy, advocacy, and programmatic community and coordinate with other teams in government relations as needed.

Hybrid – Washington DC office location

not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change.

• Lead Save the Children’s humanitarian policy agenda on our full portfolio of issues, including conflict, natural disaster, famine, complex emergencies, civilian‑military relations, and other humanitarian responses.
• Manage and prioritize federal humanitarian policy portfolio, leading agenda setting, development, and implementation of issue‑specific advocacy strategies
• Lead policy development and strategic planning for ongoing and emerging humanitarian crises, leveraging the full range of U.S. government policy making tools, including legislation, appropriations, executive actions, regulatory authorities, and internal agency policies.
• Advance Save the Children’s humanitarian priorities through strategic engagement with Congress, the Executive Branch, and multilateral institutions, with a strong emphasis on bipartisan outreach.
• Represent Save the Children in humanitarian policy coalitions, fostering bipartisan collaboration and leading or managing coalition efforts when appropriate.
• Monitor and develop subject‑matter expertise on emerging humanitarian crises beyond the core portfolio, ensuring organizational readiness and strategic response.
• Brief Chief Policy Officer, Head of Policy, and senior colleagues on emerging developments, risks, and opportunities, and lead Save the Children’s outreach to policymakers on new and evolving humanitarian situations.
• Oversee the development of policy products, including reports, briefs, and external‑facing materials, to support advocacy and public engagement.
• Identify and promote opportunities for bipartisan engagement with policymakers and stakeholders.
• Maintain regular communication and coordination with the Head of Policy on progress toward goals, challenges, and emerging priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership during critical legislative or administrative developments, responding rapidly to evolving policy environments.

• Supervise a team of policy and advocacy professionals focused on humanitarian issues.
• Hire, train, and manage humanitarian policy staff.
• Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise humanitarian policy team staff, clearly communicating organization, division, and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission and…