Director of Growth Strategy and Strategic partnership

TITLE: Director of Growth Strategy and Strategic partnership

TEAM/PROGRAMME:SMT

LOCATION:Flexible

GRADE: 1

CONTRACT TYPE: National Only

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Director of Growth Strategy and Strategic Partnership leads strategic Resource Mobilization from public and private donors to drive sustainable funding growth for the Country Office. The role is central to advancing the transition toward a domestically anchored funding modelreducing structural dependence on overseas member funding and building a sustainable China-led revenue base.

Key responsibilities include aligning funding with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) cultivating strong donor and partner relationships identifying Resource Mobilization opportunities both domestically and internationally and managing associated risks. The Director also ensures the capacity building of the Resource Mobilization & Award Management team facilitates cross-departmental coordination oversees implementation of the Resource Mobilization Protocol and maximizes the impact of growth-related incomeincluding exploring domestic funding opportunities to support Save the Childrens offices abroad.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to:Country Director

Dotted Line: N/A

Number of direct reports :4

Budget Responsibilities: N/A

Dimensions:

This role serves as the strategic architect for Save the Children Chinas resource sustainability and external influence. As a member of the Senior Management Team the position leads the integration of funding partnership and communication strategies to secure and steward resources.

The role owns the development and delivery of a multi-year Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy with measurable revenue diversification targetsincluding percentage growth from the Chinese private sector HNWIs and foundations. Core accountabilities include driving diversified funding through Chinese institutional and private sector engagement overseeing the full award lifecycle and compliance and directing communications to elevate brand visibility in support of Resource Mobilization.

Ultimately the position is accountable for building a sustainable and impactful funding engine that advances the country offices strategic objectives.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Leadership and Management

• As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) contributes to the strategic and operational leadership of Save the Childrens presence and programming in China.
• Leads and line-manages the Resource Mobilization & Award Management team.
• Strengthens resource mobilization in China through effective matrix management ensuring consistently high standards and capacity across the country office.
• Continuously assesses and improves new business development practicesanalyzing successes return on investment and challengesto build an agile effective and sustainable approach that meets the needs of the China Country Office.

Strategic Partnership Development & Resource Mobilization

• Advise the Senior Management Team on the formation of strategic programming consortia involving Chinese partners designed to maximize collective impact innovation and sustainable resource mobilization from both public and private sources.
• Guide Country Offices in conducting rigorous analyses of potential partnersincluding Chinese institutions private sector actors and multilateral banksto assess strategic alignment value creation and risk ensuring partnerships advance organizational objectives and programmatic excellence.
• Spearhead the identification and cultivation of new funding streams and strategic alliances with a focus on emerging opportunities from the Chinese private sector HNWIs family foundations and institutionsby synthesizing organizational needs and brokering high-value agreements.
• Drive the development of domestic resource mobilization infrastructure including digital and individual giving platforms and design corporate philanthropy models tailored to Chinese CSR regulations and corporate social priorities to ensure scalable compliant revenue growth.
• Establish and manage cultivation pipelines and long-term stewardship models for HNWIs and family foundations ensuring sustained engagement and deepened philanthropic commitment.
• Serve as the focal point for strategic outreach and collaboration with major Chinese institutions ensuring SCs interests and expertise shape relevant policy agendas and institutional processes with priority partners.
• Develop and curate a deep knowledge base on the partnership ecosystem with specialized insight into key Chinese stakeholdersincluding government-affiliated funding partners private sector contributors and institutional sourcesto inform strategy anticipate trends and position Save the Children as a partner of choice within Chinas development landscape.
• Continuously refine partnership models and resource mobilization tactics with dedicated analysis of the evolving Chinese development finance and private sector engagement landscape to maintain a competitive edge.

• Contribute to targeted advocacy and communications strategies that amplify SCs thought leadership with Chinese decision-makers directly influencing key stakeholders across government private sector and institutional circles.

Networking & Relationship Management

• Support the Country Director in building strong relationships and securing funding partnerships.
• Proactively engage on a strategic basis with institutional donorsboth international and Chineseto facilitate technical exchanges influence policy and thinking and identify key areas of potential cooperation and funding.
• Systematically cultivate and leverage a high-level network across governments multilateral institutions foundations and civil society to enhance SCs influence and access.
• Represent Save the Children as needed with key institutional corporate foundation and other donors.
• Develop and execute a stakeholder engagement plan for identified prospects and existing key partnerships.

Funding Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Establish and drive revenue mix targets that balance public and private domestic and international funding sourcesensuring a diversified portfolio that reduces over-reliance on any single stream and proactively mitigates structural funding concentration risks.
• Lead investment planning for domestic resource mobilization infrastructureincluding digital systems dedicated staffing structures and strategic marketing spendto build organizational capacity for scalable compliant and cost-effective revenue generation.

• Integrate revenue mix targets risk mitigation measures and infrastructure investments into the overarching Country Funding Strategy ensuring alignment with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and global funding priorities to maximize long-term impact and sustainability.

Award Management & Donor Compliance

• Serve as the strategic owner of the award management framework ensuring compliance with SCI standards and donor requirements through effective systems and team accountability.

Communications & Brand Management

• Direct the formulation and execution of an integrated communications media and brand strategy that positions Save the Children China as a trusted domestic philanthropic actor fully aligned with Chinas philanthropic and regulatory context.
• Oversee the development of strategic communication assetsincluding newsletters annual reports and donor-specific proposalscrafted to articulate impact demonstrate value and sustain long-term partnerships.
• Ensure strict adherence to brand and communication guidelines across all channels and outputs safeguarding a professional credible and consistent organizational identity.
• Design and lead high-visibility initiatives and events to amplify outreach enhance public engagement and create targeted donor cultivation opportunities.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions managing resources efficiently achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children engages and motivates others
• future orientated thinks strategically and on a global scale

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships with their team colleagues Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable good listener easy to talk to

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

• willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• honest encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• 10 years as a development professional with a relevant Masters degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 7years of demonstrated experience building domestic philanthropic income streams in China or a comparable market.
• Proven track record of engaging HNWIs and family offices and securing funding from institutional donors corporations and foundations.
• Demonstrated experience in managing brand positioning within regulated environments.
• Proven ability to develop strategic alliances and mobilize external resources to achieve long-term mutual interests.
• Strong knowledge of current trends in Chinese charitable giving including capital campaigns major gifts and planned giving.
• Strong commercial business acumen and risk management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex issues through critical thinking and analysis defining clear pathways forward while ensuring stakeholder buy-in.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing negotiation and coaching.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute constructively as a member of a senior management team beyond the resource mobilization remit.
• A high degree of flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing needs including willingness to adjust work practices and travel at short notice during emergencies.
• Strong written and spoken English communication skills with the ability to summarize and present information clearly.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently(e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process which includes rigorous background checks reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All staff has an obligation and a responsibility to:

• Ensure they fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy the Code of Conduct and Local/Country Procedures.
• Conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy in their personal and professional lives which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.
• Ensure the way they are carrying out their work is not putting children at risk (or further risk) this means constantly scrutinizing their work through a child safeguarding lens and talking to children about possible design/implementation flaws.
• Promote the message of child safeguarding to colleagues in other organizations and government ministries children in their own and beneficiary families and community members in general.
• Be vigilant about observing possible child abuse/harm in their personal and professional lives.

All managers have the above responsibilities as well as ensuring

• Their staff are doing the above.
• That child safeguarding is integrated and given a voice in all management processes including recruitment induction performance management team meetings annual planning processes field level monitoring etc.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.