Human Resources, Administration & Safeguarding Director

The Opportunity

Save the Children (SC) is seeking to recruit a Human Resources, Administration & Safeguarding Director, Malawi-Zimbabwe for the Malawi–Zimbabwe Cluster. The role will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi, with regular travel to Zimbabwe (approximately 30%).

Reporting to the Cluster Country Director, the role provides strategic leadership and oversight of human resources, administration, IT, and safeguarding across the Malawi–Zimbabwe Cluster. As a member of the Cluster Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the post holder will play a critical role in strengthening cluster integration, supporting organisational change, and embedding shared values, culture, and ways of working across both country offices.

The Cluster Director will be accountable for delivering high-quality, consistent, and future-focused HR, Administration, and Safeguarding services that enable effective programme delivery in both development and humanitarian contexts. A core focus of the role is leading change management processes, strengthening cross-country collaboration, and ensuring staff are supported, informed, and connected as one integrated cluster team.

The role will provide strategic oversight of recruitment, performance management, staff engagement, payroll and HR operations, employee relations, safeguarding, administration, and IT services. The post holder will also ensure compliance with Save the Children policies, Management Operating Standards, and national labour laws in Malawi and Zimbabwe.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder may be required to work outside the normal role profile and vary working hours accordingly.

To be Successful, You Will Bring / Have Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• A postgraduate qualification in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Significant senior-level experience leading HR, people and culture, or organizational development functions within complex, multi-country or matrix organisations.
• Proven experience in leading organisational change, integration, and transformation processes.
• Strong knowledge of HR best practice, labour law, and employee relations, preferably within Malawi and/or Zimbabwe.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing HR operations, payroll, and compliance within donor-funded or international organisations.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience managing multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and provide strategic advice to executive leadership.
• Experience embedding safeguarding, ethical leadership, and staff wellbeing in organisational systems and culture.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the cluster and work in diverse operating environments.

Desirable

• Experience working within humanitarian and development contexts.
• Experience supporting localisation, leadership development, and succession planning initiatives.
• Familiarity with Save the Children systems, policies, and global operating standards.
• Experience supporting HR and administrative preparedness for humanitarian scale-up and emergency response.

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers.

Save the Children is committed to keeping children safe. Our recruitment process includes rigorous background checks to reflect our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.

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