Senior Program Design Specialist - Safeguarding

This specialist will provide thought leadership in the areas of prevention and response to protection in the context of the child and youth development program and the operations of Compassion International. Compassion defines “safeguarding” issues as abuse, neglect or exploitation that could occur as a result of participation in the program. The specialist will support National Offices as well as functions across the organization through consultation and collaboration in the development, implementation, and creation of safeguarding policies, processes or strategies, and development or procurements of safeguarding interventions, training or other resources. He/she will share responsibilities with teammates to execute essential tasks and activities critical to the prevention of abuse and timely response to incidents, awareness raising, training and global strategy implementation. 

PLEASE NOTE: This is a remote position that will be based in one of Compassion’s field countries. Only applicants currently living in those countries will be considered. Click here for a list of those countries: https://www.compassion.com/where-we-work.htm 

Resume and application must be submitted in English.

What will you do? 

• Maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is a consistent witness for Jesus Christ, maintain a courteous, Christ-like attitude in dealing with people within and outside of Compassion, and faithfully uphold Compassion’s ministry in prayer. 

• Act as an advocate to raise the awareness of the needs of children. Understands Christ’s mandate to protect children. Commit to and prioritize child protection considerations in all decision-making, tasks and activities across the ministry. Abide by all behavioral expectations in Compassion’s Statement of Commitment to Child Protection and Code of Conduct. Report any concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation of children through Compassion’s internal reporting process and appropriately support responses to incidents if they occur. 

• Uphold and engage in Compassion’s core Cultural Behaviors. 

• Build and maintain subject matter expertise in safeguarding, maintaining awareness of data, research and emerging trends. 

• Analyze research and best practices to create recommendations for adoption given Compassion International’s contexts. Advocate for additional policies to ensure safeguarding of participants as relevant. 

• Network with other organizations, collaborations, and forums on behalf of Compassion. 

• Lead the development of appropriate policies, standards and tools to support the preventions of safeguarding incidents and the promotion of a safe and healthy programmatic environment at all levels of the organization. 

• With leadership, work to develop the appropriate communications, support and activities to promote a culture of protection across Compassion. 

• Provide support to Red Alert (safeguarding) incidents and investigations, including the ability to respond quickly to emergencies and incidents requiring quick consultation, maintaining appropriate and timely documentation of activities in Compassion’s case management system. 

• Support the development and revision of relevant organizational participant protection/safeguarding strategies, policies, procedures and interventions as part of the Protection and Safeguarding team. 

• Consult with other functions across the ministry to integrate safeguarding approaches and concepts throughout organizational work, including the development of functional safeguarding strategies, staff/volunteer training, and incident management. 

What will you bring? 

• Bachelor’s degree, but master’s preferred, in psychology, social work, social services, law, or international development (humanitarian). 

• 7 years’ experience working in this or a related field. 

• Must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English. 

• Proficiency in a second language a plus.  

• Excellent cross-cultural and cross-functional oral and written communication skills to: 

• Interpret and recommend practices to improve programs, processes, interventions or services based on deep knowledge of child protection and safeguarding; and 

• Engage with leadership to advocate for policy and policy changes. 

• Excellent analytical skills to think programmatically, solve complex programs and understand risk. 

• Proficiency with reporting and incident management systems.   

• Flexibility with working hours to meet global neighbours’ needs.  

• May be required to travel up to 20% of normal schedule.