Lead, Business Operations

Save the Children Canada; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 99,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid workplace

4 weeks vacation

Parental leave top-up

Headspace access

Flexible work hours

Professional development

Job summary

Save the Children Canada, a hybrid workplace in Toronto, seeks a Lead, Business Operations (LBO) to drive operational performance and organizational effectiveness. You will oversee business operations, award management, and strategic planning while collaborating with Finance and External Engagement teams.

The role requires 5–7 years of management in NGO/INGO or not-for-profit sectors, strong financial acumen, and change-management expertise to advance child-focused programs and impact.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5-7 years of management experience in international development, NGO/INGO, or other not-for-profit sectors; unionized environment preferred.
• Strong financial management and MS Excel expertise with ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience leading change management and cross-organizational initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, including through the use of technology.
• Develop and monitor organizational performance indicators and dashboards.
• Lead the Business Operations Team and coordinate with Finance and External Engagement departments.
• Oversee award management including compliance to global standards, portfolio financial management, award contracting, and donor reporting.
• Support strategic planning and execution for annual and strategic plans.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

MS Excel

Strategic planning

Education

Post-secondary education or equivalent experience

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

Save the Children believes every child has the right to a future. In Canada and around the world, we do whatever it takes – every day and in times of crisis – to support children to fulfill their rights to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. With over 100 years of experience, Save the Children is the world’s first and leading independent children’s organization – transforming lives and the future we share.

Save the Children Canada is a hybrid workplace based in Toronto Ontario Canada. This recruitment is open to all applicants residing in Ontario.

The Impact You Will Make

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Lead, Business Operations (LBO) provides day-to-day leadership to the Business Operations Team, including close collaboration with Finance and External Engagement departments. The LBO is also responsible for driving organizational effectiveness by supporting the development and execution of organization‑wide business strategies that strengthen operational performance and overall impact, including overseeing Award Management. The role provides strategic analysis, leadership, performance monitoring, and change management support to advance organizational objectives.

Responsibilities Include (but Are Not Limited To)

Business Operations and Performance

• Identifyopportunities for improved operational efficiency and effectiveness, includingthrough the use oftechnology.
• Work across teams and departments toidentify,designand implement standardized business processes and operating procedures.
• Develop andmonitororganizational performance indicators and dashboards.
• Support organizational planning, including annual planning, ensuring alignment with SCI and/or other Member Offices as relevant.
• Serve as the organizational Safeguarding focal point for reporting and training.
• Analyze operational data toidentifytrends, risks, and opportunities for the organization.
• Other organizationaloperational dutiesasassigned including oversight offacilities,businesstravel,andofficeadministrationoversight andescalations.

Award Management Leadership

• Accountable foroverseeingaward management including compliance to global standards, portfoliofinancial management, award contracting,operatingproceduresand donor compliance.Track and develop team budgets, workplansand contribute to operating plans.
• Build andmaintainrelationships with Global Affairs Canada and Save the Children International(SCI) and SC Members.
• Accountable for ensuring data quality inAwards Management Systems (AMS)and other financial systems, ensuring regular updates aremaintainedbyAwardManagers.
• Workacross teams and departments to ensuretimelydeliveryor donor compliance requirements,maintainingcurrent revenue, upholdingorganizationcredibility,andsecuring future funding.
• Conduct quarterly reviews to analyzeawardissues, budget variances, developing risk mitigation strategies,and supporting issue resolution.
• Provide both guidance and support on riskmanagement, partnershipbuilding(including with institutional and non-institutional donors, and contractnegotiations.

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Support the development and implementation of annual and strategic planning, including the developmentand monitoringof performance dashboards.
• Monitor progress against strategicobjectivesand recommend corrective action whererequired.
• Prepare strategic analyses, presentations, and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Contribute to the implementation of the Revenue Strategy including cost share obligations.

People Management

• Leadassignedteam/departmentproviding strategic direction, coaching,change managementand performance management while ensuring alignment with organizational values and policies.
• Set clear team and individual performance expectations for productivity, quality, and success; providing direction and support as needed.
• Collaborate with leaders across the organization through active participation in SCC’s Leadership Team.
• Oversee budget management, recruitment,change managementand career development while ensuring compliance, fostering a respectful,values-driven culture, andmaintaininga safeandinclusive workplace
• Ensureregular andtransparent communication on strategy and policies, upholdSCC’s Code of Conduct,Policies,Leadership Charter,Reconciliation, Equity, Anti-Racism, Diversity, Inclusion (READI),HealthandSafety standards, integrates Child Safeguarding practices, modelscompetencies, andprofessional and ethical behavior.

Qualifications Include (but Are Not Limited To)

• Post secondary education inarelevant field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5-7 yearsof management experienceinInternational Development, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO/INGO), or other not-for-profit sectors isrequired.People management experiencein a unionized environment ispreferred
• Demonstrated project management experience including projectfinancial management. Strongfinancial managementand analysis skills, with intermediate to advanced levelexpertisein MS Excel.Ability to work within tight deadlines and time pressures.
• Experience leading change management, including knowledge of related tools and processes and the ability to plan, execute, andmonitorchange management across teams.
• Strategic-minded, and keen tothink outside the boxto secure innovative and exciting partnerships that deliver real benefits for children and families.
• Experience development and leading cross-organization initiatives, including strategy monitoring is strongly preferred
• Experience with child rights programming in areas of Health, Education, Child Protection, Gender Equality, and/orLivelihoodsis strongly preferred
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for building strong working relationships across cultural and organizational settings, both internally and externally.Frenchisan asset.
• Strong analytical andproblem-solvingskills to create new processes, withdemonstratedchange managementexpertiseto lead successful implementation
• Apply judgment and make sound decisions that are accountable, justifiable, and in adherence to organizational policies.
• Ability to occasionally travel locally,nationallyand internationally (less than 10%) asrequired.

What We Offer

The salary range for this position is non-union pay band 8 between$98,594.73 - $116,449.57 CAD depending on skills and experience. In addition to this, our employees will have the following package of additional benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package for you and your dependents available three months after employment start date. Coordinated benefits for your partner paid by Save the Children Canada.
• Hybrid workplace including opportunities to work remotely and flexible work hours to support employee wellbeing and work life balance.
• 4 weeks of annual paid vacation.
• In addition to annual leave, we offer an end of year office closure December 25- January 1 (SAVE Days) so we can all recharge simultaneously.
• 5 paid personal days.
• 3 paid float days.
• 10 paid sick leave days.
• Parental leave top-up.
• Employer contributions to group pension plan. Access to help save for a first home through the pension provider.
• Learning and development opportunities and specialized training including professional development time.
• Confidential Employee Assistance Program services available to you and your dependents from your first day of employment.
• Organization-wide membership access to Headspace.