Senior Manager- Child & Social Protection, EVAC

Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF); New Delhi; Hybrid; INR 4,646,000 - 5,678,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Discretionary bonus

Training allowance

Life insurance

Medical insurance

Job summary

CIFF in New Delhi seeks a senior strategist to lead investment propositions for the EVAC India portfolio, focusing on child protection and social protection. You will shape strategy, build partnerships with government and ecosystem players, and drive portfolio performance across multiple states.

The role demands strong governance, due diligence, and a data-driven approach to improve outcomes for children and families in India.

Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of development sector programmes and governance.
• Experience in policy planning, programme delivery and due diligence.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and investment propositions for CP and SP portfolios in EVAC India.
• Manage multi-stakeholder partnerships with government and partners.
• Oversee portfolio delivery, risk, MEL, and reporting to CIFF leadership.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Portfolio management

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Governance understanding

MEL & evaluation

Budget management

Communication in English

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

2. ORGANISATION OVERVIEW:

The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is an independent philanthropic organisation with offices in Addis Ababa, Beijing, London, Nairobi, and New Delhi. CIFF works with a wide range of partners to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing children, so that every child has the chance to survive and thrive.

CIFF has been working in India since 2008, supporting government priorities to improve outcomes for children. Through its Born Healthy Mission, CIFF supports maternal, newborn and child health, improved nutrition, the prevention of low birthweight, and efforts to reduce mortality from severe acute malnutrition. Through the End Violence Against Children (EVAC) Mission, CIFF works to reduce children's vulnerability to violence, exploitation and harmful practices, while enabling children to access better education, health and future opportunities. Complementing this, the Women’s Economic Empowerments (WEE) Mission advances girls’ and women’s economic agency by strengthening pathways to skills development, workforce participation and sustainable livelihoods. CIFF’s climate work sits within the Clean Growth Mission, supporting India's transition to clean energy and a climate‑safe future that delivers healthier air, greater energy security and sustainable livelihoods for current and future generations. Across these missions, CIFF combines catalytic capital, alongside rigorous use of data and evidence, to maximise impact and strengthen the effectiveness of philanthropy and public systems.

Building and harnessing diversity of perspective and experience within CIFF is critical to achieving its bold goals. CIFF strives to deliver a work environment which is diverse, equitable and inclusive, respecting and embracing individual differences and needs, and enabling all members of the CIFF family to be at their best. For more information, please visit www.ciff.org.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

The role is accountable for the strategic leadership, investment proposition and portfolio management of Child Protection and Social Protection investments under CIFF’s Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) Mission in India. It will develop strategy, innovate delivery models, refine execution strategy and cultivate partnerships with Government and the wider ecosystem to deliver the Mission’s priorities and accelerate India’s demographic dividends.

Main Purpose of the Role:

(1) India is one of the most critical countries in the world as CIFF seeks human advancement, and shifting the needle on most global indicators can only happen if there is progress in India. India is among the biggest countries for CIFF, and the entirety of CIFF’s portfolio is active here: child health and development, ending violence against children, adolescence, child protection, women’s economic empowerment and climate change;

(2) Built on in‑country and global workstreams, CIFF’s newly approved Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) Mission affirms and widens in scope the foundation’s decades-long commitment to protect millions of children from violence over the next decade. The Mission pools together multiple programmes to end manifestations such as child marriage, child labour, child trafficking and child sexual assault through a comprehensive approach built on access to secondary education, access to social protection and access to child protection;

(3) In India, the EVAC Mission is at the cusp of rapidly scaling Kawach, its signature Child Protection intervention delivered through government Child Protection systems across multiple states. The Mission is also building its portfolio to help households develop resilience, particularly to economic shocks, through investments such as the Migrants Resilience Collaborative and others;

(4) The post‑holder will lead strategy, the investment proposition and portfolio management of the Child Protection (CP) and Social Protection (SP) investments of the EVAC Mission in India, including developing strategy, innovating delivery models, refining execution strategy and cultivating partnerships with Government and the ecosystem.

Reports to: Director- Child Protection & Social Resilience-India

CIFF operates a matrix structure, so reporting lines can vary between specific aspects of the role.

Key Responsibilities:

(A) Strategy and Planning:

(1) Lead the Mission’s strategic functions for India (and across CIFF as applicable), including strategy planning using evidence‑informed prioritisation, strategy review based on actionable insights, programme and grant structure design, strategic communication and strategic partnerships;

(2) Proactively assess the context and ecosystem to modulate the strategy of the relevant Mission components, ensuring a robust pathway to Mission objectives through CIFF investment and ecosystem initiatives informed by CIFF;

(3) Develop and execute an innovation track, especially on promising forward‑looking ideas in Child Protection and Social Protection;

(4) Identify synergies and actively strengthen integration of CP and SP programmes with other EVAC programmes as a paramount goal, working closely with the EVAC and Programme Excellence teams;

(5) Identify and enable opportunities for improving processes, procedures and programme management approaches within (and beyond) the team to support increased organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

(B) Programme Delivery and Performance:

(1) Lead and manage a portfolio of complex and multi‑layered programmes (approximately USD 25 million or more), implemented across multiple states with significant national government engagement and involving four or more key execution partners, including large inter‑sectional investments under the EVAC India portfolio, with end‑to‑end accountability for planning, design and delivery of short‑to‑medium‑term results;

(2) In close collaboration with the Director, EVAC and the Programme Excellence team, build and lead a CIFF‑investable pipeline, covering design of programmes, identification of appropriate grantees and commissioning of programmes for implementation;

(3) Lead the internal communication and socialisation of the pipeline with CIFF leadership for participatory decision‑making and successful conversion from ideation to approval;

(4) Innovate and execute active portfolio management techniques, in collaboration with the Programme Excellence team, that are customised to the CP and SP portfolio contexts and built on multi‑sectoral and multi‑source insights, to ensure continuous improvement towards Mission and programme goals, especially on opportunities, risks and momentum;

(5) Conduct regular evidence‑informed reviews of the progress and performance of CP and SP programmes, identifying challenges early and working with governments and partners to develop effective course‑correction measures and solutions, and co‑lead with the Programme Excellence team the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems and deliverables for programmes;

(6) Apply agreed due diligence and risk management protocols appropriately throughout the development and delivery of CP and SP proposals and programmes, to ensure the interests and reputation of the Foundation are protected;

(7) Proactively engage senior leaders and peers to raise the profile of CP and SP portfolios and give an early sense of ongoing work and its impact, evolving contexts including challenges and opportunities, and exploratory course corrections;

(8) Work closely with members of the Finance and Legal teams to develop grant agreements, forecast and process grant payments, and enable effective grant management and reporting within the organisation;

(9) Lead the preparation of synthesised, high‑quality deliverables, including insight reports, Board papers, portfolio investment updates, presentations and briefs, ensuring they are produced to an exceptional standard and within rapid turnaround timelines;

(10) Prepare and present high‑quality analysis and research, as required, to support the sector in determining longer‑term strategic priorities, and set and implement sustainable operational plans.

(C) Sector Knowledge and Profile‑Building:

(1) Keep abreast of national and international developments in the priority areas of the CP (Child Protection) and SP (Social Protection) portfolios, establishing appropriate information‑gathering networks and channels to deepen professional knowledge and skills and apply them towards programme excellence;

(2) Contribute to, lead and shape the community of practice as a sector expert, and act as a knowledgeable resource on CIFF’s programmes and priority areas;

(3) As required, work with the Communications team on the development of thought leadership, communication and advocacy materials, to support CIFF’s ambitions to scale up, mainstream and leverage additional support for its initiatives.

(D) Stakeholder and Partner Management:

(1) In collaboration with the Programme Excellence and Partnerships teams, conduct rigorous appraisal of potential CP and SP partners, using agreed corporate protocols and techniques to assess their suitability and credentials for collaborating on CIFF initiatives;

(2) Apply CIFF’s agreed account management and customer relationship management (CRM) disciplines and approaches in all dealings with programme partners and stakeholders, to ensure productive and professional relationships are maintained in a coordinated and strategic manner;

(3) In collaboration with the Portfolio Lead and India leadership, develop strategic partnerships with international and Indian donors and governments to support adoption, replication, co‑funding or scaling‑up of CIFF programmes;

(4) With a variety of external audiences, act as a knowledgeable resource on CIFF’s programmes and priority areas;

(5) As required, collaborate with Finance Portfolio colleagues to contribute to the management and implementation of cost‑effective, robust and financially well‑structured programmes;

(6) Engage with and maintain open and constructive dialogue with relevant Government ministries and agencies at central and state levels, to ensure effective programme implementation and sustainability of outcomes.

(E) Membership and Leadership of the Team:

(1) Provide coaching and mentoring support to identified India and other colleagues, as required, to help build skills, confidence and capability in particular areas, processes or procedures;

(2) In collaboration with team members, including the HR Business Partner, strengthen the culture of the EVAC team and the organisation towards avowed and shared values, attitudes and behaviours;

(3) Actively participate in cross‑organisational working groups related to philanthropy and partnerships;

(4) Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues, particularly on partnership building, which instils a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning;

(5) Contribute to corporate initiatives, as required by the Executive Director and Directors.

4. EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Skills & Experience:

(1) Advanced understanding of, and expertise in, relevant disciplines;

(2) Demonstrable experience in analysis and due diligence, and in policy, planning and programme delivery, including field experience, all within the development sector;

(3) Demonstrated experience in government social development programme systems, such as governance and data, planning and financing, and delivery; experience in behaviour change / mental models is preferred;

(4) Demonstrated experience in private sector, particularly in informing CxO / CxO‑1 decision‑making, is preferred;

(5) Detailed understanding of using cost‑benefit and ROI methodologies and metrics to inform strategy and business planning;

(6) Knowledge of the evidence bases pertaining to programme design and implementation, and a belief in the importance of evidence‑based decision‑making;

(7) Strong working knowledge of impact measurement and programme monitoring and evaluation;

(8) An innovative thinker with a pragmatic and solution‑oriented mindset;

(9) Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision and adaptive capacity, and to recruit, guide, influence and/or advise management teams to implement programmes effectively;

(10) Experience working within government systems and/or experience influencing the policies of government agencies, private sector organisations or donor organisations;

(11) Effectively champions and promotes causes: credible and professional, always presenting the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience;

(12) Skilled in relationship building and strengthening, able to influence others and work collaboratively, uniting groups with a shared purpose;

(13) Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English, which is CIFF’s business language;

(14) Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio‑economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness;

(15) IT proficiency, most specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Personal Attributes:

(1) A proven self‑starter who works with pace and resilience;

(2) Innovative, pragmatic and solution‑oriented;

(3) Trusted and approachable, with strong influencing skills;

(4) Collaborative, with the ability to build consensus around a shared purpose;

(5) Culturally sensitive and adaptable across diverse contexts;

(6) Strongly supportive of diversity in the workplace.

Key Working Relationships:

(1) CIFF Board members;

(2) Other CIFF teams, particularly Programme Excellence and functional teams (e.g. Legal, HR, Finance);

(3) Global partners and stakeholders, such as WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, DFID, World Bank and USAID;

(4) International charities and NGOs, such as the Gates Foundation and Save the Children;

(5) National governments and local NGO partners in priority geographies;

(6) Research and academic institutions active on child protection and related issues.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The salary for this role starts from 51,61,809 INR. Alongside a competitive salary, CIFF offers a generous benefits package that includes, but is not limited to the following:

(1) Annual leave: 25 days per annum, increasing by one day for each completed year of service, up to a maximum of 30 days;

(2) Discretionary bonus scheme;

(3) Training allowance;

(5) Life insurance;

(6) Medical insurance.

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, with employees splitting their time between the office and home. Further details will be shared during the recruitment process.

REFERENCE: SM-CSP-EVAC-CIFF