Role Profile
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO)
Save the Children Indonesia (SCIDN) is transforming towards a Diversified NGO by 2030.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays a critical leadership role in delivering high-impact, innovative, and quality programs aligned with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP), with the aim of improving outcomes for children and advancing our global goals.
As a strategic partner to the CEO, the COO provides operational leadership and program oversight across both development and humanitarian contexts, while driving program quality and impact, managing risk, promoting organizational values, and strengthening internal systems and partnerships. The COO also supports the development of the national entity (Yayasan) and shares accountability with the CEO for emergency response and overall organizational growth in Indonesia.
As a member of the Board of Executives (BoE) and Senior Management Team (SMT), the COO holds primary authority for day-to-day operations, plays a central role in strategic decision making, governance, and organizational culture, and is accountable for fulfilling BoE and SMT responsibilities. This role contributes to achieving Save the Children’s transformation goals, including tripling impact for children. The COO is also expected to serve as a role model in embodying SCIDN’s values and core competencies to help build and sustain a strong organizational culture.
What You Will Do
Key accountabilities
- Serve as a key decision-maker under the authority of the Board of Executives (BoE) and Senior Management Team (SMT), fostering a positive organizational culture aligned with SCIDN’s core values.
- Lead SCIDN’s strategic direction to position it as a leading organization in child rights in Indonesia, delivering measurable impact in children's survival, learning, and protection.
- Oversee the implementation of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and Annual Plans through effective operational planning, systems, and processes.
- Lead institutional and program-level risk management across Impact and Operations areas, including program delivery, partnerships, emergency response, research, and MEAL.
- Manage departmental performance, including goal setting, reviews, and staff development.
Strategic Planning
- Co-lead CSP development and its implementation with the CEO, ensuring alignment with strategic and enabling goals.
- Lead cross-departmental Annual Workplan development.
- Collaborate on advocacy and campaign strategies to amplify program impacts.
- Support fundraising through strong proposal development with the CGO and Business Development team.
- Ensure regular reviews of the CSP and alignment with the organizational transformation roadmap.
Program Design and Impact
- Lead the design of innovative, evidence-based programs using SCIDN’s eco-convenor impact model and localization approach.
- Ensure programs reflect emerging challenges, include diverse stakeholder input (especially youth and children), and prioritize sustainability.
- Guide the development of measurable goals and systems to monitor and evaluate program impact.
- Maintain SCIDN’s reputation as an innovator in development and humanitarian programming.
Research, Evidence, Accountability, Learning, and Monitoring (REALM)
- Provide strategic direction to REALM to support evidence-based decision-making.
- Strengthen REALM systems to track performance and demonstrate organizational impact.
- Guide development of a robust research, MEAL, and learning agenda to capture good practices and inform strategy.
- Foster a culture of learning where evidence informs programming, reporting, and advocacy.
Program Management with Eco-Convenor Impact Model and Localization Approach
- Provide strategic oversight of program operations, ensuring alignment with CSP, thematic strategies, and Save the Children’s Quality Framework.
- Ensure compliance with SCIDN’s partnership principles and lead partner assessment, capacity building, and transparent selection processes.
- Promote coordination with government, NGOs, and other stakeholders to strengthen national systems and capacities.
- Ensure SCIDN’s programs are responsive, community-driven, and values-based.
Program Management with Eco-Convenor Impact Model and Localization Approach
- Provide strategic oversight of program operations, ensuring alignment with CSP, thematic strategies, and Save the Children’s Quality Framework.
- Ensure compliance with SCIDN’s partnership principles and lead partner assessment, capacity building, and transparent selection processes.
- Promote coordination with government, NGOs, and other stakeholders to strengthen national systems and capacities.
- Ensure SCIDN’s programs are responsive, community-driven, and values-based.
Program Deliveries and Partnerships with Eco-Convenor Impact Model and Localization Approach
- Drive integrated program delivery with a focus on long-term impact and localization.
- Lead the execution of SCIDN’s localization roadmap across seven dimensions in alignment with the 2030 transformation strategy.
- Ensure effective collaboration across departments to support on-track implementation.
- Build and manage partnerships (strategic, implementing, coalition-based) to multiply impact.
- Represent SCIDN externally to build relationships and promote program success.
Business Development and External Representation
- Collaborate with the CGO in securing grants and private funds, including concept development, proposal writing, and donor engagement.
- Strengthen donor relations and ensure high-quality award management and reporting.
- Represent SCIDN at senior levels, promoting the organization’s mission to donors, government, media, and partner agencies.
Humanitarian and Resilience Management
- Support the Program Operations Director in planning and executing humanitarian responses.
- Ensure clear strategy, funding, and staffing for humanitarian programs.
- Strengthen partnerships with donors and stakeholders in humanitarian contexts.
Supply Chain Management
- Oversee supply chain operations to function as strategic business partners in both development and emergency contexts.
- Ensure efficient processes during transformation toward 2030 goals.
The role is also responsible for promoting SCIDN’s values and competencies by building a culture of accountability, innovation, and high performance, while fostering collaboration and a unified “One Team” environment. In addition, to responsible for aligning team structures with strategic priorities and clear roles, while developing staff through coaching, performance management, and creating a culture of communication, participation, and empowerment.
About You
We are looking for an experienced and inspirational leader with a track record of delivering impact through strategic programs and operational leadership. You bring:
- Relevant University degree, preferably master’s degree in social sciences, with strong track record working in social impacts and non-profit strategy development.
- A minimum of twenty (20) years of experience in leadership and senior management in social impacts strategy and implementation, preferably from non-profit sectors. At least ten (10) years of experience in developing, directing and implementing programs related to children’s issues with Government sectors and/or managing contractor.
- Proven ability to develop effective strategies in both development and humanitarian contexts.
- Demonstrated success in managing innovative, multi-stakeholder programs that deliver sustainable impact beyond the project lifecycle.
- Strong understanding of localization, ecosystem partnerships, advocacy, campaigning, program design, research, and MEAL in a non-profit setting.
- Own established relationships at the national level with government and other key stakeholders.
- Experience in program development and donor engagement.
- Proficient in developing and managing monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.
- Strong analytical and negotiation skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments and sectors.
- Credible representative for lobbying, influencing, and promoting Save the Children’s mission at all levels.
- Skilled in resource management, training, coaching, and capacity building.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex ideas to diverse audiences; fluent in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
Why Join Us?
At Save the Children Indonesia, you’ll be part of a passionate organization with the global reach of the world’s leading child rights movement. Here, your work contributes directly to lasting change for children across Indonesia. You’ll gain global exposure through international forums, secondment opportunities, and strategic initiatives—collaborating with peers from across the Save the Children movement. You’ll travel to field locations across the country, engaging meaningfully with local partners and communities. We’re committed to your growth through leadership development programs, internal mentoring, and a global buddy system. Most importantly, you’ll thrive in a collaborative, values-driven environment where impact, learning, and innovation are at the heart of everything we do.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties following the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Save the Children encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
