Lead Associate, Program Operations (P2)

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

As the Lead Associate, Program Operations, you’ll be integral to our mission of helping vulnerable children achieve a brighter future. In this role, you’ll serve as a change champion, actively promoting innovation and continuous improvement across our operational systems. You’ll play a critical supporting role to the Managing Director and Senior Advisor, ensuring the seamless execution of key priorities.

Your responsibilities will include managing logistics, supporting data and reporting needs, and coordinating with state-level operations. Success in this role requires deep knowledge of program systems, a proactive mindset, and the ability to work independently while solving problems creatively. You’ll be a driving force behind operational excellence and a trusted advocate for positive change within the organization.

Location

Hybrid – Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations

Remote – United States

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change
• Operational & Event Support (25%) Provide high-touch logistical support for key engagements, VIP visits, meetings, and events. Coordinate travel, materials, scheduling, and follow-up to ensure seamless execution and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Emergency & Rapid Response Coordination (20%) Lead logistics for emergency or time-sensitive initiatives, ensuring rapid mobilization of resources and clear communication across teams. Act as a point of contact for urgent operational needs.
• State-Level Operations Support (20%) Offer light-touch support to state teams, including troubleshooting operational issues, coordinating cross-functional requests, and ensuring alignment with national systems and processes.
• Data Entry, Validation & Reporting (20%) Support data management efforts by entering, validating, and organizing program data. Assist in the creation of basic reports and visualizations that inform decision-making and performance tracking.
• Systems & Process Improvement (10%) Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve system usability. Share feedback with the Senior Advisor and Managing Director to inform enhancements and training efforts.
• Team Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing (5%) Act as a resource for colleagues, sharing operational insights, contribute to documentation, and support onboarding and training efforts as needed.
  
  

Required Qualifications For The Role

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent, plus at least 3 years of relevant experience
• Strong organizational and logistical skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and respond quickly to urgent needs.
• Familiarity with data systems and reporting tools.
• Service-oriented mindset with attention to detail.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• This position may require the ability to operate a motor vehicle to fulfill certain essential functions of the job. The incumbent should maintain a valid driver’s license and remain in compliance with any Save the Children policies pertaining to the safe operation of motor vehicles.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications For The Role

• Experience in emergency response operations
• Exposure to Salesforce, Tableau, or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting cross-functional teams or remote operations.
  
  

Compensation

Save the Children is offering the following salary ranges for this position, dependent on candidate location:

• Geo 1 - NY Metro, DC, and other locations with labor costs significantly above national average: Target Salary for this position is $66,300 – $74,100 base salary
• Geo 2 - Locations around the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $60,350 – $67,450 base salary
• Geo 3 - Locations significantly below the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $54,400 – $60,800 base salary
  
  

The salary ranges listed above are for US based candidates. For candidates located outside of the US, salary ranges will be based on the salary scales of the local employer of record. Actual base salary may vary based on, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location (more information on job structure is available here).

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• Flexible schedules and time off: Flexible schedules, generous PTO, 11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays and hybrid working opportunities
• Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family
• Family: A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits
• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
• Retirement: A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
• Wellness: 15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days), mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
• Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships
  
  

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to [email protected].