Mission
The Contract Management & Liaison division functions as the primary liaison between Member Associations (MA’s) and the International Development Support (IDS) departments. This team oversees the entire support delivery process, encompassing planning, contract execution, delivery coordination, and post-delivery follow-up. It ensures that MA’s’ expressed needs are accurately translated into structured support requests, secure funding agreements, and confirmed service capacity. By maintaining a comprehensive oversight of MA engagements, the team facilitates seamless collaboration across support functions and fosters consistent, strategic relationship management with MA’s. The objective is to deliver timely, cohesive, and impactful support to MA’s while enabling streamlined planning, rigorous governance, regulatory compliance, and accurate reporting—ultimately strengthening trusted partnerships to advance the broader SOS mission.
The Head of the Contract Management & Liaison (CML) Unit offers strategic direction, governance, and oversight for the IDS contractual engagements across the entire federation. This position spearheads the coordination of strategic support and service agreements, cooperation frameworks, externally funded engagements, and operational partnership mechanisms between IDS, Member Associations (MA’s), Promoting & Supporting Associations (SAS), donors, and internal functions on a federation-wide scale.
This role oversees the entire integrated IDS engagement, encompassing Member Association liaison frameworks, strategic planning coordination, demand capture methodologies, portfolio strategy oversight, governance protocols, operational escalation pathways, and digital contract management infrastructure.
This role serves as a pivotal liaison and relationship management function within IDS, fostering alignment among federation objectives, IDS priorities, contractual obligations, operational execution, financial viability, and stakeholder involvement. Collaborating closely with the IDS Leadership Team, the position delivers strategic advisory support to the COO and senior leadership, covering contracting models, Member Association engagement trends, service demand oversight, operational risk mitigation, delivery coordination, and the long-term sustainability of partnerships across the federation ecosystem.
This position spearheads the advancement of the federation’s comprehensive contract management ecosystem, encompassing governance structures, digital solutions, reporting systems, demand capture methodologies, coordinated support planning, and strategic portfolio oversight.
Responsibilities include overseeing daily operations, managing team performance, and ensuring adherence to company policies and procedures. Additionally, the role involves developing and implementing strategic plans to meet organizational objectives, conducting performance evaluations, and fostering a collaborative work environment. Other duties encompass budget oversight, financial reporting, and identifying opportunities for process improvements to enhance efficiency and productivity. Proficiency in relevant software and tools is required, as is a commitment to professional development and continuous learning.
Strategic leadership and coordination of federation contracting initiatives are essential responsibilities for this role. The position demands exceptional executive capabilities to guide organizational strategy and ensure seamless alignment with contractual obligations. Additionally, the role requires adept management of cross-functional teams to facilitate cohesive collaboration and drive contract negotiations toward successful outcomes. Proficiency in contract administration, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement is also imperative to maintain operational excellence and foster sustainable partnerships.
Deliver visionary strategic leadership and guidance to the CML unit, overseeing its direction and priorities. Direct and administer a globally dispersed CML team embedded within a multifaceted international matrix structure.
Offer strategic leadership, mentorship, performance monitoring, and prioritization guidance to MA’s Relationship Advisors, contracting advisors, and coordination personnel.
Provide strategic guidance to the Chief Operating Officer, Executive Board, and IDS Leadership Team on contractual governance, operational alignment, and Member Association relations.
Facilitate cohesive collaboration and strategic alignment among IDS, MA’s, SAS, donors, and internal support systems.
Deliver comprehensive strategic analyses, prepare insightful briefing documents, conduct thorough risk evaluations, and develop scenario models to facilitate informed leadership decisions.
Experienced professionals are sought to lead and oversee contract portfolio governance, ensuring strategic alignment and operational excellence across all contractual engagements. This role demands a deep understanding of contract lifecycle management, including negotiation, execution, and compliance monitoring, to mitigate risks and maximize value. Candidates must possess strong leadership capabilities, analytical skills, and a proven track record in developing and implementing governance frameworks. Proficiency in contract management systems and regulatory requirements is essential, along with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive consistent performance and process optimization.
The role involves strategically managing the IDS agreement portfolio, which encompasses Support Domain Agreements (SDA), Cooperation Agreements (CA), Externally Funded Agreements (EFA), and Actual Use Agreements (AU) frameworks.
Effectively coordinate the entire lifecycle of agreements, beginning with demand capture and extending through planning, implementation, amendments, monitoring, reporting, and final closure.
Responsible for managing contract governance, ensuring adherence to compliance standards, mitigating risks, and implementing effective escalation protocols across all types of agreements.
Collaborate with Legal, Finance, MA IDS Leads, and operational teams to address strategic contractual matters and governance decisions.
Facilitate the standardization, streamlining, and ongoing enhancement of contracting and engagement procedures throughout the IDS organization.
We are seeking a skilled professional to oversee demand capture, service planning, and operational coordination to ensure seamless execution of projects and efficient resource allocation. The ideal candidate will develop and refine demand capture strategies, align service planning with organizational objectives, and coordinate operational activities to maintain high performance and adherence to timelines. Strong analytical abilities, meticulous planning, and the capacity to collaborate across teams are essential for optimizing processes and driving operational excellence.
Facilitate comprehensive, organization-wide coordination of the IDS demand capture and support planning initiatives.
Ensure that master agreement demand aligns strategically with operational capacity, resource availability, funding projections, and prioritized service delivery objectives.
Develop and assist in scenario planning and operational modeling efforts, focusing on funding risks, trends in member acquisition (MA participation), and service sustainability.
Guide the refinement and enhancement of support catalogues, service packages, operational coordination models, and engagement frameworks to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
Medical Assistants serving in Liaison and Relationship Management roles act as pivotal connectors between healthcare providers, patients, and administrative teams, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration. They cultivate and maintain strong professional relationships with external partners, including clinics, insurance companies, and third-party service providers, to streamline operations and enhance service delivery. Responsibilities include negotiating contracts, resolving disputes, coordinating patient referrals, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Strong interpersonal skills, conflict resolution abilities, and a deep understanding of healthcare protocols are essential. Additionally, these professionals monitor performance metrics, track relationship outcomes, and provide regular reports to leadership to support strategic decision-making.
Spearhead the strategic relationship management and liaison framework between IDS and Member Associations across the federation.
As the senior engagement focal point, you will provide strategic guidance and support to National Directors, MA leadership teams, SAS, and critical federation stakeholders concerning IDS services, support frameworks, and operational coordination.
Ensure proactive engagement, communication, and ongoing relationship management with MA’s throughout the entire support planning, contracting, implementation coordination, escalation handling, and post-delivery follow-up processes.
Identify and address potential relationship risks, operational challenges, funding uncertainties, dissatisfaction trends, and escalation cases early, ensuring proactive leadership intervention where necessary.
Digital Transformation & Operational Excellence
We are seeking a dynamic professional to drive innovation and enhance operational efficiency through digital transformation initiatives. The ideal candidate will spearhead cross-functional projects, optimize processes, and implement cutting-edge technologies to modernize business operations. Key responsibilities include leading strategic planning, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and ensuring seamless integration of digital solutions. Candidates must possess a proven track record in change management, strong analytical skills, and expertise in emerging technologies such as cloud computing, AI, and data analytics. A bachelor’s degree in business administration, computer science, or a related field is required, along with 5+ years of relevant experience. Familiarity with industry standards and compliance regulations is essential. The role demands exceptional leadership, problem-solving abilities, and a passion for continuous improvement to deliver measurable business outcomes.
Design and implement dashboards, Power BI reports, analytics tools, portfolio insights, and management information systems to drive informed decision-making and strategic outcomes.
Modernize and digitize contract lifecycle management processes while streamlining stakeholder coordination, service tracking, and workflow automation. Implement e-signature solutions and advanced reporting systems to enhance operational efficiency and visibility across all stages of contract management.
Facilitate the deployment and integration of unified digital platforms designed to enhance operational coordination, streamline contract governance, track efforts accurately, and manage portfolios efficiently.
Facilitate the achievement of operational excellence, streamline processes, enhance scalability, and establish standardization across federation engagement and coordination initiatives.
Ensure adherence to safeguarding protocols while fostering a secure and protected setting for all stakeholders.
You play a critical role in fostering and sustaining a secure, nurturing environment for both staff members and the children, young people, and adult participants served by SOS Children’s Villages. Your responsibilities include ensuring the well-being and protection of everyone within the organization’s care.
Dedicate yourself to upholding the Code of Conduct while continuously evaluating the safeguarding implications associated with your professional responsibilities.
Engage collaboratively in team meetings to assess potential risks while proposing and implementing proactive preventative and mitigation strategies.
Incorporate safeguarding principles as a fundamental aspect of your ongoing decision-making processes and routine responsibilities.
Any safeguarding concerns must be reported without delay and strictly in accordance with established procedures.
Foster a culture rooted in values, accountability, and a steadfast commitment to eliminating harm.
Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, International Development, Law, Finance, or a closely related discipline is required.
A postgraduate diploma or Master’s degree in Contract Management, Procurement, Project Governance, or a closely related discipline is advantageous. Professional certifications such as the Contract Management Certification (CCMP), procurement credentials, or Project Management certifications like PMP/PRINCE2 are also considered valuable.
This role demands a minimum of 8 to 10 years of professional experience, with at least four years in senior leadership or Head/Lead of unit positions within international NGOs, donor-funded programs, or other international organizations.
Individuals should possess a proven track record in contract management, procurement, office administration, or business operations, preferably within international NGOs or donor-funded initiatives.
Demonstrates a strong proficiency in preparing, negotiating, and overseeing contracts in alignment with donor mandates and internal organizational guidelines.
Proven ability to perform compliance reviews, systematically identify risks, and assist in implementing mitigation strategies.
Financial coordination responsibilities encompass verifying budgets and evaluating the financial impact of contractual decisions.
Expertise in financial management methodologies is essential, encompassing the evaluation of financial impacts, execution of cost-benefit analyses, and oversight of budgetary considerations tied to contractual determinations.
Proven experience in enhancing risk management protocols and ensuring audit preparedness, with a focus on establishing and maintaining compliant processes and assisting in contract audit evaluations.
Proficient in Python (advanced), SQL (intermediate), and JavaScript (intermediate). Strong understanding of data structures and algorithms. Familiarity with frameworks such as Django, React, and Node.js. Competent in using version control systems like Git. Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure. Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
Contract lifecycle management and compliance involves overseeing the entire contract lifecycle, from drafting and negotiation to execution and renewal, while ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory, and organizational standards. This role demands expertise in managing complex contractual agreements, identifying and mitigating risks, and implementing robust compliance frameworks to safeguard organizational interests. Professionals in this field must possess strong analytical skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a comprehensive understanding of industry-specific regulations and best practices. Additionally, they are responsible for maintaining accurate documentation, conducting compliance audits, and fostering collaboration with stakeholders to ensure seamless contract administration and regulatory alignment.
Contract drafting, coordination, and negotiation represent key responsibilities for this intermediate-level role. The position requires meticulous attention to detail in preparing, reviewing, and finalizing contractual documents while ensuring alignment with legal standards and organizational objectives. Additionally, the candidate must effectively collaborate with stakeholders to streamline processes, resolve discrepancies, and secure mutually beneficial agreements through strategic negotiation.
Intermediate-level expertise in negotiation and dispute resolution, particularly within complex multi-stakeholder settings, is required. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in facilitating constructive dialogue, managing conflicting interests, and fostering collaborative outcomes among diverse parties. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate intricate interpersonal and organizational dynamics are essential.
Handles contract amendment and renewal processes at an intermediate level.
Intermediate-level candidates should possess a solid grasp of compliance and governance frameworks, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and internal policies. They will be responsible for maintaining documentation, conducting risk assessments, and collaborating with stakeholders to implement effective governance practices. Additionally, they will monitor changes in regulations, assess their impact on organizational operations, and recommend necessary adjustments to policies and procedures.
Proficiency in e-signature and workflow automation solutions, such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign, is required—candidates should have a foundational understanding of these tools.
Proficient communication and interpersonal abilities are essential, along with a strong capacity for collaboration and teamwork. Demonstrated leadership potential and adaptability in dynamic environments are highly valued. Exceptional problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset drive effective decision-making. Attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement further distinguish top performers. Cultural awareness and emotional intelligence facilitate productive interactions across diverse teams.
Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities, coupled with outstanding interpersonal skills, are essential to cultivate meaningful connections and effectively engage with a broad range of stakeholders.
Ensure accountability and ownership of assigned contracts, with a focus on maintaining accuracy and adherence to compliance standards.
Able to navigate intricate negotiations with a high level of professionalism and expertise.
You must possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to effectively navigate complex and ambiguous scenarios.
Our position demands meticulous attention to detail and robust organizational abilities to uphold accuracy, ensure strict compliance, and deliver work in a timely manner.
Proven capability to collaborate productively in multicultural environments and engage successfully with international colleagues across diverse teams.
Adapts readily to shifting priorities with a proactive approach, ensuring seamless transitions between tasks and objectives. Demonstrates flexibility in responding to evolving demands while maintaining focus on key deliverables and organizational goals.
High emotional intelligence is essential, encompassing the capacity to attentively identify and appropriately address the viewpoints of others in a positive and productive manner.
Results-driven professional with a proven ability to meet and exceed contractual key performance indicators, adhere to specified timelines, and maintain strict compliance with established standards.
Ways of working include remote collaboration, in-office engagements when necessary, and flexible scheduling to accommodate diverse time zones and personal commitments. Team members engage with colleagues across multiple regions, emphasizing adaptability and strong communication skills. Regular virtual meetings, asynchronous updates, and clear documentation are integral to maintaining alignment and ensuring project continuity.
Global collaboration and communication entails seamless interaction across diverse countries, cultures, and time zones by fostering clear communication, transparency, and a unified understanding within distributed teams. This role requires the ability to bridge gaps in geographical and cultural divides while ensuring all stakeholders remain aligned and informed. Effective coordination and consistent dialogue are essential to maintaining productivity and cohesion in a geographically dispersed work environment.
We facilitate seamless collaboration across diverse functions and disciplines, leveraging collective expertise to address challenges and achieve shared goals in alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives.
Effective collaboration within matrix organizational structures requires skillful navigation of both solid and dotted reporting lines, fostering transparent communication, aligning priorities with line and functional managers, and clarifying roles, responsibilities, and expectations to facilitate seamless cross-team execution.
Flexibility and adaptability are essential, requiring the ability to remain responsive to shifting contexts and dynamically adjust priorities, methods, and collaborative approaches in alignment with evolving project, service, or organizational needs.
Demonstrating ownership and accountability involves assuming full responsibility for advancing projects and initiatives, anticipating and resolving obstacles proactively, and ensuring commitments, decisions, and actions are executed to their conclusion. Within your defined role, you are expected to take initiative independently, rather than relying on constant guidance or direction.
By empowering member associations and safeguarding their autonomy, we facilitate the dissemination of knowledge, tools, and insights gleaned from initiatives and services. This enables associations to draw upon shared experiences, steadily enhance their capabilities, and solidify their self-reliance.
Fostering an environment of ongoing feedback and transparency is essential, as it promotes the open and constructive sharing of feedback and data. This approach empowers teams and relevant stakeholders to engage in reflection, learning, and continuous enhancement of their work and overall impact.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , Diploma , MBA/MSc/MA , Professional Certificate
Experience Required
8 - 10 years
