Overview

Save the Children UK has an opportunity for a Portfolio Manager to manage our West and Central Africa (WCA) portfolio within the Global Impact group from January 2026 for 12 months. Based in the UK with hybrid working options (Farringdon, London/Home-based).

Salary: £39,000 - £41,759 pa + generous benefits.
Ref: 7161 • Closing Date: 24 September 2025.

About Us

Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

The Team

The Portfolio & Risk Team manages the SCUK International Restricted Portfolio, supporting Country Offices and local partners in achieving strategic goals. They collaborate closely with Country Offices and other teams, offering expertise in programme management, donor compliance, and risk management, including safeguarding, fraud, and safety/security concerns. Learning from the portfolio informs future partnership and portfolio opportunities.

Key Accountabilities

The Portfolio Manager for West and Central Africa (WCA) is responsible for overseeing the successful implementation of Save the Children UK's portfolio across multiple Country Offices in the region. This includes providing direct management support to Country Offices, ensuring donor compliance, and supporting effective delivery of programmes and partnerships. The postholder will lead on managing risks, issues and challenges specific to the WCA portfolio and escalate as necessary to senior colleagues. The role collaborates with the Senior Portfolio Manager for WCA and the Regional Portfolio Lead to support regional priorities, develop regional partnerships, identify systemic risks, capture lessons learned, and strengthen new partnership opportunities in the region.

In this role you will also collaborate with colleagues across Partnership Engagement and Portfolio Development to strengthen new partnership opportunities in the region.

Responsibilities – In This Role, You Will

• Manage the delivery of SCUK's portfolio by overseeing grant and contract management, ensuring donor compliance, and supporting Country Offices in achieving programme deliverables and managing risks and issues.
• Provide oversight of risk management and portfolio performance, make informed decisions on issues, ensure KPIs are met, and escalate concerns when required.
• Support portfolio development efforts, identify new funding opportunities with COs, and maintain up-to-date award and information systems.
• Monitor portfolio performance across designated regions, evaluate progress, ensure adherence to SCUK policies, and ensure compliance with donor and partner requirements; adjust as needed for success and sustainability.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key staff in Country Offices, providing operational support to ensure quality programming and donor compliance.
• Foster collaboration across SCUK teams to align Country Office priorities with SCUK support for programming.
• Oversee relevant research projects, ensure donor compliance and quality standards, manage associated risks, and ensure quality assurance processes are completed for research projects. Explore solutions for efficient management and synthesis of evidence and learning to inform future partnerships.
• Promote continuous improvement by sharing lessons learned, best practices and success stories to inform future portfolio and partnership development and capture knowledge management across the SCUK portfolio.
• Support identification of new funding opportunities and contribute to proposals as required by Head of Portfolio Development.

About You

We are looking for someone with the following experience, competencies and skills:

• Project and Portfolio Management: Experience managing portfolios across multiple Country Offices with donor compliance knowledge; ability to deliver on time, within scope, and aligned with donor requirements/outcomes.
• Risk Management and Mitigation: Proficiency in identifying, assessing, and addressing risks at portfolio and project levels.
• Stakeholder and Donor Relationship Management: Strong ability to manage relationships with donors, partners, and Country Offices, with effective communication.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting: Skills in data collection/analysis for portfolio performance, financial management, and reporting.
• Knowledge Sharing: Ability to facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned.
• Management Skills: Ability to manage a diverse portfolio across regions and partnerships.
• Communication and Relationship Management: Excellent cross-functional and cross-cultural communication with stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills: Attention to detail, risk identification, and solution development.
• Technical Expertise: Understanding of program management, international development, and donor relations.
• Language Skills: Fluency in French (essential) and English.

Please note: To avoid disappointment, apply as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Location & Ways of Working

The majority of roles can be performed remotely in the UK, but you may be required to come to your contracted office (usually 2–4 days per month) depending on role needs. Travel costs to the contracted office are at your own expense. Flexible working options can be discussed at interview.

Commitment To Diversity & Inclusion

Save the Children UK is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people with a range of backgrounds and experiences, including those who have lived experiences of low income, migration, racialised communities, care systems, LGBT+ identities, disability, or other diverse backgrounds.

How to Apply

To apply, please visit our website:

https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/portfolio-manager-7161-farringdon-london-home-based/7187/description/

Job Details

• Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• City: Hybrid - Farringdon, London/Home-based
• Type: Job
• Career category: Program/Project Management
• Years of experience: 5-9 years
• Themes: Health; Protection and Human Rights