by 
Coordinator to lead child protection, safeguarding compliance, and security risk management across its Rwanda and Burundi country offices. Explore the full role, key responsibilities, and required qualifications for this humanitarian sector opportunity.
Save the Children Is Hiring Safeguarding, Safety and Security Coordinator (Rwanda & Burundi)
Save the Children International is recruiting a Safeguarding, Safety and Security Coordinator to serve as the organization’s child safeguarding leader and security focal point across its Rwanda and Burundi country offices. This dual-mandate role sits at the intersection of child protection, safeguarding compliance, and humanitarian security risk management a rare combination that makes it an attractive opportunity for professionals with backgrounds in child rights governance, social work, or NGO security operations.
The position reports to the Operations Director, with a dotted line to the Director of HR, Admin and IT, and directly oversees the network of Field Focal Point Persons responsible for safeguarding implementation at the field level.
Why This Role Matters
As a Level 3 child-contact role, the Coordinator will work frequently and intensively with children and young people across Save the Children’s programme areas making this one of the organization’s highest-accountability safeguarding positions. The role holder will act as the Child Safeguarding Champion, ensuring that every project, workshop, and field activity is designed and delivered through a safeguarding lens, while also strengthening the country office’s safety and security management systems in line with Save the Children International (SCI) Minimum Standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Child Safeguarding Leadership
- Identify and mitigate safeguarding risks across all programme activities, workshops, and events
- Champion advocacy for safeguarding policy at the national level
- Establish and lead country safeguarding networks
- Coach and build the capacity of Field Focal Points to strengthen safeguarding practice
- Investigate and manage safeguarding cases, including sensitive and complex investigations
- Safe Programming
- Ensure all new proposals and project budgets integrate safeguarding resourcing
- Support programme teams to identify, eliminate, and mitigate risks to children
- Model professional safeguarding behaviour and uphold the Code of Conduct
- Training and Capacity Building
- Design and deliver mandatory safeguarding training and induction programmes
- Build the capacity of Safeguarding Focal Points to conduct trainings and investigations
- Develop targeted training modules to close safety and security knowledge gaps
- Safeguarding Standards and Compliance
- Monitor and report on implementation of the Safeguarding Policy Compliance Action Plan
- Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to embed safeguarding in accountability systems
- Ensure reporting procedures are understood by staff, partners, contractors, and children themselves
- Safety and Security Management
- Conduct threat, risk, and vulnerability assessments and advise the Senior Management Team (SMT)
- Maintain and update the Safety and Security Management Plan (SSMP)
- Deliver safety and security orientation and training for staff and visitors
- Manage the Country Office Security Budget and ensure alignment with SCI Key Performance Indicators
- Support crisis response, emergency evacuations, and incident reporting in coordination with the Regional Security Director
Required Qualifications and Experience
- A degree in child protection, child rights governance, law, or social work
- Proven experience in child protection/safeguarding practice in humanitarian settings
- Leadership experience within an INGO or similar organization serving vulnerable communities
- Experience managing and conducting safeguarding or disciplinary investigations
- Track record designing and delivering training programmes across all staff levels
- At least 2 years of experience in safety, security, or fraud management roles
- Demonstrated ability to conduct security risk assessments
- Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda, both written and verbal
- Experience working in hostile or challenging operating environments
Desirable: Experience with work-related travel in challenging environments.
Core Competencies
Save the Children evaluates candidates against its accomplished-level behavioural framework:
- Leading and Inspiring Others flexible, values-driven leadership
- Innovating and Adapting driving continuous improvement
- Applying Technical and Professional Expertise sound, independent decision-making
- Communicating with Impact clear, tailored communication with diverse stakeholders
- Networking building trust and cross-sector partnerships
All candidates are expected to demonstrate Save the Children’s core values: Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.
About Save the Children’s Commitment
Save the Children maintains a zero-tolerance policy on fraud, corruption, and unethical behaviour, and does not charge fees at any stage of recruitment from application through onboarding. Any request for payment during the hiring process should be reported immediately.
Is This Role Right for You?
This position suits candidates who combine hands-on child protection experience with an interest in organizational security and risk management a profile increasingly sought after in the humanitarian and international development sector. If your background includes safeguarding investigations, training delivery, government or community liaison, and compliance monitoring, this role offers a chance to lead safeguarding strategy across two country programmes simultaneously.
