Netherlands: Programme Manager - Sexual Exploitation of Children (SEC)

Terre des Hommes Netherlands is part of the International Federation of Terre des Hommes organisations, a strategic partnership of member organisations sharing the same brand name and core values for joint lobby and advocacy around children’s rights. Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) protects children by preventing and stopping child exploitation, and by empowering children to make their voices count. Our work is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and seeks to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Under our new Global Strategy (2023 - 2030), TdH NL is redefining and refining our role as a child rights organisation, with the strategic ambition that “by 2030, Terre des Hommes Netherlands is a catalyst for systemic change to stop child exploitation. We do this by empowering children and their communities, connecting them with those who have power to enact change, and utilising our knowledge and expertise to co-create sustainable, evidence-based solutions.”

TdH Netherlands is led by a two-headed Executive Team: Executive Director and the CEO.

The values of TdH Netherlands are: Responsible, Bold, Human-Centred and Playful.

The organisation's core principles are: (1)Children at the Centre, (2) Intersectionality and Power Awareness, (3) Safety and Wellbeing, (4) Sustainability, and (5) Meaningful and Strategic Partnerships.

In line with our new strategy, TdH NL is in the process of establishing three thematic programmes under which our portfolio of humanitarian and development projects and programmes will be managed. These are: 1. Child Labour, 2. Sexual Exploitation of Children, and 3. Humanitarian Action. Our programmatic work is supported by two cross-programmatic units: Programme Development and Quality (PDQ), and Research, Expertise and Influencing (REI). Aligned to our new strategy, and based on many years of experience as a child rights organisation, we aim to consolidate our expertise and programme management, informed by research, to bring about sustainable and systemic change in the lives of children, and to hold duty bearers accountable.

The focus of TdH NL regarding humanitarian action is on child protection in emergencies (CPiE), with a particular focus on the protection of children from exploitation.

The SEC Programme:

Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL)’s SEC thematic programme protects children by preventing and responding to online and offline child sexual exploitation, and by empowering children to influence policy and practice. As catalysts for systemic change, TdH NL collaborates with diverse partners to build protective environments for children and create lasting changes in children’s lives. Through child-centred, trauma-informed and intersectional approaches we empower children and their communities, co-create solutions with and for children while ensuring their meaningful participation and safeguarding. We connect them with those who have power to enact change and advocate and influence duty bearers. We use our knowledge and expertise on child exploitation issues to generate evidence through research and documented learning to expand knowledge, co-create solutions that are proven to work, and scale successful approaches through our networks. We work to leverage and complement the work of other agencies, NGOs, formal and informal community groups and government actors, based on an analysis of our optimal contribution to lasting changes in the lives of children at risk and survivors of sexual exploitation.

We are currently active in Europe, East Africa, the MENA region and Asia, where we build local and global partnerships, coalitions and networks for joint learning and action. Through this role, we would like to further design and implement programmes to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation in the Netherlands.

Position Summary: 

TdH NL is looking for a Programme Manager - Sexual Exploitation of Children (SEC) in the Netherlands to be based in The Hague to support the SEC thematic programme activities, advocacy and policy work of TdH NL.

The Programme Manager (PM) is responsible for the strategic design and management of the SEC Programme in the Netherlands and for contributing to the development of the global SEC thematic programme, in alignment with TdH NL's Listen Up! strategy. This includes providing thought leadership on its strategic direction, planning and (re)design of the programme's evidence-based intervention model, fundraising and programme development, lobby and advocacy, and private sector engagement.

The Programme Manager will:

• Provide strategic direction to ensure overall alignment with the Netherlands Programme and the SEC Thematic Programme frameworks;
• Ensure the design of an evidence-informed programme to prevent and respond to the sexual exploitation of children in the Netherlands;
• Design and manage participatory child-centred activities that place children in the Netherlands;
• Collaborate with the Research, Expertise and Influencing (REI) Team to develop a research agenda for the Netherlands, that is aligned with the Global Research Agenda;
• Coordinate activities with the communications team to ensure that TdH NL is able to raise awareness and mobilise the Dutch public to act to protect children from sexual exploitation;
• Collaborate with the advocacy and communication teams to influence the priorities of decision-makers in the Netherlands and in the EU, in alignment with TdH NL’s global influencing agenda;
• Identify key stakeholders and partners, invest in relationship-building and coordinate joint initiatives to catalyse systemic change in the Netherlands;
• Attend and represent TdH NL at external events, conferences and meetings related to child sexual exploitation in the Netherlands and in the EU;
• Ensure the implementation of the Integrity Framework, Accountability Framework and MEAL requirements in the Netherlands;
• As part of the SEC thematic programme, provide technical support and input to the overall objectives of the programme;
• Contribute to TdH NL’s knowledge and learning agenda, by sharing lessons, promising practices and innovations at national, regional and global levels to strengthen the overall impact of the global thematic programme.

Position in the Organisation: 

The PM is part of the SEC thematic team and is hierarchically managed by the Head of Programme (HoP) SEC. They work in very close collaboration with the REI team, specifically the advocacy specialist based in Brussels. They also regularly collaborate with staff from the REI team, with the Communications team for external communications and campaigns, as well as with the Programme Development & Quality and Resource Mobilisation Teams to further develop the programme and raise funds.

Since the SEC programme is in the process of being newly created, this position will be reviewed from the perspective of the overall functional needs of the team. An assessment of these needs is anticipated within 4 to 6 months. Therefore the position requires flexibility and adaptability from the position holder and their contribution to the thinking about and determining the optimal team functions and composition.

Core Responsibilities: 

Programme design and development: 

• Designing an evidence-informed SEC programme in the Netherlands that addresses the root causes of child sexual exploitation and targets children most at risk of sexual exploitation in the Netherlands;
• Developing a Theory of Change, results framework and intervention models for the Netherlands, in line with TdH NL’s strategy and SEC thematic programme ToC;
• Supporting the identification of funding and strategic partners and liaising with partners for implementation, campaigning and research purposes.

Programme management and delivery: 

• Ensuring on time, on scope and on budget programme implementation in the Netherlands;
• Facilitating good practice identification, sharing and learning with relevant teams;
• Conducting monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting: validating the generated data for strategic decision making on a programme level and providing regular updates and reports for internal and external stakeholders;
• Implementing TdH NL’s Accountability and Integrity Frameworks in the Netherlands;
• Designing and steering the Global Research, Learning and Influencing agendas of the Netherlands Programme with the ultimate objective of influencing systemic change to eradicate child sexual exploitation in the Netherlands, aligned with advocacy and research in the EU and the global SEC programme;
• Engaging with the private sector by managing relations with current private sector stakeholders; building new private sector partnerships; and supporting Private Sector Engagement (PSE) and other colleagues in holding the private sector accountable through direct engagement, research and campaigns;
• Engaging with the academic sector in the Netherlands by building new partnerships and designing joint projects that strengthen the evidence-base of the Dutch programme.

Networking, fundraising, and representation: 

• In close collaboration with the SEC HoP, cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key duty bearers and stakeholders such as NL governmental bodies, EU regional bodies (in coordination with the EU advocacy project officer), UN agencies, donors, the TDHIF, other (I)NGOs as well as the private sector;
• Identifying new funding sources and working closely with the Resource Mobilisation and country teams to develop quality proposals that contribute to a focused and evidence based SEC programme in the Netherlands;
• Representing TdH NL at relevant conferences, events and meetings to position TdH NL as an expert on SEC, identify new trends and developments in (addressing) SEC, and increase visibility of the SEC programme and the overall organisation in the Netherlands;
• Ensuring effective internal and external communication of the Netherlands programme's results, global trends and developments and, in close collaboration with the communications and fundraising teams, engaging with the media, key duty bearers, consumers, and TdH institutional, private and major donors and other relevant stakeholders.

Core Knowledge & Competencies: 

• Strong technical background in designing/researching prevention and response interventions to address child sexual exploitation;
• Solid track record in programme management delivering quality programs and technical support to implementing teams;
• Experience in creating and implementing child participation, advocacy and influencing strategies, particularly within the Dutch advocacy arena and connecting local/regional influencing agendas;
• Experience in partnership building, including private sector engagement, and proven ability to create and maintain working relationships with other relevant organisations and alliances;
• Good understanding of child participation and child safeguarding as well as inclusion and intersectionality aspects in all steps of the project cycle.

Additionally, we seek:

• Ability to lead, train and inspire other staff and partners in their respective tasks in a professional, respectful and supportive manner;
• Preferable experience in evidence-based programmatic work geared towards systemic change - a key component of our new strategic approach;
• Strong team spirit and collaboration skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a networked organisation, and promote collaborative initiatives across teams and beyond formal reporting lines;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to be able to convey a representation of the organisation effectively and accurately to a variety of audiences as well as draft and proofread written documents;
• Excellent listening and observation skills, including the ability to establish trust, provide support, foster respect and engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders;
• An innovative, positive and forward-thinking approach to all aspects of work guided by an outstanding strategic vision;
• Substantial experience working in southern countries and with southern counterparts;
• The highest personal and professional integrity along with an optimistic outlook;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision;
• Flexibility to adjust to changing circumstances while maintaining focus on the long-term vision;
• Ability to effectively solve problems.

Education & Experience: 

• Master's degree in relevant fields of study such as Sustainable Development, International Development, Social Work, Child/Human Rights or a combination of academic training and experience to an equivalent level;
• Minimum of 7 years experience in programme management and advocacy;
• Thematic expertise in child sexual exploitation;
• Proven experience in programming, advocacy and influencing in the Netherlands;
• Fluency in Dutch and English is required.

Compensation: 

This is a fulltime (36 hours per week) position, based in The Hague - The Netherlands.

Compensation: salary scale 11; between € 4000,- and € 5200,- based on a fulltime (36 hours/week) contract.

We work hybrid: 50/50 in office and from home.

How to Apply: 

You can apply via this link until May 7 2024 6 pm CET.

If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, kindly send them to vacature@tdh.nl. 

Our Commitment to Diversity, Integrity and Child Safeguarding: 

We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and challenge our thinking. We are especially interested in people whose lived experiences help us to see things we might otherwise miss, and enable us to do better work with and for children. Whether or not you meet 100% of the criteria, we want to hear from you, because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world.

TdH NL is committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation. We continue to learn about intersectional considerations and power distribution within our organisation and our work. We are dedicated to preventing and eradicating any type of misconduct including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any other type of misuse of power, lack of integrity or financial misconduct.

Note: We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us, this includes a commitment to diversity and inclusion at all levels of our work. All offers of employment will therefore be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include a valid criminal record check, terrorism finance checks, and/or integrity screenings/references relating to misconduct and disciplinary actions in prior employment.

TdH NL is particularly committed to keeping children and vulnerable individuals safe, and has zero tolerance on (child) abuse. Every TdH NL employee is bound by the TdH NL Code of Conduct that describes the expected behaviour by staff, in particular with regards to Safeguarding children and (young) adults in our programmes. Child safeguarding measures are part of our selection and recruitment process. By submitting your application you accept that TdH NL will conduct such pre-employment screening for successful candidates. TdH NL participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.