Lead - Ending Child Marriage

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

Role Purpose

Help shape a world where every girl can decide her own future.

Plan International is looking for a strategic and influential leader to drive our global flagship focused on ending child marriage and advancing adolescent girls’ rights, wellbeing, and agency.

This is a unique global leadership role at the forefront of tackling one of the world’s most critical gender equality challenges. You will define and lead an ambitious, evidence-based approach that addresses the root causes of child marriage – including harmful gender norms, poverty, gender-based violence, and limited access to education, health and economic opportunities.

You’ll work across a global network to align teams, influence partners and donors, and strengthen Plan International’s position as a leader in protecting girls’ futures across both development and humanitarian contexts.

What you’ll do

• Set and drive the global vision, strategy, and ambition for the flagship
• Lead resource mobilisation and build strong donor and partner relationships
• Provide thought leadership and external representation on child marriage and girls’ rights
• Shape compelling global narratives, advocacy, and positioning
• Ensure integrated, girl-centred programming across protection, SRHR, education, GBV prevention, and economic empowerment
• Work across a matrixed organisation to align global, regional, and country teams
• Champion the use of evidence, learning, and innovation to maximise impact

About you

• Deep expertise in child marriage, adolescent girls’ rights, and gender equality
• Strong understanding of the root causes and consequences of child marriage across diverse contexts
• Strong understanding of youth-led approaches, Gender & Inclusion, and how these are embedded in programme design and narratives
• Experience leading or shaping integrated, multi-sector programmes in complex or resource-constrained settings
• Proven ability to translate evidence into strategy, advocacy, and funding opportunities
• Strong track record in external representation, partnership development, and influencing
• Skilled at leading through influence in global, matrixed organisations
• A strategic, collaborative leader who can navigate complexity and drive alignment

Location: Nairobi, Kenya preferred however other locations where Plan International has an office* that can employ on behalf of the Global Hub and you have the pre-existing right to work and live. You may be office, home or hybrid based.

Type of Role: Permanent - Full-time or maximum fixed term contract as per employing office's standard terms and conditions

Reports to: Matrix management - Director, Programme Impact & Innovations and Regional Director, Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa

Closing Date: 12th July

*Applicable locations include: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.