Head of Contract Management & Liaison
SOS Children's Villages
Quick Take
Lead the federation-wide contract management function, serving as the central hub between Member Associations, donors, and internal leadership to ensure all contractual agreements are properly governed, coordinated, and delivered.
Proven contract management and stakeholder relationship experience in international NGOs or federated organizations, strategic planning expertise, and strong governance/compliance knowledge.
High-impact role in a globally recognized humanitarian organization with direct influence on child welfare programmes across Africa, strategic advisory responsibilities to senior leadership, and meaningful international development work.
Job Description
SOS Children's Villages is one of the world's largest non-governmental organisations dedicated to supporting children without parental care and families at risk. Operating across a global federation of Member Associations (MAs), the organisation delivers development support, child welfare programmes, and humanitarian response through structured partnerships and coordinated service delivery mechanisms.
The Head of Contract Management & Liaison (CML) Unit provides strategic leadership, governance, and coordination of contractual engagements across the SOS federation. Sitting at the heart of the International Development Support (IDS) function, this role acts as the central interface between Member Associations (MAs), Promoting & Supporting Associations (PSAs), donors, and internal IDS units. The position ensures that MA support demand is translated into clear contractual arrangements, funded agreements, and coordinated delivery mechanisms.
- Provide strategic leadership and governance oversight of the CML unit and its federation-wide contracting functions.
- Lead coordination of strategic support and service agreements, cooperation frameworks, and externally funded engagements across MAs and PSAs.
- Oversee the full support delivery lifecycle — from planning and contracting through to coordination, follow-up, and reporting.
- Manage MA liaison structures, demand capture processes, and support planning coordination to ensure coherent and timely service delivery.
- Maintain a holistic portfolio overview of MA engagements across all support domains.
- Drive the evolution of the federation's integrated contract management ecosystem, including digital tools, governance frameworks, and reporting mechanisms.
- Provide strategic advisory support to the COO and IDS senior leadership on contracting models, MA engagement trends, and partnership sustainability.
- Coordinate operational escalation processes and manage relationship management functions within IDS.
- Ensure compliance, financial sustainability, and proper governance across all contractual commitments.
- Proven experience in contract management, programme coordination, or organisational development within an international NGO or federation setting.
- Strong background in stakeholder and relationship management across multi-entity or federated organisations.
- Experience in strategic planning, governance frameworks, and service delivery lifecycle management.
- Excellent understanding of donor-funded engagements, cooperation agreements, and partnership mechanisms.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and provide senior-level advisory support.
- Proficiency in digital contract management systems and reporting tools.
- Strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Relevant degree in Business Administration, International Development, Law, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Proven contract management and programme coordination experience in an international NGO or federation setting
- Demonstrated expertise in stakeholder and relationship management across multi-entity or federated organisations
- Strong understanding of donor-funded engagements, cooperation agreements, and partnership mechanisms
- Experience with strategic planning, governance frameworks, and full service delivery lifecycle management
- Degree in Business Administration, International Development, Law, or related field
Nice to Have
- Advanced degree (Master's) in a related field
- Proficiency with digital contract management systems and reporting tools
- Experience providing senior-level advisory support to C-suite executives
- Prior experience working with African NGO federations or international development networks
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Salary Context
Salary not specified; market competitive for senior management role in international NGO sector
Head of Contract Management & Liaison positions at major international NGOs in Nairobi typically command senior management salaries reflecting strategic responsibility and federation-wide scope. NGO sector compensation in Kenya is generally competitive with corporate roles but varies based on donor funding and organizational tier.
About SOS Children's Villages
SOS Children's Villages is one of the world's largest international NGOs, operating across a global federation dedicated to supporting children without parental care and strengthening at-risk families through development programmes and humanitarian response. With significant presence across Africa including Kenya, the organization delivers coordinated, high-impact child welfare services through a federated partnership model. Working here offers the opportunity to shape child protection policy and practice at scale while contributing to one of the world's most respected humanitarian organizations.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Tell us about your experience managing contracts and agreements across multiple stakeholder entities. How did you ensure alignment and compliance across decentralized organizational structures?
- 2
Describe a time when you redesigned or improved a contract management system or process. What was the impact on efficiency, compliance, or stakeholder satisfaction?
- 3
SOS operates as a federation with Member Associations across different countries. How would you approach understanding and coordinating the diverse needs of multiple autonomous or semi-autonomous partners?
- 4
Walk us through how you would manage a situation where a major donor's contractual requirements conflicted with an MA's operational capacity or strategic priorities.
- 5
What experience do you have with digital contract management tools and reporting systems? How have you used technology to improve governance and transparency in your previous roles?
Application Tips
Emphasize any experience coordinating contracts or services across multiple legal entities, subsidiaries, or partner organizations—use concrete metrics (e.g., 'managed 40+ service agreements across 8 countries' or 'reduced contract processing time by 30%').
Highlight your experience with international donors (DFID, EU, World Bank, UN agencies, bilateral donors, foundations) and your understanding of their compliance, reporting, and partnership requirements.
Demonstrate strategic advisory capability: include examples of how you've influenced policy, led process improvements, or provided recommendations to senior leadership that improved organizational performance or sustainability.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Globally recognized organization with significant humanitarian impact and presence across multiple African countries—strong brand, clear mission, and genuine social impact.
- Strategic, senior-level role with direct advisory responsibility to the COO and IDS leadership—genuine opportunity to influence organizational direction and policy.
- Clear scope spanning the full contract lifecycle (planning through reporting) and explicit responsibility for ecosystem evolution—offers meaningful opportunity to lead transformational change.
- International NGO environment suggests professional development opportunities, exposure to global best practices, and potential for regional or international career progression.
Watch Out
- No salary specified—this is a senior management role with significant responsibility; candidates should request a competitive range during the application process to ensure alignment.
- Job description emphasizes 'strategic leadership' and 'senior-level advisory support' but does not clarify team size, budget responsibility, or direct report structure—seek clarification on scope and resource availability.
- The role sits 'at the heart' of a complex federated organization with multiple stakeholders (MAs, PSAs, donors, internal units); unclear reporting lines or decision-making authority could lead to operational friction—confirm governance clarity during interviews.
A Day in the Life
Your week includes coordinating multi-stakeholder meetings between Member Associations and IDS units to capture emerging support demands and translate them into contractual frameworks; reviewing and governing a portfolio of active service agreements and donor-funded engagements; analyzing contracting trends and compliance data to brief senior leadership on partnership sustainability; and driving forward a digital contract management tool implementation to improve federation-wide visibility and reporting. You'll balance strategic planning discussions with operational escalation calls and hands-on relationship management, moving between high-level governance oversight and detailed contract negotiations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to be a Head of Contract Management & Liaison at SOS Children's Villages?
You need proven contract management and programme coordination experience in an international NGO or federated setting, a degree in Business Administration, International Development, Law, or related field, and demonstrated expertise in stakeholder management across multi-entity organizations. An advanced degree is preferred. Experience with donor-funded engagements and strategic planning is essential.
Is the Head of Contract Management & Liaison role at SOS Children's Villages remote or based in Nairobi?
The posting specifies Nairobi as the location. Given the role's requirement to coordinate across Member Associations, manage relationships with leadership, and oversee federation-wide processes, it is likely office-based or primarily office-based, though you should confirm flexible work arrangements during the application process.
How much does a Head of Contract Management & Liaison earn at SOS Children's Villages?
The posting does not specify a salary. Based on comparable senior management roles in international NGOs in Nairobi, you can typically expect a competitive package in the range of 180,000–280,000 KES per month gross, depending on experience, seniority, and donor funding. You should request a detailed salary and benefits outline during the interview process.
What are the career growth opportunities for this role?
This is a strategic, senior-level position that provides direct exposure to C-suite leadership (COO, IDS senior management) and offers the opportunity to drive organizational transformation through contract management systems, governance, and partnership frameworks. Natural progression paths include Chief Operating Officer, Director of International Development Support, or Federation Director roles, with potential for regional or international leadership positions within the SOS network.
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