Board of Director

Board of Director Role (Volunteer Opportunity)

LEAD WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

Children's rights are under pressure globally. Conflict, climate change, and systemic inequality are reshaping what it means to protect a child's future. Save the Children Canada is entering a pivotal new strategic cycle, and we are building a Board of Directors equal to that moment.

We are seeking exceptional leaders who bring not only expertise, but conviction, people who understand governance at scale and are ready to apply that experience to the world’s most consequential arenas.

WHY EXECUTIVES CHOOSE THIS BOARD

Additionally, board members report that serving on the Save the Children Canada board sharpens their thinking on global systems, stakeholder complexity, and mission-driven leadership — capabilities that translate directly back to their professional roles.

ABOUT SAVE THE CHILDREN CANADA

For more than 100 years, Save the Children has operated at the node of humanitarian response and long-term development. We give children in Canada and across 110 countries a healthy start in life, opportunities to learn, and protection from harm – among the first to respond and the last to leave. Our Canadian operation is the country-level expression of that global purpose — fundraising and advocating for children both domestically and internationally. Board members shape how that mandate is fulfilled.

Learn more: savethechildren.ca

OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION

Save the Children Canada is concluding our 2022–27 strategy – one of the most ambitious transformations in our history. Our next chapter requires board members who can think boldly about institutional change.

We are driven by a unique "Inside-Out" Theory of Transformation. By centering decolonization, anti-racism, and power shifts within our own governance, we fundamentally alter how we support the rights and well-being of children. As a Board Director, this means governing an institution that is actively reshaping its own power dynamics while pursuing global impact. It is complex, consequential work that empowers local leadership and diverse communities.

THE BOARD PROFILE WE ARE BUILDING

Your technical credentials matter — but so does the perspective you bring to the table. We are actively working to ensure our board reflects the communities and contexts in which we work and have organized our current priorities into four key leadership brackets:

• The Future-Proofer (Technology, AI, Data & Digital Governance): Executive-level experience in enterprise technology strategy, AI ethics, data governance, or digital transformation. Particularly valuable to help us navigate the complexities of a changing digital landscape. 
• The Steward (Finance, Risk & Fraud Prevention): Backgrounds in finance, fraud prevention, audit committee, risk governance, or regulatory compliance to ensure organizational health and integrity. Experienced CFO in non-profit or international development finance is an asset.
• The Governance Strategist (Legal, Regulatory & Compliance) General counsel, regulatory expertise, or significant board-level governance experience, especially in cross-jurisdictional or international contexts. 
• The Practitioner (International Development & Operations): Experience in international development, former Country or Regional Directors, senior operations leaders, or executives with experience managing programs in fragile or conflict-affected states, working alongside local partner organizations in community-led models. Candidates with experience working within or alongside local partner organizations delivering programs with Save the Children are also encouraged to apply.

Lived and Sector Experience: If you fit into one or more of these profiles, we would like you to join us. 

We are committed to building a board where diverse expertise and diverse experience coexist because governing a global children's rights organization demands nothing less. Lived experience in the communities Save the Children Canada works with, including Indigenous Nations in Canada and communities across the Global Majority (regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean shaped by histories of colonization and global inequality) is especially welcome.

WHAT BOARD MEMBERSHIP LOOKS LIKE

We have designed board participation to be substantive and respectful of your time. Here is what to expect:

• Term Limit: You will serve a four-year term (eligible for a maximum of two terms).
• Time commitment: Expect to contribute approximately 3 - 4 hours per month (36 - 48 hours per year) 

• Strategic Governance: Take part in 4 Board meetings and 4-6 Committee meetings per year. 
• A Culture of Philanthropy: Actively supporting our mission through time, talent, and treasure. 
• Advocacy: Representing Save the Children with partners, donors, and constituency groups. 

• Compensation: Volunteer (uncompensated) · Expenses reimbursed

APPLICATION PROCESS

We value your time and have kept the process straightforward. Here is what is involved:

How to Apply

We welcome applications from leaders across professional and non-traditional pathways. Please send your application through our [online portal] including: 

1. Your Bio: A brief overview (1-2 paragraphs) of your professional and personal journey. 

2. A Letter of Interest:In a concise narrative, please address: 
   • What motivates you to join the Board of Save the Children and how you connect with our mission.
   • The technical skills (e.g. AI, Finance, Governance) and lived experiences you will contribute. 
   • Your experience providing oversight within complex organizations. 

Deadline: May 8^th 2026

Interviews: Virtual interviews via MS Teams will be scheduled with shortlisted candidates. 

Save the Children Canada is committed to accessible and inclusive recruitment, in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Accommodations are available at any stage of the process — please let us know what you need.

Save the Children Canada acknowledges the lands on which we work as the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples, and we are committed to meaningful action on Truth and Reconciliation.