Position Title: Director, Operation Safeguard

Location: Washington, DC

Department: Health

Position Summary:

The Director of Safeguarding is an important institutional position that will lead the continued policy and programmatic development of the child and vulnerable adult and safeguarding work for Special Olympics, Inc. This position has direct engagement and interface with all seven Special Olympics Regional Offices. The Director of Safeguarding will define for the organization the policy framework through which Special Olympics, Inc. and its national affiliates can ensure strong, sustained and clear procedures to protect individuals with intellectual disabilities and other stakeholders and beneficiaries from predatory behavior, establish incident reporting channels and effectively process claims of abuse that connect to remedial and subsequent actions as part of the movement’s commitment to social protection for all participants in the movement. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Lead the continued development and adoption of the Special Olympics Child and Vulnerable Adult and Safeguarding policy at national level.
• Support the SO Regions to prepare national affiliates for accreditation with Safeguarding policy as a requirement.
• Work with SOI Legal to ensure compliance at all levels
• Work with Games Local Organizing Committees (LOCs) on safeguarding preparedness at SOI-sanctioned events, including but not limited to World Game properties
• Continue the development, adaptation and dissemination of training resources for the benefit of all SO constituencies
• Establish reporting channels movement-wide: local, national, regional, SOI HQ, and external
• Support together with SOI and the SOI Regions continued partnership development around victim support response (e.g., child protection and counseling agencies, insurance providers)
• Support the development and establishment of global partnerships to provide support at SO National Program level (e.g., UNICEF)
• Lead the incorporation of safeguarding into Program Quality Standards and the implementation at SO National Program level with the support of Organizational Development staff
• Position SO as a leader in the global safeguarding ecosystem with sport governing bodies, UN agencies, development agencies, government entities and policy makers
• Support regions and NPs with their fundraising efforts around safeguarding: up-to-date policies are required by most donors

Required Qualifications:

• Typically, a Bachelor´s Degree in related area. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• At least 5 years' experience of progressive relevant experience in related field
• Experience in effectively leading and completing Safeguarding investigations in challenging environments
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English
• Ability to listen actively
• Ability to train staff
• Ability to establish and retain effective working relationships with other staff
• Ability to lead and coordinate other staff

Desired Qualifications: 

• Ability and willingness to travel as required

Special Olympics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.