Lead – Ending Child Marriage at Plan International

Plan International was founded over 75 years ago with a mission to promote and protect the rights of children.

The organisation was set up by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge in 1937, with the original aim to provide food, accommodation and education to children whose lives had been disrupted by the Spanish Civil War.

Langdon-Davies conceived the idea of a personal relationship between a child and a sponsor – a model that puts the child at the centre, and remains the core of what we do.

Today, Plan International is a global organisation that is active in over 70 countries to advance children’s rights and equality for girls.

Who We Are
We work with communities around the world to end the cycle of poverty for children.
We work with communities around the world to end the cycle of poverty for children.
Founded over 70 years ago, Plan is a nearly $800 million organization often ranked among the top 10 international development agencies by reputation, size and scope.

We work side-by-side with communities in 50 developing countries to end the cycle of poverty for children, developing solutions to ensure long-term sustainability. Our level of community engagement, long-term outlook and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among international development organizations.

Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by communities for generations to come and range from clean water and health care programs, to education projects and child protection initiatives. Community by community, Plan works to promise futures that are worthy of all children’s potential.

Our Vision
Our vision is of a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity.

Our Mission
Plan strives to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of vulnerable children in developing countries by:
Enabling children, their families and their communities to meet basic needs and to increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies;
Fostering relationships to increase understanding and unity among peoples of different cultures and countries; and
Promoting the rights and interests of the world’s children.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