The Innovation and Pedagogy Hub, created by PLAY International (formerly PLAYLab), is a
collaborative, international initiative dedicated to social innovation through sport. Its role is to foster
the emergence and strengthening of new and existing solutions that use physical activity or sports
to address societal challenges.
We are currently seeking its future Head, our Innovation and Pedagogy Lead, to
fill this key position within the NGO.
Responsibilities and Missions
: Reporting to the Executive Director, the Innovation & Pedagogy Lead contributes to defining
PLAY International’s strategy and leads the development of new expertise and activities.
They ensure the quality and pedagogical coherence of the programs deployed by the NGO and
support country offices in their implementation.
A true driver of social innovation through sport, this individual will contribute to PLAY’s visibility within
its institutional, scientific, and operational ecosystem, both in France and internationally.
Based at PLAY International’s headquarters in Saint-Ouen, they will work closely with
headquarters teams and country offices. Occasional travel within France and
internationally will be required.
1/ Champion the NGO’s innovation strategy and influence
• Contribute to defining strategic directions and identifying development opportunities for PLAY International.
• Conduct sectoral, scientific, and educational monitoring to inform the organization’s strategic thinking.
• Represent the NGO within networks, bodies, and think tanks in France and Europe.
• Develop and foster institutional, scientific, and academic partnerships to strengthen PLAY’s positioning, expertise, and credibility.
2/ Develop new expertise and activities
• Identify, design, and deploy new programs and intervention models aligned with the NGO’s strategic priorities.
• Lead internal working groups and manage field pilot projects in collaboration with country offices and operational teams.
• Support the development of team skills in new intervention areas.
• Contribute to the development of new funding opportunities and the design of innovative projects.
• Lead or supervise action research and pilot projects to design, test, and evaluate new educational and social approaches.
• Promote and maintain PLAY’s expertise in Child Protection.
3/ Strategic and educational support for country offices
• Provide expertise in social innovation and lead the assessments and studies necessary for developing new intervention themes.
• Support country offices in adopting methodologies and implementing recommendations.
• Support the design and development of new projects integrating a strong social innovation, research, or experimentation component.
4/ Guarantee the pedagogical quality of programs
• Supervise the design, production, and validation of educational content and tools, ensuring their quality and alignment with PLAY methodologies.
• Ensure the quality of training programs, both in-person and online, and support the professional development of teaching teams.
• Ensure the relevance of monitoring, evaluation, and learning tools deployed within the programs.
• Ensure the capitalization, formalization, and dissemination of knowledge, methods, and content resulting from research and innovation projects.
• Ensure compliance with and dissemination of the NGO’s policy for safeguarding children and vulnerable persons within its programs and educational practices.
5/ Engage and strengthen the PLAY International teaching community
• Engage the international teaching community by promoting the sharing of experiences, knowledge capitalization, and dissemination of best practices.
• Support the recruitment, skills development, technical supervision, and evaluation of teaching teams.
• Support capacity building for staff and partners implementing PLAY programs internationally.
Desired profile:
Education & experience
• Master’s degree (Bac+5 level) in education, social sciences, international development, project management, social innovation, or related disciplines
• Proven professional experience (minimum 5 years) in the design and management of social impact projects
• Significant experience in social innovation, instructional design, or program development
• Experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams, vertical hierarchy, and multi-stakeholder projects
• Experience in the non-profit, humanitarian, international development, or education sectors is highly valued
• A good understanding of child protection and refugee issues would be an asset.
Key Skills
• Strong strategic analysis and foresight skills
• Educational content design and training engineering
• Excellent writing, summarizing, and formalization skills
• Ability to lead networks of diverse stakeholders (institutions, researchers, partners, field teams)
• Knowledge of the issues related to sport as a lever for education, inclusion, and social transformation
• Fluent professional English essential
Personal Qualities
• Strategic vision and strong operational capabilities
• Intellectual curiosity and a taste for innovation
• Ability to unite people
• Autonomy, rigor, and organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills
• Ability to thrive in multicultural and international environments
How to apply
Applications (CV and cover letter) must be submitted before December 11, 2026, mentioning the title “
Innovation and Pedagogy Coordinator,” to anne.meaux@play-international.org and guillemette.petit@playinternational.org.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and PLAY International reserves the right to close
the position before the deadline. Candidates are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible.