Programme Manager – Child Labour in Mineral Extraction At Terre des Hommes Netherlands

About Terre des Hommes

Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) protects children by preventing and stopping child exploitation, and by empowering children to make their voices count.

Our strategic ambition is that by 2030, Terre des Hommes Netherlands is a catalyst for systemic change to stop child exploitation. We do this by empowering children and their communities, connecting them with those who have power to enact change, and utilising our knowledge and expertise to co-create sustainable, evidence-based solutions.

In line with our new strategy, we conduct our activities in 3 Thematic Programmes: Child Labour, Sexual Exploitation of Children and Humanitarian Action.

We are led by a two-headed Executive Team: the Executive Director and the CEO, and the total of 196 employees across the globe. The entire Terre des Hommes Netherlands staff is a diverse group of people, based around the globe that interacts at an informal yet professional level and we all have a great heart for the purpose of our organisation.

In all we do, we stand strongly by our core values: Responsible, Bold, Human-Centred and Playful.

Working at our organisation is fighting against exploitation of children. Worldwide. Without discriminating. With respect for local cultures. We’re in this to make a relevant difference in the world.

Getting excited to join us?

About Child Labour in Mineral Extraction

TdH NL aims to contribute to the elimination of Child Labour (CL) in mineral extraction. The current primary focus is the mica sector (in India and Madagascar) with the vision of programme development around raw materials and minerals, especially critical or strategic minerals which are used in the manufacture of everyday products from makeup, phones and computers, to cars, solar panels and much more. The Mica programme currently consists of three projects in Madagascar and two projects in India as well as global level lobby & advocacy and private sector engagement activities, including the membership in the multi-stakeholder Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI) and in the Renewable Energy Agreement, and advocacy in the Netherlands, the EU and globally. In relation to a possible expansion of the programme to include critical minerals, TdH NL is continung to undertake critical research to identify gaps and opportunities. Based on this research, new programmes and projects will be developed.

Position Summary

TdH NL is looking for a Programme Manager – Child Labour in Mineral Extraction, to be based in The Hague, The Netherlands, to support the Child Labour programme activities, advocacy and policy work of TdH NL.

The Programme Manager (PM) is responsible for the strategic leadership, design and management of the existing Mica portfolio and for the development of the new Minerals portfolio, in alignment with TdH NL’s Thematic Programme on Child Labour and the Listen Up! Strategy. This includes providing thought leadership on its strategic direction, planning and (re)design of the programme’s evidence-based intervention model, fundraising and programme development and lobby and advocacy. This role is ideal for a motivated and innovative programme developer and manager with strategic vision and the ability to engage diverse audiences in our mission to stop child exploitation.

The Programme Manager – Child Labour in Mineral Extraction will:

• Provide strategic direction to ensure overall alignment of the minerals (including mica) portfolio with the Thematic Programme frameworks.
• Take the lead in and give direction to the development of programmes and projects for minerals extraction.
• As part of the CL programme, provide technical support and input to the overall objectives of the CL programme.
• Coordinate with relevant teams including Regional and Country Offices to ensure the quality and timely submission of reports to donors and provide the final revision.
• Link local and global advocacy research and advocacy/campaign efforts.
• Give final approval of annual plans and reports.
• Attend and represent the organisation at events and engage in lobbying and advocacy efforts, including representing TdH NL in the Alliance 8.7.

Position in the organisation

The PM is part of the CL Thematic Programme team and is hierarchically managed by the Head of Programme (HoP) CL. They work in very close collaboration with the HoP CL for content development of future programmes, as well as the India and Madagascar country office staff, Regional Directors. They also regularly collaborate with staff from the Research, Expertise & Influencing team for research and influencing, with the Communications team for external communications and campaigns, as well as with the Programme Development & Quality and Resource Mobilisation Teams to further develop the programme and raise funds.

Core Responsibilities

Programme design and development

Mica

• Developing and finalising a common mica programme framework to harmonise the current mica projects in line with the CL thematic programme;
• Reviewing the mica programme Theory of Change (ToC), results framework and intervention models, and updating them in light of the TdH NL strategy and CL thematic programme ToC;
• Supporting the identification of funding and strategic partners and liaising projects with partners for campaigning and research purposes.

Minerals

• Developing a new programme for child labour in mineral extraction based on the mica programme, in alignment with CL thematic programme;
• Building these projects based on existing research and co-create together with the REI team further research as evidence-base for the minerals programme;
• Finding relevant partners together with the CL team and the country directors to support this programme.

Programme management and delivery

• Ensuring on time, on scope and on budget programme implementation by giving strategic direction to the country (currently India, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Kenya and Philippines) project portfolios;
• Delivering on the global level activities included in the programme;
• Facilitating good practice identification, sharing and learning among the relevant teams;
• Conducting monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting: validating the generated data for strategic decision making on a programme level and providing regular updates and reports for internal and external stakeholders;
• Designing and steering the Global Research and Learning and the Lobby & Advocacy agendas of the Mica/Minerals Programme with the ultimate objective of influencing systemic change to eradicate CL in the Mica/Mineral supply chains in light of geopolitical trends, shifting power dynamics, adapting to, developing and evolving legal human rights,due diligence developments, and global good practices.

Networking, fundraising and representation

• In close collaboration with the CL HoP, cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key duty bearers and stakeholders such as NL governmental bodies, EU regional bodies (in coordination with the EU advocacy project officer), UN agencies, donors, the TDHIF and other (I)NGOs;
• Identifying new funding sources and working closely with the Resource Mobilisation and country teams to develop quality proposals that contribute to a focused and evidence based programme;
• Representing TdH NL at relevant conferences, events and meetings to position TdH NL as an expert on CL, identify new trends and developments in (addressing) CL in mica/minerals mining, and increase visibility of the program and the overall organisation;
• Ensuring effective internal and external communication of the mica programme’s results, global trends and developments and, in close collaboration with the communications and fundraising teams, engaging with the media, key duty bearers, consumers, and TdH institutional, private and major donors and other relevant stakeholders.

Core Knowledge & competencies

• Strong technical background in designing/researching prevention and response interventions to address child labour;
• Solid track record in programme management delivering quality programmes and technical support to implementing teams;
• A strong understanding of human rights and social sustainability issues, especially child labour in global supply chains, preferable in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)/mineral supply chains, and the impacts in the affected communities and families.
• Substantial experience in creating and implementing advocacy and influencing strategies, particularly within the Dutch advocacy arena and connecting local/regional influencing agendas;
• Knowledge of the integrated area-based and supply chain approach;
• Experience in partnership building and proven ability to create and maintain working relationships with other relevant organisations and alliances;
• Good understanding of child safeguarding and of inclusion of intersectionality aspects in all steps of the project cycle.

Additionally, we seek:

• Ability to lead, train and inspire other staff and partners in their respective tasks in a professional, respectful and supportive manner;
• Preferable experience in evidence-based programmatic work geared towards systemic change – a key component of our new strategic approach;
• Strong team spirit and collaboration skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a networked organisation, and promote collaborative initiatives across teams and beyond formal reporting lines;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to be able to convey a representation of the organisation effectively and accurately to a variety of audiences as well as draft and proofread written documents;
• Excellent listening and observation skills, including the ability to establish trust, provide support, foster respect and engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders;
• An innovative, positive and forward-thinking approach to all aspects of work guided by an outstanding strategic vision;
• Substantial experience working in southern countries and with southern counterparts;
• The highest personal and professional integrity along with an optimistic outlook;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision;
• Flexibility to adjust to changing circumstances while maintaining focus on the long term vision;
• Ability to effectively solve problems.
• Eligibility to live and work in the Netherlands is required, as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in relevant fields of study such as Sustainable Development, International Development, Social Work, Child/Human Rights or a combination of academic training and experience to an equivalent level;
• Minimum of 7 years experience in programme management and advocacy;
• Experience in child labour preferable in minerals/mica supply chains;
• Field experience preferably in Africa and/or Asia;
• Proven experience in advocacy and influencing in the Netherlands and/or at EU level;
• Good command of English and Dutch, French would be an asset.

What we have to offer, apart from the above!

Terre des Hommes is an organisation on the move. We are continuing to shift to align with our Listen Up! Strategy. This means a lot of room for your own initiative and ideas. As we manage and execute our own programmes and projects, the difference we make and therefore you make is tangible on a daily basis.

• Start date from 1 May 2025.
• A One year fixed contract with the possibility of an extension.
• The salary scale for this job is scale 11, between EUR 4000 and EUR 5200 gross per month based on a full time (36 hrs) contract
• A 36 hour contract in our organisation is equivalent to a full time workweek. The positive of this is, you can work 4 x 9hours and have one day off per week, while still having a full time contract. Alternatively, you may spread the hours over the week matching your preference, in agreement with your manager;
• We facilitate hybrid working: 50% office and 50% from home. This is very flexible and has a positive effect on your work life balance;
• The office is based in the heart of The Hague, city of international human rights and political capital.
• 25 days of paid leave per year on a full time employment basis, if part time, days pro rata;
• We are a firm supporter of the environment and offer a commuting allowance for the kilometres you’d make by bike or get you a Dutch Railways NS Card;
• Our pension scheme is with ASR, and Terre des Hommes Netherlands bears the main part of the pension contribution.
• Our new hires receive a one-off financial compensation for the purchase or the design of an ergonomic home working environment. We’re happy to tell you more about this when applicable.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Integrity and Child Safeguarding

We are not looking for just one type of person – we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and challenge our thinking. We are especially interested in people whose lived experiences help us to see things we might otherwise miss, and enable us to do better work with and for children. Whether or not you meet 100% of the criteria, we want to hear from you, because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world.

TdH NL is committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation. We continue to learn about intersectional considerations and power distribution within our organisation and our work. We are dedicated to preventing and eradicating any type of misconduct including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any other type of misuse of power, lack of integrity or financial misconduct.

Note: We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us, this includes a commitment to diversity and inclusion at all levels of our work. All offers of employment will therefore be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include a valid criminal record check, terrorism finance checks, and/or integrity screenings/references relating to misconduct and disciplinary actions in prior employment.

TdH NL is particularly committed to keeping children and vulnerable individuals safe, and has zero tolerance on (child) abuse. Every TdH NL employee is bound by the TdH NL Code of Conduct that describes the expected behaviour by staff, in particular with regards to Safeguarding children and (young) adults in our programmes. Child safeguarding measures are part of our selection and recruitment process. By submitting your application you accept that TdH NL will conduct such pre-employment screening for successful candidates. TdH NL participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.