CARE International UK Careers 2026: Director of Programmes, Policy & Advocacy (£91,761/Yr).Global humanitarian and international development efforts face unprecedented challenges, from shifting geopolitical alliances and aid budget restructuring to escalating climate crises and civic space pressures. In this dynamic environment, high-level strategic direction is crucial to ensuring that aid operations remain impactful, inclusive, and gender-transformative.
CARE International UK is currently recruiting a Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy to join its Senior Leadership Team. With a salary benchmark of up to £91,761 per annum, this executive position represents one of the premier non-governmental organization (NGO) leadership opportunities in the United Kingdom’s international development sector.
This role places a senior strategist at the nexus of international policy, institutional fundraising, emergency response, and gender equity, driving programs that place women and girls at the center of global social change.
CARE International UK Careers 2026: Director of Programmes, Policy & Advocacy (£91,761/Yr)
Position Summary & Key Metrics
| Role Parameter | Official Job Specifications |
| Position Title | Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy |
| Hiring Organization | CARE International UK |
| Salary Range | £88,800 – £91,761 per annum |
| Contract Type | Permanent |
| Primary Location | London, United Kingdom (With flexible/hybrid working) |
| Eligibility Requirement | Legal right to work in the UK at the time of appointment |
| Key Relationships | Member of Senior Leadership Team; Reports to Chief Executive |
| Primary Portfolio | Global Programmes, UK Influencing, Policy, Advocacy & Institutional Funding |
Background & Organizational Context
Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the world’s largest global humanitarian federations, operating across 100+ countries and reaching over 53 million people annually through approximately 1,500 development and emergency response projects. CARE’s foundational mandate centers on overcoming poverty and social injustice, with a targeted emphasis on empowering women and girls.
Within the global confederation, CARE International UK (CIUK) plays a pivotal role in driving institutional funding strategy, shaping public policy, and conducting high-impact advocacy directed at the UK government, multilateral bodies, and private sector partners.
The Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy serves as a core executive leader within CIUK. The incumbent will navigate a portfolio that addresses shrinking global aid budgets, advances locally led development models, and counters the rollback on women’s rights globally.
Key Executive Responsibilities
The Director leads a high-performing directorate responsible for international project execution, institutional funding generation, and systemic policy influence.
- Strategic Leadership & Governance: Serve as an active member of CIUK’s Senior Leadership Team, contributing to overall organizational strategy, financial stewardship, risk governance, and anti-racist, feminist cultural development.
- Institutional Funding Portfolio: Drive strategic approaches to secure major grant funding from institutional donors (including FCDO, multilateral institutions, and major trusts) to sustain long-term development initiatives and crisis response.
- Policy & Advocacy Execution: Oversee CARE’s UK policy agenda, leveraging field-level data and operational expertise to influence government policies, donor priorities, and international public debate.
- Locally Led & Gender-Transformative Programming: Champion local leadership models, ensuring that programs empower local women-led organizations and grass-roots civil society groups.
- Global Confederation Representation: Represent CARE International UK across the wider international confederation, helping shape global humanitarian priorities, emergency response frameworks, and joint initiatives.
- Senior Ambassadorship: Act as a key executive spokesperson for CARE UK with media outlets, government ministers, parliamentary committees, and high-level donor platforms.
Candidate Profile & Qualification Requirements
CARE International UK seeks a collaborative, strategic, and values-driven leader with proven experience driving change across international development or humanitarian networks.
Core Requirements
- Executive INGO Leadership: Significant senior leadership experience within the international non-governmental organization (INGO) or wider humanitarian sector.
- Institutional Funding Track Record: Demonstrated success in securing, managing, and diversifying complex multi-million-pound institutional funding portfolios.
- Advocacy & Political Acumen: Proven ability to lead policy and advocacy campaigns that achieve measurable legislative, donor, or policy changes.
- Network & Partnership Management: Substantial experience delivering results through federated structures, international partnerships, and local civil society alliances.
- Change Management & Culture: Proven capability to lead organizational change with empathy, maintaining performance and morale during periods of sector uncertainty.
- Commitment to Core Values: A deep personal commitment to gender equality, anti-racism, social justice, and feminist leadership principles.
Why Consider This Executive Opportunity?
High-Level Policy Influence
This position offers direct access to top-tier decision-makers, allowing you to use CARE’s global research and evidence to influence UK aid policy and international development priorities.
Competitive Executive Remuneration
At £88,800 – £91,761 per annum, the compensation package reflects the position’s executive responsibilities while offering pension benefits, flexible hybrid working policies, and generous leave entitlements.
Driving Innovation in Aid Delivery
As traditional aid mechanisms evolve, this role allows you to architect innovative, locally led funding models that directly support women rights activists and grassroots organizations on the front lines of global crises.
Application Strategy & Next Steps
EXECUTIVE SELECTION TIMELINE
┌──────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────┐
│ Application Deadline │ ──► │ Candidate Screening │ ──► │ Panel Interviews │
│ End of August 2026 │ │ Shortlisting Review │ │ September 2026 │
└──────────────────────┘ └──────────────────────┘ └──────────────────────┘
- Review Official Specifications: Access the candidate pack via official charity job portals or CARE International UK’s career gateway.
- Tailor Your Executive Statement: Draft a supporting statement (typically 2-3 pages) directly addressing the core leadership competencies: institutional funding growth, policy impact, feminist leadership, and complex network management.
- Verify Work Authorization: Ensure you have verified documentation demonstrating legal entitlement to work in the UK.
Notice: careersworldwide.org is an independent international career information portal. careersworldwide.org is not directly affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with CARE International UK. All trademarks, job titles, and organizational logos belong to their respective owners. Candidates must apply through official CARE International recruitment gateways.
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