The CARE International UK Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy job 2026 offers a senior leadership opportunity in London with a salary of £88,800–£91,761. The permanent hybrid role focuses on international development, humanitarian action, policy, advocacy, institutional funding, gender equality and locally led approaches. Applications close on 31 August 2026.
CARE International UK Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy Job 2026
CARE International UK is recruiting a Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy to join its Senior Leadership Team in London.
The permanent position offers a salary of £88,800 to £91,761 and is based in London, EC1M 4AR, with a hybrid working arrangement. The stated application deadline is 31 August 2026.
This is a senior leadership position for an experienced international development professional who can oversee programmes, policy, advocacy and institutional funding while helping advance CARE’s work with women and girls worldwide.
Background & Job Description
The Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy will take on a strategic leadership role at CARE International UK at a time characterized by shrinking aid budgets, increasing humanitarian needs, pressure on civic space and growing challenges to women’s rights.
As a member of the organization’s Senior Leadership Team, the successful candidate will lead CARE International UK’s programmes, policy, advocacy and institutional funding portfolio.
The role is designed for a senior professional capable of connecting organizational strategy with practical programme delivery, influencing and fundraising.
A major part of the position will involve helping secure significant institutional funding, strengthening locally led and gender-transformative approaches, and supporting innovation across development and humanitarian work.
Key Responsibilities
The Director will have responsibility for several major areas of CARE International UK’s work.
Lead Programmes and Humanitarian Action
The successful candidate will provide leadership across the organization’s programmes portfolio while helping shape strategic priorities for humanitarian work.
The position requires someone capable of working across complex international development and humanitarian environments while maintaining a strong focus on impact.
Drive Policy and Advocacy
The Director will oversee a UK influencing agenda designed to use CARE’s evidence and expertise to influence:
- Government policy
- Donor priorities
- Public debate
- International development priorities
The role also involves acting as a senior ambassador for CARE’s work with donors and policy stakeholders.
Strengthen Institutional Funding
Institutional funding is another important component of the position.
The successful applicant is expected to bring a strong record of securing and managing institutional funding and will play a critical role in securing major funding opportunities.
Support Locally Led Development
The role emphasizes working through local partners and supporting locally led approaches.
Candidates should therefore be comfortable operating within complex organizational and partnership structures and understand how international organizations can work effectively with local actors.
Contribute to Global CARE Strategy
Beyond CARE International UK, the Director will help shape strategic priorities across the wider CARE Confederation.
This requires strong collaboration, strategic thinking and the ability to influence stakeholders across a federated international network.
Qualifications and Experience
The supplied vacancy does not specify a particular academic degree or professional certification.
Instead, CARE emphasizes significant leadership and professional experience.
The ideal candidate should have:
- Significant experience in the international NGO sector
- A strong record of securing and managing institutional funding
- Experience delivering impact through local partners
- Experience working within complex federated networks
- Strong organizational change leadership experience
- The ability to build high-performing teams
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders
- The ability to translate strategy into measurable impact
- Strong strategic and collaborative leadership capabilities
The organization is also seeking an individual who can lead with empathy and authenticity during periods of uncertainty while maintaining a focus on mission, performance and results.
Leadership and Values
CARE is particularly interested in candidates who are committed to an inclusive, anti-racist and feminist organizational culture.
The successful candidate should also demonstrate a strong commitment to:
- Gender equality
- Local leadership
- International development
- Humanitarian action
- Sustainable impact
- Women’s rights
- Inclusive leadership
A passion for creating lasting impact for women and girls is specifically highlighted in the vacancy.
Salary, Location and Contract
| Job Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Position | Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy |
| Organization | CARE International UK |
| Location | London, EC1M 4AR |
| Working arrangement | Hybrid |
| Salary | £88,800–£91,761 |
| Contract | Permanent |
| Application deadline | 31 August 2026 |
| Seniority | Senior Leadership Team |
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is primarily suited to experienced professionals rather than entry-level candidates.
It may be particularly relevant to senior professionals working in international NGOs, humanitarian organizations, development agencies, advocacy organizations or related institutions who have progressed into strategic leadership positions.
Candidates with experience across programme leadership, institutional fundraising, policy, advocacy, humanitarian response and organizational transformation may find the role particularly relevant.
The vacancy also places considerable emphasis on leadership through complexity, making strategic judgment and stakeholder management important aspects of the position.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should review the complete vacancy information and submit their application through the recruitment link provided by CARE International UK.
CARE International UK – Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy vacancy
Candidates should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates the experience requested in the vacancy, particularly their international NGO leadership background, institutional funding record, experience with local partners and ability to operate across complex networks.
The stated closing date is 31 August 2026, so applicants should submit before the deadline.
About CARE International UK
CARE fights poverty and social injustice in some of the world’s most vulnerable places.
Its work spans international development and humanitarian action, with a particular focus on achieving meaningful and lasting change for women and girls.
This makes the Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy position an opportunity to contribute at a senior strategic level to an organization working across major global development and humanitarian challenges.
Final Thoughts
The CARE International UK Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy Job 2026 is a senior-level opportunity for an experienced international development leader.
With a salary of £88,800–£91,761, permanent employment and a hybrid London working arrangement, the role combines leadership of programmes, policy and advocacy with institutional funding, humanitarian strategy and wider CARE Confederation priorities.
The strongest candidates will be those who can demonstrate substantial international NGO experience, a proven institutional funding record, strong partnership and stakeholder-management skills, and a commitment to locally led and gender-transformative approaches.
Applicants should review the official vacancy carefully and ensure their experience directly addresses the requirements before applying.
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