CARE International-UK Careers 2026: Director of Programmes, Policy & Advocacy

CARE International-UK Careers 2026: Director of Programmes, Policy & Advocacy is a senior leadership opportunity in London offering a salary of £88,800 to £91,761. The permanent hybrid role will lead CARE International UK’s programmes, policy, advocacy and institutional funding portfolio, with a focus on gender equality, humanitarian action, locally led development and impact for women and girls. Applications close on 31 August 2026.

CARE International UK is recruiting a Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy to join its Senior Leadership Team in London. According to the vacancy information, the role comes at a challenging period for the international development and humanitarian sectors, with shrinking aid budgets, increasing humanitarian needs, pressure on civic space and growing attacks on women’s rights.

The successful candidate will have a strategic role in shaping CARE International UK’s international development and humanitarian work. The position combines leadership across programmes, policy, advocacy and institutional funding while contributing to wider strategic priorities across the CARE Confederation.

The role is based in London, EC1M 4AR, with a hybrid working arrangement. It is a permanent position with a salary ranging from £88,800 to £91,761.

A central focus of the position is ensuring that CARE remains influential in development and humanitarian programming while advancing approaches centred on local leadership and gender transformation.

Tasks

The Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy will lead CARE International UK’s programmes, policy, advocacy and institutional funding portfolio.

Key areas of responsibility include:

Leading programmes, policy, advocacy and institutional funding activities.
Driving impactful change for women and girls globally.
Supporting efforts to secure major institutional funding.
Advancing locally led and gender-transformative approaches.
Maintaining CARE’s position at the forefront of development and humanitarian innovation.
Leading a UK influencing agenda using CARE’s evidence and expertise to influence government policy, donor priorities and public discussion.
Acting as a senior ambassador for CARE’s work with donors and policy stakeholders.
Contributing to strategic priorities across the wider CARE Confederation.
Providing leadership to CARE’s humanitarian portfolio.
Building high-performing teams and strengthening organisational performance.
Leading organisational change through uncertainty while maintaining focus on mission, performance and results.
Influencing senior stakeholders and translating strategy into measurable impact.

The position therefore combines organisational leadership with external influence, fundraising, humanitarian strategy and policy advocacy.

Qualifications

Education and Certification

The supplied vacancy does not specify a particular university degree, professional certification or minimum academic qualification.

Applicants should therefore review the full official recruitment information before applying for any detailed education requirements not included in the supplied vacancy.

Experience

CARE is seeking an inspiring and strategic leader with significant experience in the international NGO sector.

The vacancy highlights several areas of experience that are important for the position, including:

A strong track record of securing and managing institutional funding.
Experience delivering impact through local partners.
Experience operating within complex federated networks.
Demonstrated organisational change leadership.
Experience leading teams through periods of uncertainty.
Ability to influence senior stakeholders.
Ability to translate ambitious strategies into meaningful results.

The organisation also emphasises a commitment to gender equality, local leadership and lasting impact for women and girls. The successful applicant is expected to support an inclusive, anti-racist and feminist organisational culture.

Additional Information

Job title: Director of Programmes, Policy and Advocacy
Organisation: CARE International UK
Location: London, EC1M 4AR
Working arrangement: Hybrid
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £88,800–£91,761
Application deadline: 31 August 2026

CARE International UK is part of the wider CARE movement and works on poverty, social injustice, development and humanitarian issues in vulnerable communities.

This is a senior-level role and would be particularly relevant to professionals with substantial international development, humanitarian, policy, advocacy, fundraising and organisational leadership experience.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the official CARE International UK recruitment portal using the vacancy’s “Find out more and apply” option.

Applicants should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates their strategic leadership experience, institutional funding record, work with local partners, organisational change experience and commitment to gender equality and locally led development.

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