Chief Programs & Partnerships Officer, WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL UK

Location: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Germany, UK, Iraq, or US – applicants must have the existing right to work in one of these jurisdictions; WfWI will not sponsor a visa or provide relocation expenses.

About The Role

Women for Women International is seeking an exceptional Chief Programs & Partnerships Officer (CPPO) to join our Executive Leadership Team and help shape the future of our global impact. This pivotal executive leadership role is responsible for ensuring that our programs remain high quality, evidence-based, women-centred, and aligned with our mission to support women affected by war and conflict.

Reporting directly to the International CEO, the CPPO serves as a strategic partner on program direction, organizational growth, partnership development, and mission delivery. The role leads the organization’s global program strategy, program quality standards, evidence and learning agenda, institutional business development, strategic partnerships, and overall program coherence across multiple countries and regions.

As the senior leader for Global Programs, the CPPO will oversee a diverse portfolio spanning program design and innovation, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL), grant management, country office support, business development, and crisis response programming. Working closely with Regional Directors, Country Directors, and global functional leaders, you will ensure that country and regional priorities remain aligned with organizational strategy, delivery capacity, and the needs of women in conflict-affected settings.

The role provides executive oversight of Women for Women International’s global program model, ensuring programs are evidence-informed, financially sustainable, operationally feasible, and responsive to changing contexts. You will lead continuous improvement and innovation, champion evidence-based decision-making, and ensure that safeguarding, localization, learning, and women-centred design are embedded throughout our work.

A key aspect of the role is leading strategic partnerships and institutional business development. You will represent the organization with major donors, multilaterals, bilateral agencies, peer organizations, research institutions, and other influential stakeholders, helping secure funding and partnerships that advance our mission while maintaining program integrity and quality. You will also provide executive leadership for our Crisis Response Fund, enabling support to women in conflict-affected countries where the organization does not have a direct presence.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will contribute to the shaping of the organizational strategy, supporting transformation and change initiatives, strengthening cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring clear accountability and decision-making across the global organization.

This is an opportunity to lead our globally respected programs at a time of strategic growth and evolution, driving meaningful and lasting impact for women living through some of the world’s most challenging circumstances.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization’s global program strategy, ensuring alignment with mission and organizational growth.
• Oversee program quality standards, evidence, and learning agenda across multiple countries and regions.
• Provide executive oversight of Women for Women International’s global program model, ensuring programs are evidence-informed, financially sustainable, and operationally feasible.
• Lead institutional business development and donor engagement, securing funding and partnerships that advance the mission.
• Represent the organization with major donors, multilaterals, bilateral agencies, and other key stakeholders.
• Provide leadership for the Crisis Response Fund, supporting women in conflict-affected countries without a direct organizational presence.
• Ensure safeguarding, localization, learning, and women-centred design are embedded in all programs.
• Collaborate with Regional Directors, Country Directors, and global functional leaders to align priorities with organizational strategy.
• Contribute to organizational strategy, transformation, and change initiatives as part of the Executive Leadership Team.

Requirements

• Master's degree or equivalent in international development, social sciences, public policy, gender studies, humanitarian studies, or another relevant field. (A)
• Minimum 15 years of senior leadership experience in the international nonprofit, development, or humanitarian sector. (A)
• Substantial experience leading complex program portfolios across multiple countries, preferably including fragile or conflict-affected settings. (A)
• Strong track record in program strategy, program quality, country or regional program oversight, delivery coherence, and organizational change. (A)
• Demonstrated ability to lead evidence-based decision-making regarding programming, learning, and impact. (A)
• Strong experience with institutional business development and donor engagement, including translating strategic opportunities into funding commitments. (A)
• Proven track record of leading large, diverse, and geographically dispersed teams in matrixed structures. (A)
• Ability to think strategically at a global level and translate strategy into practical implementation. (A)
• Strong judgment and credibility in representing programmatic work with donors, peers, partners, Board members, and senior stakeholders. (A)
• Deep understanding of women's rights, gender equality, conflict, women, peace and security, and international development. (A)
• Excellent collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across programs, operations, communications, advocacy, finance, regional leadership, and revenue functions.
• Right to work in one of the specified locations (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Germany, UK, Iraq, or US) and willingness to relocate at own expense if currently located elsewhere. (A)

Benefits

At Women for Women International, you will find more than just a job. You will join a passionate team committed to creating meaningful change in the lives of the women we serve. We champion collaboration, integrity, and inclusion. This is a unique opportunity to play a defining leadership role in shaping global influence and advancing women’s rights in conflict-affected settings.

Diversity at Women for Women International is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce, giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, political opinions, and pregnancy and maternity.