Programme Officer – Latin America and the Caribbean

Salary: £30,000-35,000 p.a. (based on profile and experience)

Duration: Initial 18-month contract, with a view to becoming permanent

Location: Remote within the United Kingdom

Reports to: Programmes Manager

Preferred start date: As soon as possible 

The Degrees Initiative seeks a Programme Officer who will focus on supporting our work in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Degrees is still a relatively small team; the successful candidate will be flexible, motivated and comfortable working in a growing organisation where roles are evolving and initiative is valued. 

About Degrees 

The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that strengthens the capacity of the Global South to evaluate solar radiation modification (SRM), a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that Global South should be empowered to conduct their own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions. The initiative has been working in different forms for over a decade, and our work receives worldwide coverage and widespread acclaim.

Role

The Programme Officer will manage day-to-day relationships with Degrees’ research groups based in the Latin America and Caribbean region, ensure smooth grant administration, and support regional events.

Key Responsibilites

Grantees

• Being the first point of contact for our grantees and stakeholders, including volunteer research collaborators.
• Supporting research teams to gain access to, for example, modelling data.

Grant management

• Grant management, including onboarding and ongoing administrative support for the grantees of the various research funds at Degrees.
• Processing payments.
• Supporting the monitoring, evaluation and learning process in relation to programmatic activities.

Events

• Working closely with the Events Manager, other regional Programme Officers and Policy Engagement staff to organise international events, including regional workshops in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Administration

• Support the building and improvement of internal processes.
• Contributing to the monthly call and research seminars.
• Provide ad-hoc support as needed, for example, financial administrative support for grants and programmatic events, note-taking, organising travel, inputs to communications, working with Degrees’ senior management, board, volunteers, and partners.

Key relationships

• Within the Programmes team forge close working relations with Programmes Director, Programmes Manager, other Programme Officers, Events Manager, Staff Scientist and Scientific Writing and Publishing Lead.
• Develop strong working relations with colleagues from the following teams i) Operations, ii) Policy & Engagement and iii) Communications.
• Provide ongoing support for Degrees funded scientists based in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Qualifications

We are seeking a dynamic self-starter based in the UK, with experience in planning and running international events as well as academic workshops. As Degrees is still operating as a relatively small but growing team, the successful candidate will be flexible and motivated – prepared to turn their hand to whatever needs doing to deliver Degrees’ programme of work.

Essential

• A university degree in a relevant subject such as international development, international relations, public policy or earth sciences.
• At least two years’ experience.
• An understanding of climate change science and associated development challenges.
• Fluent in English and Spanish.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Good analytical skills with an ability to distil key messages from complex information.
• Strong digital skills.
• An ability to multitask, to set and deliver on priorities, and to work under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work with people of all levels and backgrounds.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, remote start-up environment.
• Ability to travel overseas for up to a week per visit as required.
• A commitment to the mission and values of the Degrees Initiative.
• Legal right to work in the UK.

Desirable

• A master’s degree in a relevant subject.

• A degree in environmental science or international development.

• Five to ten years of post-university professional experience

• Proficiency in Portuguese.

• Advanced digital skills, such as proficiency with advanced spreadsheet functions.

• Experience using CRM systems and Microsoft Office applications, with strong proficiency in Excel.

• Experience working in or with developing countries.

• Experience in event organisation, workshop facilitation, grant administration, impact monitoring and evaluation, and/or budgeting and financial management.

Benefits of working at Degrees

• You will join a growing and dynamic charity operating at the intersection of climate change and global development.

• You will have the opportunity to contribute to a potentially high-impact issue by helping shape global conversations on climate science, empowering researchers in the Global South, and collaborating with some of the world’s leading SRM experts.

• The role is fully remote, allowing you to live anywhere within the United Kingdom. The team meets face-to-face at quarterly ‘away days’ in the UK. These are organised and paid for by the charity, and are usually in Bristol.

• Degrees provides an 8% employer pension contribution with no required employee contribution, which is generous by the standards of the UK third sector.

• The role includes opportunities for international travel.

• You will receive 36 days of annual leave per year which includes UK public holidays.

• Personal development budget of £1,000 per year.

To apply

Please answer the questions below and attach a copy of your CV titling it “First name_surname_PO_CV”.   

• Why are you interested in working for the Degrees Initiative and what interests you about this role?

• How do you meet the essential criteria for this role? Please explain with examples.

• Which of the desirable criteria do you meet? Please explain. Or, if you do not meet any of the desirable criteria, which skills or experience do you have that you believe would be useful to the role?

You will receive a reply confirming receipt of the application.

The deadline for applications is 29 March 2026 (23:59 GMT). Successful applicants will be invited to a first interview in April 2026 and will be asked to undertake an assessment exercise before the interview. Successful applicants will be invited to a second interview.

If you have any questions regarding the role, please email jobs@degrees.ngo

Application form

Data protection statement

The Degrees Initiative collects and processes personal data as part of the recruitment process. This information is used solely to assess your suitability for the role and to take necessary steps prior to entering into an employment contract.

We rely on the lawful basis of Article 6(1)(b) of the UK GDPR (processing necessary for the performance of a contract or to take steps prior to entering into a contract). If your application is successful, your data will also be used to administer your employment.

Your personal data will be handled confidentially and stored securely. We may retain recruitment data for record-keeping, future recruitment opportunities, or legal compliance purposes.

Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to access, correct, or erase your data, and to object to or restrict processing, where applicable.