This is an excellent opportunity to join CARE International UK’s Programme Management Team in a senior programme finance role at a time when the organisation is continuing to evolve how it funds and delivers programmes. The role sits at the heart of CARE’s engagement with a wide range of institutional, corporate, and philanthropic donors and plays a critical role in ensuring programmes are well designed, financially robust, and compliant from proposal stage through delivery.
As Senior Programme Finance Specialist, you will work across diverse funding mechanisms, including traditional grants and commercial contracts, and collaborate closely with programme managers, country offices, and finance colleagues across the CARE confederation. The role offers meaningful exposure to complex programmes and innovative funding arrangements, as well as the opportunity to shape how CARE strengthens financial quality, risk management, and donor confidence across its portfolio.
About you
You are an experienced programme finance professional with strong budgeting and financial analysis skills and a track record of supporting proposals and managing grants for institutional and corporate donors. You are comfortable working on complex proposal budgets, including for commercial contracts and non-traditional funding mechanisms, and have a solid understanding of donor compliance requirements and cost recovery principles.
You bring excellent attention to detail, strong Excel skills, and the ability to explain financial and contractual issues clearly to non-finance colleagues. You are confident working independently across a mixed portfolio, supporting programmes across the full project lifecycle from proposal development and contracting through to delivery, reporting, and close-out. You share CARE’s commitment to tackling structural inequality and are comfortable working in line with feminist leadership, localisation, and safeguarding principles.
About the role
The Senior Programme Finance Specialist provides senior financial, contractual, and compliance leadership across a mixed portfolio of programmes funded by institutional, corporate, and philanthropic donors. The role has a strong focus on programme funding and proposal development, working closely with Programme Funding colleagues, Programme Managers, and Country Offices to develop compliant, well-structured budgets and financial narratives.
Key objectives include ensuring robust financial design at proposal stage, effective financial oversight during delivery, and strong compliance and audit readiness across the portfolio. The role also contributes to financial risk management, supports contract negotiations and amendments, and provides technical advice and capacity strengthening to colleagues and partners. Strong budgeting capability, experience with institutional and corporate proposals, and the ability to work confidently with commercial contracts are central to success in this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Following recent changes to Skilled Worker Visa eligibility, a number of roles have been removed from the immigration salary list.
Applicants residing outside of the UK may apply for this role if it is has an eligible occupation code, identifies as a ‘higher skilled’ job and meets the salary threshold. Before submitting your application, please review the latest Skilled Worker Visa guidance here.
This is a compelling opportunity to take on a senior programme management role within CARE International UK at a time when the organisation is adapting to evolving funding relationships and increasing engagement with innovative funding mechanisms and corporate partners. As Senior Programme Manager, you will be entrusted with leading some of CARE’s most complex and high-value programmes, ensuring strong delivery, compliance, and impact across diverse contexts.
The role offers meaningful exposure to non-traditional donors and private sector partnerships, alongside CARE’s established institutional funding, with a particular focus on francophone Africa. You will work closely with country offices, partners, and donors to navigate complexity, support effective delivery, and respond to new ways of working, while maintaining CARE’s strong commitment to gender equality and locally led approaches. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced programme manager looking to deepen their expertise in complex portfolio delivery and innovative partnerships within a values-driven organisation.
About you
You are an experienced programme management professional with a strong track record of managing complex, multi-country or high-value programmes funded by institutional and corporate donors, with experience managing projects across the full project lifecycle, from contracting and start-up through implementation, reporting, and close-out. You bring sound judgement, strong organisational skills, and the confidence to lead donor relationships, negotiate contracts, and resolve delivery challenges in partnership with country offices and stakeholders.
You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French, and experience working in or with francophone contexts, particularly in West Africa. Experience engaging with corporate partners and an understanding of agricultural value chains, such as cocoa or similar commodities, and the realities facing smallholder farmers, will be a strong advantage. You are committed to CARE’s values and bring a demonstrated commitment to tackling structural inequality, promoting gender equality, and working in line with feminist leadership principles.
About the role
The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for independently managing a mixed portfolio of humanitarian and/or development programmes, including some of CARE International UK’s most complex and high-value projects. The role leads on programme oversight across the full project lifecycle, from contracting and start-up through to delivery, reporting, and close-out, ensuring high standards of quality, compliance, and risk management.
The role involves close collaboration with country offices, partners, and internal teams, including Programme Finance, Programme Funding, and technical advisers, as well as acting as a senior interface with donors. The priority geographic focus for this post is West Africa, with particular emphasis on francophone countries, and the portfolio may include programmes linked to corporate partnerships and agricultural value chains.
Key skills and abilities required include strong programme and financial management capability, excellent donor and stakeholder relationship management, the ability to manage complexity and competing priorities, and confidence working independently while escalating risks appropriately. The role requires excellent English and French language skills, sound judgement, and a collaborative, solutions-focused approach.
Right to Work in the UK
Following recent changes to Skilled Worker Visa eligibility, a number of roles have been removed from the immigration salary list.
Applicants residing outside of the UK may apply for this role if it is has an eligible occupation code, identifies as a ‘higher skilled’ job and meets the salary threshold. Before submitting your application, please review the latest Skilled Worker Visa guidance here.