Chief Programs & Partnerships Officer (CPPO)

Role Overview

As the Chief Programs & Partnerships Officer, you will serve on the Executive Leadership Team and act as the International CEO’s primary partner for ensuring global program coherence, quality, and mission alignment. Day to day, you lead the Global Programs team, set program standards, oversee institutional business development and strategic partnerships, and hold a formal matrix authority over programmatic decisions across regions—without duplicating line management for country offices once regional structures are in place. The role exists to protect program integrity, keep funding choices grounded in evidence and delivery realities, and drive continuous improvement in how the organization designs, delivers, and learns from its interventions for women affected by conflict.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the participatory development and execution of the global program strategy, ensuring it remains evidence-informed, context-responsive, financially realistic, and aligned with the mission.
• Set and maintain global program standards, technical approaches, quality assurance processes, and decision rights; provide final sign-off on major program design shifts, pilots, and innovations.
• Exercise matrix oversight of regional and country program plans, working through Regional Directors to ensure alignment with global strategy, delivery feasibility, and organizational priorities.
• Oversee the technical program functions—including Program Design, MERL, Grant Management, and Country Office Support—through the Deputy CPPO to strengthen evidence-based learning and operational coherence.
• Act as Executive Sponsor and primary decision-maker for the Crisis Response Fund, chairing its Steering Committee and ensuring alignment with localization, safeguarding, and partner engagement standards.
• Direct the global Business Development Unit to meet fundraising targets while safeguarding against donor-driven agendas; hold final go/no-go authority for institutional funding opportunities and programmatic commitments.
• Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with bilaterals, multilaterals, research institutions, and peer organizations to advance program quality, influence, and external positioning.
• Contribute to enterprise-wide leadership as a member of the Executive and Global Leadership Teams, collaborating closely with the COO and Chief Research, Policy, Advocacy & Strategic Communications Officer to ensure operational enablers and evidence-based external narratives support program delivery.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Extensive senior-level experience leading global programs in international development or humanitarian settings, including direct oversight of multi-country portfolios and matrix management.
• Demonstrated expertise in program design, monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL), with a track record of applying evidence to improve program quality and adapt models to complex contexts.
• Proven success in institutional business development and partnership building with major bilateral and multilateral donors, including managing large-scale proposal processes and maintaining donor relationships.
• Deep understanding of gender equality, women’s rights, and conflict-affected settings; familiarity with localization, safeguarding, and survivor-centered approaches is essential.
• Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills, with the ability to balance mission alignment with operational realities across diverse geographies.
• Experience leading senior teams, fostering collaboration across functional and regional boundaries, and influencing without direct line authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional languages a strong advantage.
• Advanced degree in international development, public policy, gender studies, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

What We Offer / Why Join

This role places you at the center of a mission-driven organization, shaping global strategy and partnerships that directly improve the lives of women affected by war and conflict. You will work as a trusted strategic partner to the CEO, lead a high-performing global team, and influence evidence-based programming across multiple countries. The position offers the opportunity to drive systemic improvements in program quality, build lasting institutional partnerships, and contribute to thought leadership in gender equality and women, peace, and security. You will join a collaborative executive leadership team committed to operational excellence, innovation, and accountability to the communities served.