Chief Programs & Partnerships Officer

Title: Chief Programs & Partnerships Officer (CPPO)
Department: Global Programs Unit (GPU)
Grade: L
Status: Full-time. Monday to Friday

Contract type: permanent/open-ended
Location: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, S Africa, Germany, UK, Iraq, US – applicants must have the existing right to work in one of the jurisdictions as WfWI will not sponsor a visa nor provide relocation expenses.
Reports to: International Chief Executive Officer

Line Manages: Deputy Chief Programs and Partnerships Officer; Global Director, Business Development; Manager, Crisis Response Fund; GPU Coordinator; and, during the phased transition only, designated Country Directors where agreed by the International CEO.
Formal Matrix Role: Regional Directors and Country Directors, for program strategy, program quality, program standards, evidence, delivery feasibility, and programmatic commitments. This matrix role is not a second line-management relationship.

Safeguarding Level Tier 3: No contact with vulnerable adults and children

Background

Women for Women International (WfWI) invests where inequality is greatest by helping women who are forgotten — the women survivors of war and conflict. In Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan, women learn skills to rebuild their families and communities through the Women for Women International’s Stronger Women, Stronger Nations Programme. They form support networks, are equipped with the skills to earn an income and save and gain knowledge and resources about health and their rights. Since 1993, our global community has invested in the power of over 550,000 women across 17 conflict-affected countries, to create a ripple effect that makes the world more equal, peaceful, and prosperous. 

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 is a pivotal executive leadership role 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.

This role can be based in any of the following locations: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, S Africa, US, Germany, UK, Iraq

About you

We are keen to receive applications from senior leaders who meet the following criteria. The candidates will be shortlisted on the evidence provided for all the criteria marked (A) for Application.

Skills and Qualifications

Criteria marked ‘ A ‘will be assessed at the application stage.

Required

• 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.

• Strong experience with institutional business development and donor engagement, including the ability to translate strategic opportunities into funding commitments. A

• Strong 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.

• Strong judgment and credibility in representing programmatic work with donors, peers, partners, Board members, and senior stakeholders.

• Deep understanding of women's rights, gender equality, conflict, women, peace and security, and international development.

• 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 and willing to relocate at own expense if currently located elsewhere A

Why Join Us?

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. This means 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. Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all interested parties.

All our staff are required to adhere to WfWI’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies and to our organizational values: Empowerment, Integrity, Respect, Resilience and the Leadership Principles: Decisive, Accountable, Courageous, Adaptable and Inclusive.