CARE International is a leading development organization dedicated to saving lives, fighting poverty, and achieving social justice with a special emphasis on women and girls. CARE International is a global force and a partner of choice within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people. CARE International and partners contribute to the empowerment of the most marginalized and vulnerable rural women and girls to exercise their rights.

The Opportunity

CARE Malawi is seeking an exceptional, strategic, and results-oriented professional to join its Senior Leadership Team as Head of Programmes & Partnerships. This is a unique opportunity to lead the design, growth, and delivery of CARE Malawi's ambitious Country Strategy (2026–2030), advancing sustainable impact for women and girls through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, systems change, and resource mobilization.

Reporting to: Country Director

Supervises: Thematic Lead Persons and Project Managers

Role Summary

The Head of Programmes & Partnerships will provide strategic leadership for CARE Malawi's integrated programme portfolio, overseeing programme quality, implementation, business development, resource mobilisation, donor engagement, and partnership management. The role will work closely with the Country Director and Senior Leadership Team to position CARE Malawi as a preferred partner for government, donors, private sector actors, research institutions, and local organizations.

The successful candidate will lead the design and delivery of high-quality, gender-transformative and climate-resilient programs while driving business development, donor engagement, localization, and strategic partnerships. This role plays a critical leadership function in shaping CARE Malawi's growth, impact, and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Development:

• Lead the development and implementation of CARE Malawi's strategic program direction
• Ensure alignment with national priorities and CARE's global strategies
• Promote innovation, digitalization, evidence-based programming, gender equality, and climate resilience across the portfolio
• Oversee a coherent and integrated multi-sector program portfolio

Program Quality, Implementation & Impact:

• Provide leadership to ensure effective, timely, compliant, and high-quality program implementation
• Oversee a high-quality, multi-sector programme portfolio that integrates gender equality, climate resilience, localisation, and innovation
• Ensure effective programme implementation, quality assurance, accountability, learning, and impact measurement
• Strengthen program integration across food systems, education, climate resilience, humanitarian response, and other sectors
• Oversee Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems
• Drive adaptive management, risk management, accountability, and learning

Business Development & Resource Mobilization:

• Lead CARE Malawi's funding diversification and resource mobilization strategy
• Lead business development efforts, including pipeline management, donor engagement, opportunity capture, and resource mobilisation
• Maintain a robust and forward-looking funding pipeline
• Lead opportunity identification, capture planning, and Go/No-Go decision-making
• Expand relationships with institutional donors, foundations, climate finance mechanisms, and emerging funding sources
• Strengthen CARE Malawi's competitive positioning and business development culture

Proposal Design & Development:

• Oversee the design and development of competitive, evidence-based proposals for institutional donors, foundations, and emerging funding sources
• Oversee end-to-end proposal development processes
• Coordinate cross-functional proposal teams and quality assurance mechanisms

Partnerships, Localization & Private Sector Engagement:

• Strengthen partnerships with local organizations, government institutions, academia, research organizations, private sector actors, and development partners
• Advance CARE Malawi's localization agenda through strategic partnerships with local and women-led organizations
• Build and maintain relationships with government, donors, UN agencies, INGOs, academia, and the private sector
• Develop innovative partnerships and co-investment opportunities with corporate partners
• Drive CARE Malawi's localisation and private sector engagement agenda, promoting shared-value partnerships and sustainable development solutions

Donor Relations & Representation:

• Serve as a senior representative of CARE Malawi with donors and external stakeholders
• Maintain strategic relationships with key bilateral, multilateral, and philanthropic donors
• Ensure high-quality donor reporting, compliance, and stewardship

Team Leadership:

• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing program and business development teams
• Foster a culture of learning, accountability, collaboration, and innovation
• Lead the implementation of CARE Malawi's Country Strategy 2026–2030 and drive strategic programme growth
• Represent CARE Malawi with donors, networks, government stakeholders, and strategic partners to strengthen organizational positioning and influence
• Lead and mentor programme and business development teams, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, learning, and performance

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree in international development, Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, or a related field
• Equivalent combinations of education and extensive relevant experience will be considered

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in program leadership, business development, donor engagement, or related senior management roles within the development or humanitarian sector
• Demonstrated success in managing complex, multi-sector development programs; winning and managing large donor-funded grants and contracts; resource mobilization and donor engagement; and building and managing strategic partnerships
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa; Malawi experience is highly desirable

Desirable Experience:

• Experience with climate finance mechanisms such as GCF, GEF, or Adaptation Fund
• Knowledge of blended finance instruments and private sector engagement models
• Familiarity with Malawi's NGO operating environment and regulatory framework
• Experience building organizational business development capacity

Competencies:

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strategic leadership and systems thinking
• Strong relationship-building and partnership management skills
• Results orientation and accountability
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and gender equality
• Strong people leadership, coaching, and mentoring capabilities
• Dynamic learning mindset and innovation orientation

Languages: English and Chichewa

What CARE Offers

CARE offers a competitive compensation package, a diverse and inclusive work environment, and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful and lasting impact for vulnerable communities across Malawi.

Why Join CARE Malawi?

This role offers the opportunity to shape one of Malawi's leading development portfolios, drive sustainable change for women and girls, and influence national and regional development agendas through innovation, partnership, and impactful programming.

Application Process

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and experience and possess the required competencies should send their application letters with detailed CVs through email to:

Email: mwicarerecruit@care.org

Addressed to: The Country Director, CARE Malawi, P/Bag A89, LILONGWE

Deadline: 23 July 2026

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

CARE has zero tolerance to sexual exploitation and abuse and has a Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy which outlines expected behaviors and responsibilities of all staff and CARE related personnel (consultants, vendors, partners, project participants, etc.). All potential candidates will be required to complete a Self-Declaration Form and those successful will be expected to sign up to the Code of Behavior contained in the PSEA Policy.