Mary’s Meals is Seeking a Director of Programme Development – Apply Before 31 August 2025

Location: Remote (with regular international travel)
Salary: £62,355 (UK-based candidates) plus benefits; location-based salary structures apply
Application Deadline: Sunday, 31st August 2025

About Mary’s Meals

Mary’s Meals is a global movement dedicated to one transformative goal: ensuring that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in their place of education. Today, more than 2.6 million children benefit from this vision in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Rooted in values of dignity, community, and stewardship, Mary’s Meals operates through a unique model of local ownership, global support, and a commitment to safeguarding and accountability. The movement is powered by supporters and partners across continents, united by a shared mission of ending child hunger.

The Opportunity

Mary’s Meals International (MMI) is seeking an exceptional strategic leader to take on the role of Director of Programme Development. Reporting directly to the Chief Programmes Officer, this role is instrumental in shaping the future of the organisation’s global school feeding programmes.

The Director will guide the evolution of programme strategy, drive innovation, enhance quality and effectiveness, and lead global teams toward greater impact. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to transformational change at scale and to lead work that directly supports millions of children worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Innovation

• Lead the development and delivery of a global programme development strategy aligned with the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement in programme design, effectiveness, and impact, using evidence-based learning and sector innovations.
• Oversee the evolution and refinement of Mary’s Meals’ Theory of Change.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Provide visionary leadership to the Programme Development team and Country Directors.
• Promote a culture of empowerment, collaboration, and accountability across diverse international teams.
• Embed safeguarding standards across all areas of programme development and delivery.

External Engagement and Representation

• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with governments, multilateral agencies, research institutions, and peer organisations.
• Represent Mary’s Meals in high-level external forums, networks, and working groups relevant to school feeding, education, and child development.

Research, Learning, and Policy Influence

• Ensure robust research, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks are in place to inform policy and practice.
• Translate evidence into actionable insights and tools for programme refinement and advocacy.
• Contribute to the global policy dialogue on school feeding and nutrition.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience in international development or humanitarian sectors, preferably across multiple geographies.
• Proven track record of leading complex, high-impact global programmes with a focus on transformation and sustainability.
• Expertise in research, learning, evaluation, and policy influencing within development or humanitarian contexts.
• Demonstrated success in coaching and inspiring senior leaders and cross-cultural teams.
• Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to navigate diverse operating environments effectively.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working in or with school feeding initiatives.
• Background in strategic advocacy or policy engagement with government bodies.

Additional Information

This is a remote role with regular travel to countries where Mary’s Meals operates (up to 10 weeks per year). The role involves regulated work with children. Candidates will be required to register with the appropriate safeguarding authority (e.g., the PVG Scheme in the UK or local equivalent).

Mary’s Meals embraces a consistent pay philosophy across locations. The advertised salary applies to UK-based applicants; candidates from other countries will be compensated based on local salary scales. Interested individuals may contact [email protected] for salary details in their region.

How to Apply

Those inspired by Mary’s Meals’ mission and values and ready to lead programme innovation on a global scale are encouraged to apply.

Submit your CV and a concise cover note (maximum one page) outlining your suitability and motivation to join Mary’s Meals International.

Early applications are encouraged, as the vacancy may close ahead of the deadline if sufficient applications are received.

Mary’s Meals is committed to safeguarding and ensuring a safe working environment. We expect all members of our global movement to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and integrity, especially in service to the communities we support.

Visit official website to apply

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.