Background
Lumos Foundation works to realise every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world. Our vision is a world in which all children grow up in safe and loving families within supported communities.
Founded in 2005 by author J.K. Rowling, Lumos partners with governments, civil society and young people with lived experience to transform care systems globally and advocate for family-based solutions that help children thrive. We ensure that families receive the support they need to stay together or reunite, and that children grow up in family-based settings such as foster or kinship care, not institutions.
Despite clear evidence of the harms of institutionalisation, more than five million children worldwide continue to live in institutions. And a much larger number of children are at risk of family breakdown and separation – those living in poverty, experiencing domestic violence and abuse, and living in countries affected by conflict.
We are ambitious for children’s safety. In the next ten years, Lumos will enable 500K children in care to return to family-based care, while preventing ten million more children from experiencing family breakdown and separation – so that they can thrive in their own families. Working with local, national, and global partners, Lumos supports government-led transformation of childcare systems across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America- driving systemic and sustainable change.
Lumos’ ambition for children is significant and will require the organisation and its partners to work in new ways – with a pace, drive and urgency that this moment demands – and that children everywhere deserve.
Lumos’ success will continue to be based not just on what we do, but on how we do it – our values. We embrace collaboration. We strive for excellence. We show respect. We always care. And we are passionate. We are Lumos.
Find out more about Lumos and our work at wearelumos.org.
Purpose of role
We are looking for an exceptional programme leader to help us achieve our ten-year ambition. The Director of Programme Delivery leads Lumos’ global programme portfolio, ensuring the organisation delivers high-quality and impactful programmes that contribute to sustainable systems change for children and families. The role is responsible for translating organisational strategy into effective delivery, strengthening programme quality and performance, and supporting Country Directors in achieving measurable results.
The postholder will also lead the continued evolution of Lumos’ programme delivery model, strengthening localisation and national leadership, building organisational learning and evidence, and developing innovative approaches that extend Lumos’ impact and influence beyond traditional country office structures.
Reporting to the Chief Programmes and Advocacy Officer, the role provides strategic and operational leadership across Lumos’ global programme portfolio.
Primary responsibilities
The job holder will have the following key responsibilities:
Deliver a high-performing global programme portfolio
- Lead the continued translation of Lumos’ Ten-Year Ambition into clear programme and country priorities, plans, budgets and delivery approaches.
- Lead the global programme portfolio, ensuring high-quality implementation, measurable results and clear accountability for performance, financial stewardship and donor commitments.
- Maintain clear oversight of performance, organisational health and risk, and ensure ambition is matched by the people, as well as the funding and organisational capacity required to deliver it.
Continuing to strengthen our country leadership
- Lead, coach and develop Lumos’ Country Directors, strengthening national leadership and building clear accountability for programme, financial, people and organisational performance.
- Help country teams evolve into influential national and regional centres of expertise in care reform and systems change.
- Develop pathways towards greater national ownership, autonomy and localisation, while strengthening collaboration and learning across countries and regions.
Evolve how Lumos delivers impact at scale
- Lead the continued evolution of Lumos’ programme delivery model, turning strategic ambition into practical approaches, clear accountabilities and effective ways of working.
- Develop models combining sustained country engagement, nationally led partnerships and other approaches capable of supporting sustainable systems reform.
- Help Lumos increase its impact and geographical reach without relying solely on establishing traditional country-office structures.
Make evidence central to how we work
- Hold senior accountability for programme quality, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning across the global portfolio.
- Continue to strengthen Lumos’ ability to demonstrate system-level change, using credible evidence and data to understand what works and how successful approaches can be adapted or scaled.
- Ensure evidence and learning from delivery, inform programme strategy, advocacy, partnerships, fundraising and future investment.
Lead across the organisation and beyond
- Work closely with Finance, People & Operations, Safeguarding, Safety & Security and other specialist functions to ensure programmes are effectively supported, responsibly managed and delivered safely.
- Champion meaningful participation and leadership of children, young people and people with lived experience across programme design, delivery and learning.
- Act as a senior organisational leader and member of the Executive Team, working closely with the Chief Programmes and Advocacy Officer, representing Lumos with governments, partners and funders, and contributing programme and country perspectives to wider organisational decisions.
What success looks like
- Exceptional delivery - a high-quality global portfolio delivering measurable results with strong financial, organisational and donor accountability.
- Strong country leadership - confident and accountable Country Directors with the authority, capability and support to lead effectively.
- A delivery model built for scale – stronger, locally led approaches and new ways of working that enable greater impact and geographical reach.
- Countries as centres of expertise - national teams increasingly leading systems change, generating evidence and sharing expertise across regions.
- Evidence that drives impact - credible learning about what works, informing programme improvement, influence, investment and future growth.
Profile
The following offers an aspirational view of our ideal candidate profile; however, we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.
Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience within an international organisation.
- Experience overseeing complex multi-country programmes.
- Experience leading senior programme or country leaders.
- Experience translating strategy into delivery and measurable results.
- Experience managing donor-funded programmes, grants and significant budgets.
- Experience leading programme or organisational change.
- Experience operating in international development, humanitarian or related sectors.
- Experience overseeing programmes delivered through different organisational and partnership models desired.
- Experience managing major institutional grants, such as those funded by government or multilateral donors desired.
- Experience supporting localisation or the transition of country operations towards greater national leadership and ownership desired.
- Experience coaching senior leaders desired.
Skills and qualifications
- Expert knowledge of programme management and programme delivery.
- Strong understanding of programme cycle management, including financial management, risk management, monitoring and evaluation.
- Knowledge of donor-funded programme management, compliance and reporting.
- Ability to provide strategic leadership while maintaining strong operational oversight and accountability.
- Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills.
- Knowledge of systems change and approaches to achieving sustainable impact at scale desired.
- Understanding of different international delivery models, including country offices, national organisations and programmes co-created with local partners desired.
- Knowledge of the international funding environment and major institutional donor requirements desired.
- Understanding of children’s rights, care reform or a related field desired.
Personal traits desired
- Strategic thinker with strong delivery focus.
- Collaborative and empowering leadership style.
- Strong interpersonal and networking skills.
- Credibility and authority to influence and direct senior leaders.
- Emotionally intelligent and able to build relationships.
- Commitment to Lumos’ mission and values.
- Curious and open to testing new delivery models and ways of working desired.
Additional Information
Alongside the opportunity to contribute to a truly life-changing mission, you’ll enjoy excellent benefits, a supportive and inclusive culture, and a genuine commitment to your personal and professional development. Some of the benefits we offer include
- 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
- Enhanced family-friendly leave (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental) and enhanced sick pay.
- Hybrid and flexible working.
- Competitive employer pension scheme.
- Learning and development opportunities.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support and advice.
Safeguarding Statement
Lumos is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and expects all staff, associates and volunteers to uphold our safeguarding and PSEA standards. We have zero tolerance for abuse, bullying, harassment and sexual exploitation, and all appointments are subject to appropriate screening, checks and references.
Find out more here: https://www.wearelumos.org/our-safeguarding-policy/
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
Lumos is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to creating a workplace where everyone is valued, respected and able to contribute. We celebrate the diversity of our global teams and are committed to challenging discrimination and promoting inclusion in everything we do.
Find out more here: https://www.wearelumos.org/who-we-are/
Our Values
- We embrace collaboration.
- We strive for excellence.
- We show respect.
- We always care.
- We are passionate.
To apply for the post
To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job announcement. Please ensure you send your CV and Cover letter in the following format: full_name_CV_org_name_role and full_name_role_CL.
If you have any questions about the role or organisation and would like an informal chat ahead of submitting a formal application, please reach out to Shoshana Grammer at shoshana@upsallinternational.com. Please note: to ensure the security of your application and to ensure that your data complies with GDPR, applications via email will not be accepted.
· The deadline for applications is Monday 12th October, 9:00 am CET ·
Stay updated on the latest jobs by subscribing to our Global Charity Jobs weekly bulletin, and if you’re looking for a rewarding career in the non-profit sector, join our talent pool.
Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required, irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability, or sexual orientation.
This position was originally posted by Lumos Foundation / Upsall International and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
