Program Development Lead - CARE Ukraine

UkraineProgram Development Lead - CARE UkraineOrganizationCARE DeutschlandPosted 10 Nov 2025 Closing date 20 Nov 2025TERMS OF REFERENCEInterim Program Development LeadDuty Station: Hybrid role, 60% Kyiv (Ukraine) with occasional travel to CARE Ukraine sub offices, 40% home-basedContract Start Date: November 2025Contract End Date: 28 February 2026Level of effort: Up to 45 working days, as per task orderContract Management Responsibility: Deputy Country Director – ProgramBackgroundCARE Ukraine is a country office in the CARE International federation which comes under the management of CARE Germany. It has been operating in Ukraine since March 2022.CARE Ukraine currently has an FY25 portfolio of approx. EUR 13 million, funded by GFFO/ BMZ, ECHO, DANIDA, Czech MOFA, ADA (Austrian Development Agency), AFD (Agence Francaise de Developpement), LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and others. We implement primarily humanitarian programs, in the protection, GBV/ SRH, integrated humanitarian response, WASH and womens empowerment sectors. The focus of most programming is in the frontline oblasts of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv, with some programming in Dnipropetrovsk oblast. We have 71 staff and implement through 12 Ukrainian CSO partners. The country office is in Kyiv, with a support office in Lviv and field offices in Dnipro, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv.CARE Ukraine is seeking an interim Program Development (PD) Lead to support program development until a long-term PD is recruited and comes on board. The interim PD Lead is required to start as soon as possible, ideally by early November 2025. The role will be completed by 28 February 2026. During this four-month period the interim PD Lead is required to work up to 45 working days, as per task orders issued by CARE Ukraine. At least 60% of the time the consultant is required to be based in Ukraine, working out of the Kyiv office, including at the outset of the consultancy and during peak proposal development periods. The balance of the time (up to 40%), the consultant may work from home, in a location not more than 2 hours’ time difference from Kyiv (ie GMT +2 to GMT + 4).Program Development Lead roleThe PD Lead is responsible for leading CARE Ukraine’s efforts to design new programs and raise new funding. He/ she works with the Program Quality (PQ) Lead, the Partnership Unit, Finance Department, HR Department and Safety and Security Manager to develop quality, winning concept notes and proposals for submission to donors.Tasks which are undertaken by the PD Lead includeLead the proposal development planning process, including analysis of funding calls, development and monitoring of proposal development plans, organizing proposal kick-off meetings, ensuring the engagement of the relevant teams and ensure timely submission of CARE Ukraine proposal checklists and other assessmentsIn collaboration with technical advisors and others, lead the development of high-quality narrative components for Concept Notes and Proposals, in line with CARE Ukraine’s priorities and donor requirementsPerform a principal role in consolidating technical narratives, budget and relevant annexures with the contributions from relevant technical, finance and other team members, partners and other stakeholders, ensuring their alignment to the purpose of the call/ opportunity; and edit and proofread content to ensure high-quality final proposal outputMake informed and strategic decisions on the technical and contextual content included in the narrative.Closely work with DCD P, Program Quality Lead and Technical Advisors to gather information and insights to enhance the quality and relevance of concept note/proposal content.Deliver high-quality, tailored content for technical and financial proposals or related documents in full compliance with CARE Ukraine and quality standards.Ensure consistency in proposal writing by complying with CARE Ukraine standards and donor requirements.Leading the GO/ NO GO process for new prospectsCoordinating the concept note/ proposal development process, ensuring that relevant members of the team collaborate, and that the concept note/ proposal is completed and submitted prior to the deadlineDevelopment of boiler-plate language for concept notes and proposalsWriting key non-technical sections of concept notes/ proposals, and supporting technical staff in the writing of technical sectionsIn the case of major proposals where an external (consultant/ secondment) proposal writer is recruited, manage the work of the proposal writerEnsure that any concept note/ proposal that is submitted is compliant with donor requirements and CARE policiesInterim PD Lead roleThe consultancy is to provide interim support for program development while recruitment for the Program Development (PD) Lead position is underway.The Interim PD Lead will focus on the writing of new proposals and concept notes which are due for submission either within the period of the consultancy, or soon thereafter.The priority tasks for the Interim PD Lead are thus to lead the development, review, and submission of high-quality proposals, concept notes and donor pitches and ensure all submissions are accurate, complete, and meet donor requirements.Priority proposal development tasksLead on the design, development and submission of the Later -day Saints Charities full proposal for 2026Lead on the development of and submit the ECHO Single Form for CARE Ukraine proposed actions under the HIP in FY26Lead on the development of and submit CARE Ukraine’s proposal in response to the expected GFFO and BMZ calls for proposals for FY26Lead on the design, development and submission of the UN Ukraine Humanitarian pooled fund proposal for 2026Lead on the design, development and submission of the concept note for the anticipated DANIDA FY26 humanitarian CfPLead on the design, development and submission of the International Climate Initiate ‘IKI’ concept note anticipated to be launched in November 2025NB: this isn’t an exhaustive list flexibilityLower priorities areTo monitor donor funding strategies and trends and to propose adjustments to CARE’s donor engagement and fundraising strategiesto foster strategic partnerships and alliances with INGOs, CSOs, government agencies, and private sector actorsRequired Qualifications And SkillsAt least five years’ experience in program development with international NGOs or national CSOsAt least three years’ experience working in a context similar to that in Ukraine, or in a HO role in support of program development in a context similar to UkraineUnderstanding of the Ukraine contextStrong team management skillsExperience and excellent skills in collaborating across teamsDemonstrated strategic thinking abilityExcellent English writing skills with proven ability to develop high quality concept notes and proposalsDesired Qualifications And SkillsExperience preparing proposals for submission to donors such as Netherlands DGIS, DANIDA, SDC, GFFO, BMZ, ECHO, Humanitarian Pooled Fund ECHO, other European MoFA’s, UN, HPF etc.Experience working in support of humanitarian/ development programs in UkraineExperience living in UkraineMaster’s degree or equivalent in a field relevant to international humanitarian or development programsExperience working in both humanitarian and development contextsExperience with both institutional donors and foundationsSafeguardingChildren and vulnerable adults who come into contact with CARE as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that CARE shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.Gender equalityCARE is committed to meeting the standards of the CARE International Gender Policy (2019). Through this policy, CARE seeks to promote the equal realization of dignity and human rights for girls, women, boys and men in all diversities, and the elimination of poverty and injustice. Specifically, this policy seeks to improve the explicit incorporation of gender in programmatic and organizational practices.How to applyPlease send your complete application package (CV, motivation letter, references)as well as your availability to application@care.de no later than 20 November 2025 with the Subject: Program Development Lead - CARE Ukraine.Due to the urgency of the position, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.Job detailsCountryUkraineCity Hybrid SourceCARE DeutschlandTypeJobCareer categoryDonor Relations/Grants ManagementYears of experience5-9 yearsShare Share this on Facebook Share this on X Post this on LinkedIn