Vacancy at United World Schools
Global Programmes Director
Kathmandu, Nepal
Vacancy listed
19/01/2026
Application deadline
15/02/2026
Details
Role summary
Role: Global Programmes Director
Remuneration: Competitive, negotiable
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Reports to: Global COO
Line reports: 4 Global team members - Senior Programmes Manager, GESSI Manager, Education Specialist, MEAL Manager
Type of contract: Full time, renewable
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal.
International and local travel required.
This is a newly created leadership role, introduced as part of UWS’ evolving organisational strategy to strengthen the impact, coherence, and sustainability of its global programmes. The Global Programmes Director will play a central role in shaping and driving this strategy, providing expert leadership across UWS’ multi-country education portfolio.
The role will lead strategic programme design and delivery, ensure strong institutional and donor alignment, and drive consistent, high-quality education outcomes across diverse low-resource contexts. Working closely with country teams, partners, governments, and donors, the postholder will bring deep expertise in education and international development to translate strategic ambition into meaningful, measurable impact for children and communities.
The postholder will act as an international development thought leader, bringing sector expertise and insights to inform UWS strategy, influence external stakeholders, and communicate innovative approaches across the organisation. They will also champion an inclusive, values-driven culture and advance the localisation agenda. Flexibility and willingness to travel domestically and internationally are essential to effectively support UWS programmes. International travel is expected to be approximately 4-6 trips per year, typically lasting 1-2 weeks, including stays in remote or challenging locations.
Key tasks and responsibilities
Role: Global Programmes Director
Remuneration: Competitive, negotiable
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Reports to: Global COO
Line reports: 4 Global team members - Senior Programmes Manager, GESSI Manager, Education Specialist, MEAL Manager
Type of contract: Full time, renewable
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal.
International and local travel required.
This is a newly created leadership role, introduced as part of UWS’ evolving organisational strategy to strengthen the impact, coherence, and sustainability of its global programmes. The Global Programmes Director will play a central role in shaping and driving this strategy, providing expert leadership across UWS’ multi-country education portfolio.
The role will lead strategic programme design and delivery, ensure strong institutional and donor alignment, and drive consistent, high-quality education outcomes across diverse low-resource contexts. Working closely with country teams, partners, governments, and donors, the postholder will bring deep expertise in education and international development to translate strategic ambition into meaningful, measurable impact for children and communities.
The postholder will act as an international development thought leader, bringing sector expertise and insights to inform UWS strategy, influence external stakeholders, and communicate innovative approaches across the organisation. They will also champion an inclusive, values-driven culture and advance the localisation agenda. Flexibility and willingness to travel domestically and internationally are essential to effectively support UWS programmes. International travel is expected to be approximately 4-6 trips per year, typically lasting 1-2 weeks, including stays in remote or challenging locations.
Key tasks and responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Shape and deliver mission-aligned programme strategies, budgeting, and operational plans. Ensure cohesive programme quality and global coherence, integrating insights across countries.
- Capacity Strengthening: Build the capability of country teams to lead planning, delivery, and adaptive management—prioritising local ownership and reducing dependency.
- Institutional Project Delivery: Lead institutional-level planning for large-scale, multi stakeholder education initiatives. Coordinate capacity development, alignment with government systems, and donor expectations.
- Fundraising & Donor Relations: Work closely with fundraising teams to design compelling proposals and cultivation strategies, support donor engagement, and proactively manage grants.
- MEAL Systems: Embed robust frameworks for monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning. Promote evidence-driven adaptation, quality assurance, and results based reporting.
- Global Learning & Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate cross-country exchange of best practices, evidence, and innovations to strengthen programme quality globally.
- Inclusion & Safeguarding: Champion gender, disability inclusion, and child protection across programmes. Maintain compliance and accountability systems.
- Partnerships &Advocacy: Build strategic alliances with governments, NGOs, and institutions. Represent UWS in regional forums and contribute to programme advocacy.
- Team Leadership: Provide inclusive, coaching-focused leadership. Develop staff capacity and drive organisational learning and cohesion across functions.
- Thought Leadership & Innovation: Drive UWS’ strategic insight by staying abreast of emerging trends, best practices, and innovative approaches in international development, ensuring the organisation remains forward-thinking, adaptive, and at the forefront of sector developments.
- Driving Inclusive Culture: Champion UWS’ evolving culture by fostering inclusivity, advancing localisation, and modelling the values and behaviours that inspire high performing, equitable teams and programmes.
Experience, knowledge and competencies
- 5+ years’ senior leadership in the education sector, including significant experience in international programme development, management and delivery.
- Advanced degree in Education, International Development, Public Policy, or equivalent experience
- Proven success in co-design and delivery of multi-country or large-scale institutional programmes in low-resource contexts.
- Experience supporting fundraising and maintaining strong donor relations (institutional donors preferred).
- Strong leadership in adaptive programme management and applying learning to scale.
- Track record in safeguarding and inclusive education programming.
- Excellent strategic, operational, and financial management skills.
- Strong influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build strategic partnerships across diverse contexts.
- Experience in public speaking and representing an organisation externally.
- Data literacy and the ability to use evidence to inform programme strategy and demonstrate impact.
- Fluency in English; other local languages valued.
- Willing to travel to remote sites
Every individual at UWS needs to:
- Be committed to UWS vision, mission and values and apply them in their daily behaviour and work. Be committed to undertaking UWS’ safeguarding training and adhering to relevant policies, to ensure everyone who comes to contact with UWS are as safe as possible.