About Elrha 

Elrha is a global organisation that drives humanitarian impact through research and innovation. Our work supports crisis-affected communities by delivering meaningful, evidence-based solutions in response to humanitarian challenges. 

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Programmes to lead our programmes, communications, and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) teams. This is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring our work aligns with Elrha's ambitious strategy, delivering tangible impact for humanitarian communities worldwide through research and innovation. 

As a key member of the Directors Group, you will collaborate closely across leadership teams to drive organisational effectiveness and sustainable growth. You will lead high-level donor engagement, oversee programme quality and impact, and strengthen Elrha's position as a leader in humanitarian research and innovation. 

We're looking for someone who can... 

• Lead the strategic direction of Elrha's programmes, ensuring alignment with its mission and maximising impact. 
• Oversee programme delivery, ensuring high-quality execution, financial accountability, and compliance. 
• Strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) systems to track and enhance effectiveness. 
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, funders, and humanitarian partners, expanding Elrha's influence. 
• Represent Elrha externally at key events and drive advocacy efforts for research and innovation in the sector. 
• Inspire and develop our high-performing teams, fostering a collaborative and values-driven culture.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate… 

• Senior leadership experience in the humanitarian sector, with a track record in programme management. 
• Expertise in fundraising, donor engagement, and financial oversight, including risk management and compliance. 
• Strong knowledge of MEAL principles and impact measurement in research and innovation. 
• Excellent strategic and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at a high level. 
• Experience in leading organisational change and fostering an inclusive, collaborative workplace culture. 
• Ideally with strengths in thought leadership in humanitarian research and innovation, and knowledge of emerging humanitarian trends.

Why Join Us? 

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of humanitarian research and innovation, working with a dedicated team and influential partners. If you are a strategic and passionate leader ready to drive impact, we'd love to hear from you. 

We offer: 

• Remote working as standard – staff can access office bases in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester if required/ appropriate. We expect staff to attend team meetings and away days in person as required. 
• As standard we work 35 hours per week. We are also happy to discuss flexible working patterns and many of our staff work non-standard working hours. 
• Our benefits include minimum 5% employer pension contribution (3% employee contribution), life cover, organisational sick pay, family friendly pay and leave schemes; incremental increase in annual leave (26 day basic entitlement) depending on length of service, opportunities for learning and development, a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and retail discounts platform. 
• Please read through the Information for Candidates document for further information about working at Elrha including information about Our Values, Strategy, Benefits and Salaries. 

Note for applicants: 

• Candidates must have the independent right to work in UK, and be resident in the UK, at the time of appointment - we are unable to support visa sponsorship for this role. 
• Please read through the job description for a detailed list of requirements, and ensure you complete the personal statement to explain how you feel you meet the requirements of the role and why you feel this is next career move for you. Applications without this information will not be shortlisted. 
• When applying you will be taken through the Save the Children UK recruitment system. Elrha is an independent subsidiary of SCUK and benefits from some SCUK systems and processes. 
• For any questions, please contact the HR team at HR@elrha.org. Note we do not use recruitment agencies. 

Closing date: 2 April 2025 (We reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a very high volume of applications). 

Interview dates: 1st Interview (online):  15 & 17 April 2025 

2nd Interview (in person in London):  29 April 2025 

About Elrha 

Elrha is a global organisation that finds solutions to complex humanitarian problems through research and innovation. We fund and support projects that go on to shape the way in which people across the world are supported during a crisis. We're an established and respected part of the humanitarian community, working closely and meaningfully with our fellow networks and actors to make change happen.  

Read our strategy: shaping the future: our strategy for research and innovation in humanitarian response 2023 - 2040. It sets out how we'll work with our community to realise its potential in humanitarian response, and how we'll capture the real change and improvements to the lives of people affected by crisis. 

Our strategy sets out our values by which we hold ourselves accountable as individuals and as an organisation and employer. 

• Putting people at the centre  
• Working with others  
• Acting responsibly  
• Committed to learning  
• Inspiring change 

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion 

Elrha is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work both external and internal. We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBTQ+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Please ensure you read the full job description, the Recruitment Pack, and complete the Personal Statement as requested in the application process. We look forward to hearing from you.