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Lead a Movement Advancing Universal Energy Access
Chief Executive Officer - SolarAid
Location: UK - hybrid
Travel: c. 8-10 weeks per year (Africa programmes, partners, global forums)
Salary: ~£100k
Type: Full-time
About SolarAid
SolarAid is an ambitious international charity working to achieve a world where everyone has access to clean, renewable energy. With a strong track record of impact across sub-Saharan Africa, SolarAid has helped transform access to energy through solar solutions that improve lives, livelihoods and the environment.
Today, SolarAid is entering a pivotal new phase. Building on proven delivery models, the organisation is shifting towards systems change - scaling impact through partnerships, influencing markets, and shaping policy to accelerate universal energy access. Alongside this, SolarAid retains active operational programmes in countries such as Malawi and Zambia, ensuring deep, real-world insight informs its work.
This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation with both credibility on the ground and growing influence at the highest levels.
What You Can Look Forward To
As CEO, you will lead SolarAid through an exciting transition - balancing external influence and internal leadership to unlock its next phase of impact.
You will:
- Shape and Deliver Strategy
Bring clarity, focus and prioritisation to SolarAid's ambitions, ensuring resources are aligned to the highest-impact opportunities - Drive Global Influence
Act as SolarAid's primary ambassador, building credibility with governments, funders, multilaterals and partners - Scale Impact Through Partnerships
Expand and strengthen partnerships to deliver scalable, replicable models across sub-Saharan Africa
Why This Role Matters
- You will lead a mission that is fundamental to human development and climate progress
- SolarAid combines proven delivery with growing global influence
- You will have the opportunity to shape the future of energy access at scale
About You
SolarAid is seeking an experienced, credible and decisive leader - someone equally comfortable representing the organisation externally and leading it internally through change.
Skills and Experience
- Proven senior leadership experience (CEO, Executive Director or equivalent) within international development, social enterprise or a related field
- Experience of programme delivery in sub-Saharan Africa, with a deep understanding of operating contexts
- Demonstrable ability to build credibility and influence with governments, funders, and global partners
- Track record of leading organisations through complexity, change or transition
- Strong strategic judgement, with the ability to prioritise and align ambition with capacity
Highly Desirable:
- Relevant sector expertise - in energy access, climate, or adjacent sectors
Personal Attributes
- Decisive and empowering, able to lead with clarity and confidence
- Credible and articulate ambassador, with presence at senior levels
- Emotionally intelligent, able to build trust and stability in a mission-driven culture
Recruitment Timeline
To ensure equitable access to information and uphold SolarAid's commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the charity hosted a Q&A webinar in place of individual informal calls with the Chair/Outgoing CEO.
Application Deadline: 5pm, Monday 22nd June 2026
First Interviews: w/c 6th July 2026
Final Interviews: w/c 13th July
How to Apply
Charity People Ltd is acting as a recruitment agency advisor SolarAid on this appointment. Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV to Senior Appointments at Charity People and request a candidate pack in the first instance. For an informal conversation about the role or if you have further questions prior to applying, please contact Fabrice Yala or Tiku van Houtem at Charity People
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.
Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.
Salary: £49,100 per annum
Contract Type: 6-month Fixed Term Contract
Closing date: 21 June 2026 at 11pm
Interview date: 29-30 June 2026
About CARE
CARE International is a global humanitarian organisation leading the fight to end poverty in the world’s most challenging situations. Women and girls are at the centre of our work, because we cannot overcome poverty and inequality until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We know that when a crisis erupts, women are often the first to pick up the pieces, so we work alongside women, so they have the power to make change where it’s needed most. Founded in 1945, CARE currently works in over 100 countries and last year alone reached 53.4 million people through nearly 1,500 projects.
Why work for CARE International UK?
This is a compelling opportunity to take on a senior programme management role within CARE International UK at a time when the organisation is adapting to evolving funding relationships and increasing engagement with innovative funding mechanisms and corporate partners. As Senior Programme Manager, you will be entrusted with leading some of CARE’s most complex and high-value programmes, ensuring strong delivery, compliance, and impact across diverse contexts.
The role offers meaningful exposure to non-traditional donors and private sector partnerships, alongside CARE’s established institutional funding, with a particular focus on francophone Africa. You will work closely with country offices, partners, and donors to navigate complexity, support effective delivery, and respond to new ways of working, while maintaining CARE’s strong commitment to gender equality and locally led approaches. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced programme manager looking to deepen their expertise in complex portfolio delivery and innovative partnerships within a values-driven organisation.
About you
You are an experienced programme management professional with a strong track record of managing complex, multi-country or high-value programmes funded by institutional and corporate donors, with experience managing projects across the full project lifecycle, from contracting and start-up through implementation, reporting, and close-out. You bring sound judgement, strong organisational skills, and the confidence to lead donor relationships, negotiate contracts, and resolve delivery challenges in partnership with country offices and stakeholders.
You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (essential) and French (desirable). Experience engaging with corporate partners and an understanding of agricultural value chains, such as cocoa or similar commodities, and the realities facing smallholder farmers, will be a strong advantage. You are committed to CARE’s values and bring a demonstrated commitment to tackling structural inequality, promoting gender equality, and working in line with feminist leadership principles.
About the role
The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for independently managing a mixed portfolio of humanitarian and/or development programmes, including some of CARE International UK’s most complex and high-value projects. The role leads on programme oversight across the full project lifecycle, from contracting and start-up through to delivery, reporting, and close-out, ensuring high standards of quality, compliance, and risk management.
The role involves close collaboration with country offices, partners, and internal teams, including Programme Finance, Programme Funding, and technical advisers, as well as acting as a senior interface with donors. The portfolio will likely include grants as well as commercial contracts and may include corporate partnerships in addition to institutional donors.
Key skills and abilities required include strong programme and financial management capability, excellent donor and stakeholder relationship management, the ability to manage complexity and competing priorities, and confidence working independently while escalating risks appropriately. The role requires sound judgement and a collaborative, solutions-focused approach.
As this is a short-term contract, the successful candidate will be expected to familiarise themselves very quickly with the role. Only candidates who meet the requirements and are available immediately will be considered for shortlisting.
Right to Work in the UK
All applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of appointment. Proof of right to work will be required as part of the recruitment process. For more information, please visit the UK Government's guidance on right to work.
Where you do not have current right to work in the UK, then this will be discussed with you as part of the recruitment process. Please note that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship and further information (should you require sponsorship to work in the UK) on eligibility can be found here.
Safeguarding
CARE International UK has a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse to, sexual harassment of or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. CARE International UK expects all staff to share this commitment through our Safeguarding Policy (link here) and our Code of Conduct (link here). They are responsible for ensuring they understand and work within the remit of these policies throughout their time at CARE International UK.
Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do, including recruitment. All offers of employment at CARE International UK are subject to:
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Satisfactory references. CARE International UK participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (link here). In line with this Scheme, we will request information from successful applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
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Appropriate criminal record checks (including a Bridger check, link here).
By submitting an application, the applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
Equality and Diversity
We are committed to Equality and value Diversity. We are a Disability Confident Employer and particularly welcome applications from disabled people. We guarantee interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role (see person specification). If you require the candidate brief or need to submit your application in an alternative format, because of a disability, please do get in touch by sending an email to the HR Team.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from people of underrepresented backgrounds, including those from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

