Humanitarian jobs

Company Overview
International Communities Organisation (ICO) is a London-based NGO that works with communities, governments, and international partners to address the root causes of exclusion that often drive conflict and instability. Through programmes focused on dialogue, capacity building, inclusive governance, economic revitalisation and utilising United Nations mechanisms, ICO seeks to find tangible ways to drive the inclusion of minority communities in political, social, and economic decision-making while supporting governments to develop more inclusive and responsive systems. 

ICO helps build trust between communities and governments, strengthen participation and accountability, and create the conditions for durable and inclusive peace.

Position Overview
The Project Coordinator will play a central operational role within the International Communities’ Organisation (ICO), ensuring that programmes across multiple country programmes are delivered effectively, on time, and within budget.

The role focuses on coordination, implementation oversight, reporting, and organisational support across ICO’s programmes in Cyprus, Kosovo, the Middle East, and Cameroon. Working closely with programme leads, the Project Coordinator will ensure that work plans are implemented as agreed, milestones and deliverables are tracked, and internal reporting and communications are maintained. 

This role combines project management, operational coordination, communications support, and administrative oversight, ensuring that programme heads can focus on strategic delivery while the coordinator manages cross-programme organisation and follow-through.

Key Responsibilities

A. Project Coordination and Implementation Oversight 50%
Monitor implementation of programme workplans across ICO programmes.
Track milestones, deliverables, timelines, and budgets.
Ensure tasks are completed in line with agreed work programmes.
Identify implementation risks or delays and flag them early.
Coordinate across programme teams to ensure alignment and delivery.
Maintain and update: programme workplans, implementation timelines and budget tracking documents
Support programme leads in ensuring activities move from planning to delivery.

B. Reporting and Internal Coordination 30%
Prepare weekly internal updates for senior leadership.
Produce quarterly reports for the Board summarising programme progress.
Contribute to the annual report and other institutional reporting outputs.
Compile information from programme leads into structured reporting formats.
Maintain clear records of: programme outputs, deliverables achieved, key outcomes and indicators

C. Communications Support (Interim) 20%
Until a dedicated communications role is created, the Project Coordinator will support basic organisational communications, including:

• Maintaining ICO’s LinkedIn and communications 
• Updating the website news section weekly
• Identifying events, conferences, or forums relevant to ICO’s work
• Supporting the coordination of press releases and media articles
• Liaising with external communications partners to supporting the coordination of press releases and media articles (e.g., Whitehouse Communications)

Qualifications & Skills
Required

• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including project planning and record-keeping of budgets and work plans.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders and community representatives
• Proficiency in time management and multitasking to handle multiple projects promptly
• Experience in coordinating and managing projects/ programmes 
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools
• Empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to humanitarian values
• Excellent written and verbal communication 
• Background in human rights, international relations, sustainable development and peace and security
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or relevant work experience

Desirable

• Knowledge of conflict resolution or mediation practices is advantageous
• Familiarity with communications or social media management

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and proactive
• Able to work independently with limited supervision
• Strong coordination and stakeholder management skills
• Comfortable working across multiple programmes and geographies
• Resilient and solutions-oriented
• Adaptable and able to work in a small, fast-moving organisation

Reporting Structure
The Project Coordinator will report directly to the ICO director and work closely with programme heads responsible for regional portfolios.

Interview Process
The recruitment process will take place in three stages designed to assess both the candidate’s professional capabilities and their suitability for working within a small, international organisation.

Stage 1 Remote Interview
The first stage will be a remote introductory interview. This conversation will focus on understanding the candidate’s background and overall suitability for the role. We will discuss previous experience supporting programmes or projects, coordinating with teams or stakeholders, and managing reporting or administrative processes. The discussion will also explore the candidate’s interest in governance, development, or international policy work, as well as their working style and overall fit with ICO’s team and values.

Stage 2 In-Person Interview
Candidates who progress to the second stage will be invited to an in-person interview. This stage will include a more in-depth discussion of the role. This will include further behavioural, situational and competency-based questions. This stage also allows candidates to ask questions and learn more about the team and how we work. Please note this stage may involve a short practical exercise to understand how candidates approach tasks similar to those they would encounter in the position. 

Stage 3 Final In-Person Discussion
The final stage will be a conversation with senior members of the organisation. This discussion will focus on the candidate’s overall fit with the team and organisational culture, as well as how they would operate within a small team supporting international programmes. It will also provide an opportunity to address any remaining questions or clarifications from either side. The purpose of this stage is to ensure that the role aligns well with the candidate’s expectations and that both the candidate and the organisation feel confident about moving forward together

To apply for this position, please submit the following:

• Your CV
• A short cover letter (1 page maximum) outlining your interest in the role and relevant experience

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage candidates to apply early. The position will remain open until 2 April, after which applications will close.

We are ideally looking for someone who can start the role as soon as possible, but we are also happy to consider candidates who have a notice period to complete before joining. 

Salary: £62,651 per annum

Contract Type:                         Fixed Term Contract – Maternity Cover (up to 12 months)

Closing date:                         12 April 2026 at 11pm

Interview date:                      4 – 15 May 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?

CARE International UK is currently developing its new 4-year Strategy working within the CARE International Vision 2030, which will launch in July 2026. The strategy will build on our focus on women’s leadership in crisis, seeking to work more directly with women’s rights/women-led organisations. The post-holder will be joining us just as we begin implementing the strategy, and this will be an exciting time to shape new and evolving ways of working with women’s rights activists from across the globe. The Advocacy and Influencing team are central to achieving the goals of the strategy by encouraging the UK  Government and other UK-based stakeholders to use their power on the world stage to counter the rollback on women’s rights.

The Head of Advocacy and Influencing is a key organisational leadership role and will be part of the CIUK Extended Leadership Team working with other heads of team and the senior leadership team to help run the organisation effectively and deliver the 4-year strategy.

About you

You will have significant experience of advocacy and/or public affairs with a track record of driving strategies that achieve measurable policy, attitude or legislative change. You will be a strategic thinker with excellent communication skills in English, and the ability to translate complex issues into plain English. You will have experience of project management and preferably budget management, particularly team or donor-funded project management. You will be media trained and confident speaking to and influencing a range of external senior stakeholders.

In past roles, you will have line managed colleagues and may have managed teams, and will know how to work with others, including in coalition with other organisations, to design and deliver advocacy campaigns. You will understand how to motivate your team to deliver against an organizational strategy. Your leadership style will be aligned with CIUK’s feminist leadership principles and values. You will have strong understanding of, and preferably experience working on, international development issues, in particular with reference to gender equality.

About the role

The Head of Advocacy and Influencing is a leadership role with significant responsibility for external analysis and positioning for CIUK - including through regular updates to the board Impact and Transformation Committee. The role is responsible for providing strategic direction for CIUK and CI’s advocacy and influencing and leading the team to deliver UK and globally facing advocacy campaigns. The role is responsible for ensuring high quality publications and managing sign off and profile risks as part of CIUK’s risk management strategy. The Head of Advocacy and Influencing will also act as a senior external spokesperson for the organization to the media, parliament and public events. The role has significant responsibility for positioning and meeting expectations of donors who fund the team’s work.  The Head of Advocacy and Influencing is critical for ensuring the CEO and SLT have up-to-date power analysis, political analysis and policy lines for external engagement with high level targets.  

As the manager and contract holder for the Centenary Action Group campaign and fundraising coordinator and a standing member on the Steering board of the Centenary Action Group, the role also manages CARE UK’s role as a convener and ally of the UK women’s rights movement in line with our global commitment to shift the power and localization.

The role covers four main areas of responsibility:

Strategic Leadership & Delivery

Play a key role in the delivery of CIUK’s new 4-year strategy. Lead cross-organisational teams to deliver high quality policy analysis, advocacy and campaign strategies to UK government, parliamentary and private sector targets. Work with communications to design and deliver integrated campaign plans.

External representation and relationship management

Build the visibility and reputation of CIUK by building and managing key external relationships in government, parliament, private sector and across the sector, including in coalitions and alliances. Provide strategic advice on political developments, external opportunities, and risks, ensuring timely and well-informed positioning, and prepare the CEO/SLT for high-level external engagements. Serve as a senior spokesperson for CIUK in political, media, and public forums. Work with the CARE confederation to develop advocacy lines and approaches.

Thought leadership and Policy Development

Provide strategic leadership of the Gates Foundation partnership, delivering against expectations and securing further funding from this and other donors. Ensure a rigorous evidence base for CIUK’s policy agenda, both by working with CIUK’s team of thematic experts, as well as commissioning and managing research projects where needed. Prepare and approve briefings, position papers, op-eds and other communications in support of CARE UK’s influencing goals. Oversee CIUK’s strategic role in Centenary Action, including representation on the Steering Group and overall coordination. 

Team and line management

Set and drive the advocacy and influencing team’s annual plans and contribution to the organisation’s strategic priorities. Be accountable to delivering on team KPIs and organisational KPIs that link to the team’s work, and for managing the team’s budget. Play a key role in the leadership of the Programme and Policy department. Provide strong line management to direct reports and demonstrate a strong personal commitment to CIUK’s equity, diversity and inclusion goals and feminist leadership principles.

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: 

· 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. 

· 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 HR.

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+.

Job Purpose:

The Director Executive Assistant supports far beyond administrative coordination - they act as a strategic partner, anticipating needs, streamlining decision making, and ensuring the Executive and or Director’s time is focused on the highest impact priorities.

The postholder will pre-emptively maintain and refine internal processes while coordinating internal and external resources to expedite workflows, and to plan and orchestrate work to ensure priorities are met, organisational goals are achieved, and best practices are upheld.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Mon-Fri

Duration: Permanent

Location: London – hybrid, 3 days per week in London Office including Wednesdays (may require additional in office days when needed) and occasional international travel

Salary: £46,784.49 - £57,181.04 per annum | Salary is offered in line with our pay framework and typically starts at the entry point of the band. Salary increases are considered annually and are subject to our appraisal and performance review process.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Extensive experience working as an Executive Assistant to Director / CEO level.
• Demonstrable experience of managing complex, dynamic calendars with an emphasis on strategic time allocation.
• Comfortable coordinating cross functional teams and liaising with stakeholders at all levels, including external partners and senior executives.
• Experience preparing briefings, reports, presentations, and meeting materials with a high level of accuracy.
• Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to anticipate needs and plan.
• Strong time-management skills and an ability to coordinate multiple concurrent projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, able to draft clear, concise, and professional correspondence.
• High level of discretion, judgement, and emotional intelligence.
• Confident decision‑making and the ability to act autonomously when required.
• Skilled at filtering information, prioritising tasks, and maintaining momentum across multiple workstreams.
• Flexible team player, willing to adapt to changes, and confident tackling unfamiliar challenges across multiple domains of knowledge/experience.
• Ability to work in a disciplined and organised fashion, under pressure, with conflicting priorities and across time zones.
• Experience in the practical use of personal IT equipment and Microsoft Office 365 suite.The ability to effectively collaborate and communicate within a hybrid working environment utilising Teams, SharePoint, One Drive and Viva Engage. An aptitude for quickly learning new software and systems.