Grant Programme Manager

Starting Date: ASAP

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: If based in London - £62,707, Delhi - INR 3,350,997, Lahore - PKR 8,697,613

Location: London, Lahore, Delhi, Côte d'Ivoire

Application closing date: 25th March 2026

About The Job

The Grant Programme Manager is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of grant‑funded projects across multiple sub‑funds and geographies. Working closely with programme partners, this role ensures that funded projects not only produce certified Better Cotton but also deliver measurable impact aligned with BCI’s strategic targets. The role includes stewardship and oversight of significant donor funding and accountability for strong financial, performance and compliance standards across the portfolio.

The Challenge

Looking ahead to 2030, BCI is targeting a 50 percentile reduction in GHG emissions from cotton production, significant reductions in synthetic pesticide use, improved soil health across our network, increased farm income and stronger support for women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers. As a Grant Programme Manager, you will oversee a multi‑country grant portfolio, ensure strong financial stewardship, drive performance against strategic targets and strengthen partnerships with programme partners and donors.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage a portfolio of Small Farm Fund projects across multiple countries, ensuring delivery against BCI strategy and BCSS targets.
• Lead grant application and assessment processes, including reviewing proposals, analysing organisational viability and contributing to funding recommendations.
• Ensure effective financial stewardship of donor funds, reviewing budgets, tracking expenditure and identifying risks or corrective actions where required.
• Monitor and evaluate portfolio performance, ensuring robust data quality, learning integration and continuous improvement.
• Represent GIF in internal governance forums, including the Field Investment and Innovation Committee, contributing to funding decisions and strategic discussions.
• Engage with donors and external stakeholders, supporting reporting, relationship management and future funding opportunities.
• Support Large Farm Fund and Knowledge Partner Fund rounds, including assessment, monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
• Strengthen grant management systems and processes, identifying and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency, compliance and transparency.
• Collaborate closely with country programme teams, MEL colleagues and finance teams to ensure coordinated delivery and alignment across functions.
• Contribute to annual reporting, portfolio analysis and strategic planning for the GIF and wider Global Programmes function.

Experience

• Degree in Agronomy, International Development, Anthropology or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex grant or project portfolios within rural development or sustainability contexts.
• Experience working with commercial and institutional donors, including proposal development and reporting.
• Strong financial oversight experience, including reviewing budgets and financial performance.
• Experience using MEL frameworks, logframes and performance monitoring tools.
• Willingness to travel domestically within programme countries up to 20% of the time, and internationally on average four times per year, with each trip lasting approximately 7 to 10 days.

Desirable

• Expertise in smallholder agriculture.
• Experience supporting organisational development of partners.
• Experience communicating with donors and representing programmes externally.
• Experience working in Sub‑Saharan Africa or South Asia.
• Additional language skills relevant to programme geographies.

What We Offer

• Hybrid working – 2‑3 days per week in our London, Delhi, or Lahore offices.
• Fully Remote in Côte d'Ivoire.
• The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year.
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time.
• Continuous learning and development.
• Pension scheme.
• A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home.
• Enhanced parental benefits.
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working Arrangements

The position is full‑time (40 hours per week) and will be based either in London, Delhi, Lahore or Côte d'Ivoire. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm. The position will require limited travel.

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1‑page maximum) by or before 25/03/2026 via the application link. In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or automated screening tools in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human‑led assessment experience.

Our hiring process

• Initial Screening: Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicants. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.
• Interviews: If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton Initiative may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.
• Assessment And Testing: Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.
• Reference Checks: Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton Initiative to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.
• Offer Stage: After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is a global not‑for‑profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About Our Values

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible)
• Integrity (including responsible, authentic)
• Positive (including problem‑solving, pragmatic)
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic)
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game‑changing)

Being you @ Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources. We have a zero‑tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.