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- Tasks: Manage grant-funded projects and ensure impactful delivery across multiple countries.
- Company: Join Better Cotton Initiative, a leader in sustainable cotton practices.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in sustainable farming and empower communities globally.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience in managing complex grant portfolios.
- Other info: Flexible hours and the chance to work from anywhere for a month each year.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 75000 £ per year.
Salary: If based in London - £62,707, Delhi - INR 3,350,997, Lahore - PKR 8,697,613
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.
Looking ahead to 2030, BCI is targeting a 50 percent 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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)
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.
Grant Programme Manager employer: Better Cotton
Contact Detail:
Better Cotton Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Grant Programme Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in making an impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Grant Programme Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience and how it connects to BCI’s strategic targets. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Better Cotton Initiative team.
We think you need these skills to ace Grant Programme Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Grant Programme Manager role. Highlight relevant experience in managing grant portfolios and any work with sustainability or rural development. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Explain why you're passionate about sustainable cotton and how your skills can help us achieve our goals. Be personal and let your enthusiasm for the role come through.
Showcase Your Financial Acumen: Since financial oversight is key for this role, make sure to highlight your experience with budgets and financial performance. We need someone who can ensure strong stewardship of donor funds, so don’t hold back on those details!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, we love seeing candidates who follow instructions and take the time to apply properly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Better Cotton
✨Know Your Grant Portfolio
Before the interview, dive deep into understanding the specific grant portfolio you'll be managing. Familiarise yourself with the Better Cotton Initiative's strategic targets and how they align with the projects you'll oversee. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your commitment and readiness to contribute effectively.
✨Showcase Financial Acumen
Since financial oversight is crucial for this role, prepare to discuss your experience with budgets and financial performance. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed donor funds in the past, highlighting any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This will show that you're not just a numbers person but also a problem-solver.
✨Engage with Impact Metrics
Be ready to talk about monitoring and evaluation frameworks you've used in previous roles. Discuss how you've ensured data quality and integrated learning into project delivery. This will illustrate your ability to drive performance against strategic targets and your commitment to continuous improvement.
✨Demonstrate Relationship Management Skills
The role involves engaging with donors and external stakeholders, so think of examples where you've successfully built and maintained relationships. Prepare to discuss how you’ve communicated effectively with diverse audiences and represented your programmes externally. This will highlight your interpersonal skills and adaptability.