Head of Programmes, Bangladesh
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Head of Programmes, Bangladesh to provide leadership to ensure delivery of GAIN’s interventions in Bangladesh, as well as to ensure value and people driven culture. The position holder is expected to contribute to securing future financial resources to ensure sustainability.
The Head of Programmes (HoP) will be responsible for overseeing the design, development, and successful implementation of the GAIN Bangladesh projects and programme having tangible experience on business augment and innovative financing including investments. They will be responsible for ensuring that GAIN’s programmes and projects are of excellent technical quality, delivered on time and on budget and coordinated, as well as ensure people are supported to work as ONE TEAM.
This role will be offered on a two (2) year fixed term contract, subject to availability of funding and will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Support the Country Director with the development, implementation, and quality management of the country strategy so it maximizes impact to transforming local food systems for better nutrition.
- Work with other senior staff for purposes of influencing, and identifying appropriate partner organizations, private sector and investment opportunities and ensure a strong sourcing network and long-term pipeline of program investments and impact grants.
- Ensure programme and projects’ outcomes and results area achieve towards impacts to improve nutritional outcomes in Bangladesh through food systems, aligning with GAIN’s strategic programmatic areas, financial and operational policies, systems and procedures.
- Lead and provide management support to the implementation of all projects and ensuring effective and successful delivery including time bound burn rates as per the project milestones and results, ensuring an appropriate programme or project management framework in line with GAIN’s Project Management Process.
- Manage and monitor expenditure against budgets for strategic and annual programmatic plans in adherence to financial guidelines while ensuring value for money.
- Ensure that learning from the programme experiences is well documented and the evidence is used to further inform programming, as well as advocacy and policy and resource mobilization work.
- Line manage direct reports, coach, guide and mentor leaders within programme team and the department so that they are effective as leaders and managers in managing their teams.
About you
The ideal candidate should possess extensive experience in leading and managing programmes in multi-cultural environments within an international development organisation setting. Experience in private sector, food industry, nutrition or food systems sector.
The position holder should have strong stakeholder management, networking at senior levels and fundraising experience with private and corporate donors. Experience with donor reporting, designing, setting up and coordinating, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment systems and processes is required. Demonstrated in‐depth understanding of program issues and policy work at organizational, national, and international levels highly desirable.
An education background with a master’s degree in economics, food systems, agriculture or related field is required.
The starting gross salary on offer for this role is from BDT 3,607,632 – BDT 4,123,476 gross per annum, depending on experience.
GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance. We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible and hybrid working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.
GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments, and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with governments, businesses and civil society, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver healthier diets for all people, especially the most vulnerable.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has offices in countries with high levels of malnutrition: Bangladesh, Benin, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. To support work in those countries, we have representative offices in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious, safe, and affordable food. Today, one in three people - drawn from nearly every country on the planet - are unable to consume enough nutritious food. We work to develop and deliver solutions to this daily challenge.
We provide a flexible working environment that includes a combination of home and office working opportunities through our global hybrid working policy. This encourages our staff to have a healthy work-life balance and increases staff motivation, enriches employee wellbeing, and improves performance and productivity.
All of our positions are based in one or more of GAIN’s designated offices as stated on our job advertisements. Successful candidates will be based in one of GAIN’s country offices and must have the existing right to live and work within a reasonably commutable distance of the relevant city / cities in which the role is advertised. Please note, that GAIN does not sponsor working visas and relocations.
GAIN reserves the right to withdraw an offer of employment for candidates who are considered to ineligible under the above conditions during or after the recruitment process.
Applicants must have the right to work and be currently based in the advertised country location, to be eligible to apply for this position.
For more detailed information please see the attached job description. To apply, follow the "Apply Now" link.
This advert closes on 22nd December 2025. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is committed to equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. We are keen to reflect the diversity of our society at every level within our organisation and therefore welcome applications from talented and committed people from all backgrounds, representing the diverse societies we operate in.
Our core values
GAIN is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination. All staff are expected to follow GAIN Values
Our commitment to safeguarding
GAIN is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where all staff, volunteers, and job applicants are treated with dignity and respect. We are also committed to safeguarding the communities we work with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, exploitation and abuse of power or trust.
Safeguarding is integral to our recruitment practices, and we have robust procedures in place to prevent any form of harm, abuse, or discrimination. As part of our commitment to safeguarding, all successful candidates will undergo thorough background checks and vetting procedures, which can include references, criminal records and terrorist finance checks where applicable, in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy.
We provide comprehensive training and support to our staff and volunteers and associates to raise awareness of safeguarding issues and ensure they are equipped to recognise and respond to concerns effectively.
By applying for a position with GAIN, you agree to uphold our safeguarding principles and contribute to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all individuals.