Job Description
Salary: £51,877 plus benefits (Our pay philosophy ensures consistency across locations and salaries. The starting salary for this opportunity plus benefits depends on location of the candidate).
The role:
We are recruiting for a values-driven leader to join Mary’s Meals International (MMI) as Head of Programme Quality Assurance. Reporting to the Director of Programme Operations, you will provide strategic leadership for our global Programme Quality Assurance function, helping to ensure excellence, consistency and accountability across our school feeding programmes worldwide.
In this role, you will set and lead delivery of Mary’s Meals’ global programme quality assurance strategy, ensuring robust, data-informed quality standards are embedded across programme delivery and logistics operations. You will play a key role in driving continuous improvement, strengthening stewardship and supporting organisational learning, while ensuring alignment with our Mary’s Meals Delivery Model.
You will:
- Lead the design, delivery and ongoing evolution of MMI’s global Quality Assurance strategy, aligned with organisational and programme objectives.
- Drive improvements in programme quality, effectiveness and consistency through evidence-based learning, data insights and continuous improvement.
- Provide strategic leadership and line management to the QA team, building a high-performing function equipped to support a growing global programme portfolio.
- Act as a senior advisor to the Director of Programme Operations and wider leadership team on programme quality, compliance and risk.
- Work closely with Programme Affiliates, Programme Partners and cross-functional teams to align global quality standards with local implementation.
- Oversee the development and use of QA tools, assessments, methodologies and reporting systems to inform decision-making and organisational change.
- Promote strong integration between quality assurance, programme delivery, logistics and systems to support end-to-end programme excellence.
- Represent Mary’s Meals externally in relevant partnerships, technical working groups and sector forums, contributing to learning and best practice in school feeding quality.
About you:
A strategic and collaborative leader, you will bring a strong commitment to Mary’s Meals’ vision, mission and values, alongside significant experience in quality assurance, programme delivery or performance management within international development or other complex, international operational environments.
You will have extensive knowledge of quality assurance frameworks, programme evaluation and continuous improvement methodologies, with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams and influencing senior stakeholders across diverse global organisations. Confident in using data and evidence to inform decision-making, you will combine strong relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to coach, inspire and develop others.
About us:
Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life, united by one goal, that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. Today, more than 3 million children will receive Mary’s Meals, changing lives through access to food and education.
We believe in the innate goodness of people, respect the dignity of every human being and family life, and are committed to good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. In line with our values, Mary’s Meals is fully committed to a culture of safeguarding. We expect all members of the Mary’s Meals family to share this commitment and to work in the best interests of the communities we serve. Our safe recruitment practices ensure that only those aligned with our high standards join our movement.
Salary advertised is for UK-based candidates. Our salary philosophy ensures consistency across locations where Mary’s Meals operates; please contact [email protected] for further information on salaries in other locations.
Additional Information:
This role will involve regular travel to countries where Mary’s Meals operates and will include regulated work with children. The successful candidate will be required to register with the Protected Vulnerable Group (PVG) Scheme or a local equivalent prior to commencing the role.
Our Benefits:
- 34 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time working patterns) including bank holidays, increasing by 1 day each completed calendar year, to a maximum of 39 days (+ option to buy another week)
- Flexible working
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Life assurance
- Pension
To apply:
If you are inspired to join our movement and our vision, mission and values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you. To apply, please submit your CV along with a short covering note (no more than one page) outlining why you are a strong fit for this role and why you would like to work for Mary’s Meals International.
Head of Programme Quality Assurance JD
Closing date for applications is Thursday 19th February 2026.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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