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We're Hiring: Programme Officer

Cara staff     Nov 24 2025

Job Title: Programme Officer, Active Fellows

  • Application Deadline: 8 December 2025
  • Salary: £33,055
  • Location: London
  • Line Manager: Team Leader, Active Fellows (Senior Officer, Active Fellows in Team Leader’s absence)

The Programme Officer, Active Fellows plays a vital role in delivering tailored support to Cara Fellows throughout their placements. Working closely with Fellows, partner institutions, and the wider Fellowship Programme team, the Officer manages casework, provides visa guidance, and leads the Family & Wellbeing Scheme. This role combines direct support, operational delivery, and collaborative input into programme development, helping Cara uphold its mission to support academics at risk.

The expected start date for the role is 15 December 2025

Role & Responsibilities

Fellowships

  • Manage a caseload of up to 50 Cara Fellows, providing comprehensive tailored support using trauma-informed practice.
  • Maintain accurate and GDPR-compliant records of casework activity.
  • Liaise with Fellows to coordinate support and escalate complex cases to the Team Leader as required.
  • Write and send official documents to Fellows.
  • Develop relationships with universities and other partner organisations to ensure effective Fellow support is in place.
  • Support Fellowship Programme with ad hoc responsibilities.
  • Support the Team Leader and Senior Officer on the Active Fellows team with delivery of key support mechanisms for Fellows, including the Cara Mentoring Scheme.
  • Assist with compilation of reports to funders

Visa Guidance

  • Liaise closely with Fellows and hosting universities on visa related issues (Student and Temporary Worker (GAE) visas).
  • Monitor, research and update visa guidance to reflect changes in complex immigration regulation.
  • Keep up to date with relevant information regarding immigration laws, e.g. visas, legal procedures, etc.
  • Liaise with independent legal advisors where necessary.

Family & Wellbeing Scheme Lead

  • Project Lead for the Cara Family & Wellbeing Grant Scheme, delivering valuable financial support to Cara Fellows and their dependants.
  • Coordinate rounds, delegate tasks to the team as required, and oversee delivery.
  • Monitor the relevant budget and flag issues to the Team Leader.
  • Lead on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for the Scheme, suggesting improvements to this, and ensuring accurate data collection and reporting.

Managerial Support

  • Provide advice and guidance to Fellowship Programme Assistants
  • Contribute to Fellowship Programme policy changes and decision-making.

Finance

  • Make payments to Cara Fellows and non-Fellowship related payments.
  • Document financial transaction records.
  • Record all financial and in-kind support from universities and other partner institutions.
  • Manage Family and Wellbeing budget with guidance from senior colleagues.

Ad Hoc Responsibilities

  • Show adaptability and willingness to take on additional work when necessary.
  • Support the Fellowship Programme and Cara as a whole with ad hoc responsibilities
  • Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme as required by the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive & Fellowship Programme Manager, and other senior colleagues.

Benefits:

  • Challenging and rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes lifesaving
  • Competitive salary
  • Team and individual training opportunities
  • Commitment to performance and personal development
  • Hybrid working, home and office (minimum 2 days each week in the office)
  • Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm
  • 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement
  • 8% employer pension contribution
  • Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes


Interested applicants should submit their CV and cover letter addressing the following questions to [email protected] 

  1. What draws you to Cara and the work of supporting at-risk academics, and how does your experience and skills relate to this role? (max 500 words).
  2. Tell us about a time you provided tailored support to someone in a complex or sensitive situation. Include how you approached the situation, what actions you took, and what the outcome was. (max 300 words)
  3. Give an example of a time you coordinated delivery of a grant or support scheme, or a similar project. What was your role, how did you manage delivery, and what impact did it have? (max 300 words)

The deadline for applications is on 8 December 2025. We will be interviewing applicants on a rolling basis.