Program Manager with focus on Large grant acquisition

Barnfonden is a non-partisan child rights organisation based in Malmö, Sweden. We have worked to improve the lives of children around the world through rights-based, climate-aware, and community-driven development since 1991. As a member of the ChildFund Alliance, we support programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, working alongside local partners to help children thrive at every life stage. A core program funded through the generous support of over 20,000 Swedish sponsors and donors is supplemented by grants from major institutions such as Forum Civ/Sida, Radiohjälpen and the EU.

Barnfonden is in an inspiring phase where we have the opportunity to widen our Program Team. We are currently developing the strategy for 2026-2030 in an NGO landscape that is swiftly changing and putting new demands on the sector. In this rapidly changing world, Barnfonden is seeking to further explore partnerships for large scale innovations, as well as new partnership and funding models.

We are currently seeking a committed and experienced Program Manager with focus on EU Grants to join our dynamic Program team. In this role, you will combine strong program management with proactive donor engagement, particularly with institutional funders such as the EU. You are a strategic and detail-oriented programme manager who thrives at the intersection of donor relations, programme quality, and partnership management. You bring proven experience in managing large institutional grants, particularly with the European Union, and you enjoy navigating the complexities of compliance, reporting, and multi-partner programme coordination.

You are confident in leading proposal development processes, building strong consortia and partnerships, and ensuring that programmes are both impactful and fully donor-compliant. You understand the importance of locally led development and work collaboratively and respectfully with partners to ensure their leadership and voice are central.

Key Responsibilities

Large Grant Acquisition and Management

• Identify and pursue large-scale institutional grant opportunities (e.g. Sida, EU, foundations) with particular focus on EU grants.


• Position Barnfonden for funding with strategically selected donors.


• Coordinate multi-member grants with ChildFund Alliance partners.


• Build consortia and a partner-base for funding opportunities.


• Lead proposal development processes, including partner coordination and quality assurance.


• Manage awarded grants including reporting, MEL deliverables (with MEL advisor), budgeting, financial tracking, and compliance (with finance team support).


• Work with internal teams to strengthen organisational learning, capacity building, and documentation.


• Contribute to strategic planning and innovation initiatives across the organisation.


• Represent Barnfonden in key donor forums, ChildFund Alliance initiatives, and coordination platforms.


• Work closely with Barnfonden’s Secretary General and other teams and workstreams in Barnfonden to support them in achieving the goals as outlined in the Strategy and annual work plans.

Essential Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in international development or humanitarian programming.


• A deep commitment to child rights and an understanding of the importance of child participation in development.


• An awareness of climate and environmental issues and their impact on children’s futures. Even better if this is your specialty area.


• Proven experience in coordinating and managing large institutional grants, ideally with donors such as Sida, EU, or bigger foundations.


• Sound understanding of programme cycle management, MEL, and compliance standards.


• Excellent financial literacy, including budgeting, forecasting, and grant financial reporting.


• Excellent proposal writing, donor reporting, and partnership-building skills.


• Strong cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in diverse, international contexts.


• Ability to lead complex multi-stakeholder processes, including consortium development.


• Fluent in speaking and writing in Swedish and English. Any other language is an asset.

Preferred:

• Relevant academic degree


• Strong knowledge of climate sensitive programming, gender equality and social inclusion, and/or child rights approaches.


• Experience working in an alliance-based organisation.


• Strong understanding of EU funding instruments and compliance regulations.

What We Offer

• A meaningful role in a purpose-driven, child-focused international NGO.


• A supportive, respectful and flexible work culture.


• The opportunity to help shape impactful programmes and strategic partnerships.


• Travel opportunities (up to 6–8 weeks/year, both internationally and within Sweden).


• Office location: Malmö (with hybrid work arrangements negotiable).

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your motivation and relevant experience. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged.

If you want to help shape a better world for children and bring both expertise and passion to the table – we would love to hear from you.

At Barnfonden, we strive for diversity and for our workplace to reflect the society we live in. We therefore welcome applicants who can contribute to diversity and further to Barnfonden's goal of being a workplace where everyone feels included. Please note that you must have the right to live and work in Sweden to apply for this role.

Duration: Full-time contract (40 hours/week)

Start Date: As soon as possible (subject to final funding confirmation).

Application Deadline: September 12. The selection process may start sooner, and applications will be assessed continuously.