Katie A.
About me
| Katie A. | |
| Post-war Reconstruction and Development | |
| Post-War Recovery Studies | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| Wentworth | |
| 2008 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Senior Programme Funding & Partnerships Manager | |
| Women for Women International | |
| United Kingdom | |
| 2013 |
Like this profile?
Add this profile to your favourites so you can return to it later from your account.
A day in the life of a Senior Programme Funding & Partnerships Manager in the United Kingdom
My career goals when I graduated
To work in policy or programmes for an international charity, ideally specialising in women and conflict.
My career history
Following some internships and volunteer work, I began working for a development consultancy company, which was great ground work in the sector. I then moved to a very specific conflict recovery NGO (Mines Advisory Group), before securing my first role and Women for Women International.
What has helped my career to progress
Constantly seeking new challenges within the scope of what my employers are able to offer, and taking any opportunities as they come.
How my studies have helped my career
My Masters at York was very practical and definitely helped me secure a job in the sector I now work in.
What surprised me about my career so far
I have changed my mind quite a lot of times over the years about what exactly I enjoy and want to do!
My advice to students considering work
Working for an INGO can be really enjoyable, challenging and fulfilling - I would recommend it! If you're able to volunteer or intern in different areas to see what kind of work you like, it can be helpful. But when I'm recruiting the most important thing I look for is a strong and well-presented CV, along with a well-written, concise cover letter that ensures to tick every box (where possible) of the job description as well as say why you want to work for the organisation.
Contacting me
I am happy to answer questions or mentor any students trying to work in international development / conflict-recovery for the private sector or an NGO.
What I do
I am responsible for managing all of Women for Women International's funding from the UK and Europe that goes directly to our programmes in conflict-affected countries. This involves working closely with staff in-country to monitor progress against outcomes, preparing reports for donors and managing budgets. I also manage our relationships with key funders and partners, help develop new funding opportunities, and represent Women for Women International at external events, conferences and talks.
Skills I use and how I developed them
It is a very diverse role that uses strong planning and project management, financial management and communication skills. These skills have mostly been gradually developed throughout my studies and career to date.
What I like most
Working closely with colleagues all over the world and hearing about the impact of our work on women affected by conflict. I also love the diversity of the work and many new challenges.
Next steps...
If you like the look of Katie’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Katie a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Katie to be your mentor.