CRF Programme Manager

Croydon Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Annual leave 31 days

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Croydon Council seeks an experienced Programme Manager to lead the Crisis and Resilience Fund, coordinating commissioning, partnerships and service improvements to support residents facing financial hardship.

You will oversee contracted providers, manage the Enablement Service team of 13 officers and ensure effective referral pathways and outcomes. Fixed-term until 31 March 2028 with generous benefits and pension.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex services or programmes.
• Experience in commissioning or contract monitoring, managing grant‑funded activity or public funds.
• Experience developing partnerships and working across organisations.
• Experience managing budgets, monitoring performance and using evidence to improve services and outcomes.
• Knowledge of welfare support, benefits, financial inclusion and hardship.
• Operational management in housing, welfare support, homelessness or related services.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; able to present to senior leaders and governance forums.

Responsibilities

• Shape and develop the wider programme, identifying emerging needs, opportunities and improvements.
• Build partnerships and collaborative approaches to strengthen financial resilience, homelessness prevention and poverty reduction.
• Manage contracts, grants and commissioned providers, monitoring performance and ensuring agreed outcomes are achieved.
• Oversee programme budgets, funding allocations, financial forecasting and compliance with grant conditions.
• Monitor programme performance and impact, using evidence to inform future priorities and service development.
• Prepare reports, briefings and recommendations for senior leaders, elected Members and governance forums.
• Provide leadership to the Enablement Service and oversee the operational delivery of Crisis Payments and wider programme activity.

Skills

Programme management

Contract management

Partnership working

Leadership

Budget management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Welfare knowledge

Housing experience

Job description

Job Description

Salary range: Grade 14 £54,927- £57,150 p.a. plus fantastic benefits

Contract: Fixed Term until 31 March 2028

Hours of work: 36 hours per week

Location: Croydon

Shape and deliver Croydon's Crisis and Resilience Fund, developing services and partnerships that help residents overcome financial hardship and build longer-term resilience.

The role

We're looking for an experienced Programme Manager to lead the development and delivery of Croydon's Crisis and Resilience Fund, bringing together commissioning, partnership working and service improvement to strengthen support for residents.

As the Council's lead officer for the programme, you'll work with voluntary, community and statutory organisations to identify emerging needs, develop services and strengthen the support available to residents. You'll oversee commissioned providers and grant‑funded organisations, develop effective referral pathways and ensure resources are directed towards achieving meaningful outcomes.

You'll be responsible for:

• Shaping and developing the wider programme, identifying emerging needs, opportunities and improvements.
• Building partnerships and collaborative approaches to strengthen financial resilience, homelessness prevention and poverty reduction.
• Managing contracts, grants and commissioned providers, monitoring performance and ensuring agreed outcomes are achieved.
• Overseeing programme budgets, funding allocations, financial forecasting and compliance with grant conditions.
• Monitoring programme performance and impact, using evidence to inform future priorities and service development.
• Preparing reports, briefings and recommendations for senior leaders, elected Members and governance forums.

You'll also provide leadership to the Enablement Service, managing a team of 13 Enablement Officers and overseeing the operational delivery of Crisis Payments and wider programme activity.

What we're looking for

We're particularly interested in candidates with experience in commissioning, programme management, service development, contract management or partnership working, alongside the leadership skills needed to deliver a complex programme.

You'll bring:

• Experience managing complex services, programmes or projects, including service development and improvement.
• Experience of commissioning or contract monitoring, managing grant‑funded activity or public funds, and working with external providers.
• A strong track record of developing partnerships and working collaboratively across organisations.
• Experience managing budgets, monitoring performance and using evidence to improve services and outcomes.
• Knowledge of welfare support, benefits, financial inclusion, poverty reduction and hardship.
• Operational management experience in housing, welfare support, homelessness, financial inclusion or a related service, including managing and developing large teams.
• Strong analytical, influencing and communication skills, including experience presenting reports and recommendations to senior leaders and governance forums.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to shape a wider resilience programme, bringing together services, funding and partnerships to improve how Croydon supports residents experiencing financial hardship.

The role combines programme development with responsibility for delivering services and demonstrating the impact of the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

This is a fixed‑term position linked to the duration of Crisis and Resilience Fund funding.

You'll also benefit from the Local Government Pension Scheme, up to 31 days' annual leave subject to eligibility plus Bank Holidays, flexible and agile working in line with service requirements, family‑friendly provisions and access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.

Advert Close

18th October 2026

Interviews wk commencing 26th Oct 2026

About Us

Croydon Council's priorities

The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services

• Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable
• Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon's diverse communities and businesses
• Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors
• Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice
• Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities

Key business plan outcomes

• Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning
• Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential
• Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we're proud to call home
• People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer
• Croydon Council's new ways of working

Equal Opportunities Statement

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.

Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The Successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.