Programme Lead

WEBRECRUIT; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable foundation in the UK is seeking an experienced Programme Lead to oversee a pilot project aimed at supporting local charities. The role involves leading a multi-partner consortium, managing budgets, and ensuring equitable support for beneficiaries. The ideal candidate has a strong track record in programme leadership, an understanding of the voluntary sector, and a commitment to equity and inclusion in programme design. This role requires regular travel across England and offers a salary of £56,501.

Benefits

Salary of £56,501 per annum (FTE)

Flexible working arrangements

Travel and overnight stays required

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading complex programmes with accountability.
• Strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the delivery of the pilot project with high-quality support.
• Lead a multi-partner consortium and manage the budget.
• Generate insights through a test-and-learn approach.

Skills

Programme leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Equity and inclusion

Budget management

Complex programme delivery

Job description

PROGRAMME LEAD

About the Organisation

Our client is an independent charitable foundation. They work in partnership with small and local charities, people and communities, changing lives and working towards a more just and compassionate society.

This is an exciting time to join the organisation. They are coming to the end of their strategy period, and under the leadership of a new CEO, they are developing and rolling out a new strategy, brand and values. They believe this will enable them to turbocharge their work, allowing them to have an even bigger impact to create social change and cohesion and ensuring people in England and Wales are in a good place.

About the Programme

Our client has been awarded a grant to deliver a pilot to support charities across the North and Southwest of England.

Delivered in partnership with other organisations, the pilot will offer diagnostic‑led, tailored and relational support to help organisations strengthen their work.

Support will focus on resilience, environmental impact, readiness for AI and digital technology, enabling participating charities to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. With a strong emphasis on equity and access, the pilot is designed to ensure organisations of all sizes and backgrounds can benefit.

Our client will be using a test‑and‑learn approach – trying out new ways of supporting charities, learning from what works and what doesn’t, and using those insights to improve future programmes. This approach will help shape future support for both grant holders and grant seekers, strengthen our client's development practice, and contribute to wider learning across the sector.

About the Role

As Programme Lead, you'll have overall responsibility for the successful delivery of this ambitious and collaborative pilot. You'll lead a multi‑partner consortium, oversee the budget, and ensure that charities receive high‑quality, equitable support.

You’ll manage delivery, governance, performance, and learning, while championing a test‑and‑learn approach that generates insights for our client, the funders, and the wider sector. You’ll also lead a small team and play an active role in our client's leadership group.

This is a strategic role for someone who thrives in complexity, values collaboration, and is passionate about strengthening small and local charities.

The Benefits

• Salary of £56,501 per annum (FTE)
• There is flexibility as to where this role is based; however, regular travel to London and across England will be required, with some overnight stays
• A further list of benefits can be found on our client's website (details of which will be provided further into the recruitment process)

About You

You are an experienced programme leader with a strong track record of delivering complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives in the charity, social or funding sectors. You bring a deep understanding of the voluntary sector, particularly the needs of small and community‑led organisations.

You are confident managing partnerships, budgets, and governance structures, and skilled at translating strategy into delivery.

You are a collaborative leader who can inspire and support a team, while championing equity, learning, and continuous improvement.

To be considered for this role

• Proven experience leading complex programmes or partnerships with accountability for delivery, budget, risk, and reporting.
• A strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in programme design and delivery.
• Experience managing multi‑stakeholder partnerships and collaborative delivery models.
• A solid understanding of how to support and develop small and community‑led organisations.
• Excellent people leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Confidence in representing programmes externally and influencing funders or decision‑makers.
• Experience with test‑and‑learn approaches, diagnostic tools, or equity‑led programme design would be an advantage.

Our client is hoping for an immediate start for the position or as soon as possible thereafter.

So, if you're looking to make a meaningful impact as a Programme Lead, please apply via the button shown.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 7th December at 23:59.

Interviews with shortlisted candidates will be held online on Friday 19th December.