Senior Programme Director

Wilton Park; Steyning; Híbrido; GBP 90.000 - 120.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Wilton Park is seeking a Senior Programme Director to lead policy discussions and build diverse networks that deliver impactful outcomes. You will design programmes centered on UK priorities in energy, climate and environment, or innovation, science and technology, and convene high-level discussions with senior policymakers and funding partners.

You will manage relationships, co-create events with UK government bodies, oversee budgets, and mentor junior colleagues while responding to evolving

Formación

• Extensive policy and international experience in energy, climate and environment or innovation, science and technology.
• Strong fundraising and business development background with diverse networks.
• Proven ability to design, convene and run high-level plenary discussions and workshops.

Responsabilidades

• Design and run annual and multi-annual programmes of policy discussions.
• Secure partner funding from government and non-government sources.
• Co-create programmes with partners such as FCDO, DESNZ and other UK departments.
• Manage relationships to meet partner objectives while upholding Wilton Park’s autonomy.
• Identify and engage speakers to ensure high-quality events and outcomes.
• Oversee event budgets and collaborate with communications for media strategy.

Conocimientos

Policy leadership

International relations

Business development

Event design

Stakeholder management

Diplomatic negotiation

Descripción del empleo

Wilton Park is the UK’s foremost multilateral facilitator. As a Senior Programme Director, you will be at the heart of our work.

You will lead programmes that support UK priorities and help solve international policy challenges. Your work will centre on energy, climate and environment, or innovation, science and technology, or both.

You will design and convene high-level policy discussions and build diverse networks to get the right people in the room, making sure each event produces impactful, practical outcomes.

You will also need to be flexible. When new policy trends or crises emerge, inside or outside your portfolio, we will look to you to respond. Experience of economic growth, security and trade policy, or international development and global public goods, would be a real advantage.

You will also:

• build and maintain relationships with senior policy-makers and funding partners across government, civil society and business
• plan work with those partners that supports UK objectives and has a lasting policy effect
• support the Director of Policy, Chief Executive, other Senior Programme Directors and Policy Officers to plan a joined-up programme of events across the year
• contribute to the running of Wilton Park, including communications, outreach and mentoring junior colleagues

Key responsibilities

You will be responsible for the following:

Programmes and partnerships

• Design and run annual and, where possible, multi-annual programmes of policy discussions in your area of work, making sure they are relevant and make a difference.
• Secure partner funding from government and non-government sources.
• Co-create programmes and events with partners such as the FCDO, BIST, DESNZ and other UK government departments and organisations.
• Manage those relationships to meet partner objectives while protecting Wilton Park’s autonomy and agency.

Events and discussions

• Identify and engage speakers and participants who will make each event high quality.
• Convene and run discussions with professionalism and impartiality.
• Create a safe, trusting environment where everyone can take part in meaningful, discreet and constructive conversation.
• Use outcome-focused techniques to guide discussions.
• Edit and oversee dialogue outputs, including summary reports that capture main findings and policy recommendations or options.
• Represent Wilton Park at a senior level by giving presentations and attending networking events in your field.

Leadership and management

• Deputise for the Director of Policy and members of the Senior Management Team when needed.
• Work with Policy Officers, Project Managers and the event delivery team to manage project administration, including regular planning meetings.
• Oversee project budgets with Project Managers, monitoring income and spending throughout each event and taking responsibility for financial outcomes.
• Work with the communications team to plan, agree and help carry out a media strategy for each event, in line with our social media strategy.

Measuring success and corporate responsibilities

• Report openly to partners and sponsors on outcomes, making sure aims and objectives are met on time.
• Apply lessons learned to improve the design and running of future events.
• Follow Wilton Park’s database requirements and local health and safety requirements.
• Take part in central and corporate groups or tasks, and carry out other reasonable duties as needed.

Person specification

Essential skills

You will have:

• substantial policy and international experience in at least one of the following fields, with a good understanding of the international policy landscape, UK priorities, and the main partners and institutions involved:
  • energy, climate and environment
  • innovation, science and technology
• strong and diverse institutional networks in your field, and a track record of fundraising and business development
• the ability to lead, inspire and develop and work with diverse teams at all levels
• experience of designing, convening and running high-level plenary discussions and smaller group workshops that achieve agreed outcomes
• experience of working internationally, including managing international networks of stakeholders, diplomatic tradecraft and policy negotiation
• a deep understanding of the UK’s foreign policy priorities and main partner relationships, including with multilateral institutions

These skills are desirable rather than essential. We will not assess them during recruitment, but we may use them as a tie-break if candidates achieve the same overall score.

You may also have:

• wider experience of economic growth, economic security and trade policy, or international development and global public goods
• strong interpersonal and communication skills, with passion, creativity and ambition
• the ability to balance a demanding and varied workload, meet targets, work to tight deadlines, manage your time well and work constructively with event teams