Head of UK Programmes in London

Join to apply for the Head of UK Programmes role at British Asian Trust.

The British Asian Trust was founded in 2007 by His Majesty King Charles III when he was The Prince of Wales and a group of visionary British Asian business leaders, to harness the power of the diaspora for social change. Since its inception, the Trust has tackled social challenges across South Asia and, more recently, has been developing a strategy to support British Asian communities in the UK.

As Head of UK Programmes, you will play a central role in shaping and delivering our first-ever UK strategy. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to lead impactful initiatives that bring together British Asian communities to tackle critical issues and drive lasting change. You will be responsible for developing programme strategy and design, building strategic partnerships, increasing awareness, identifying funding possibilities and ensuring that our work makes a meaningful, systemic change for the British Asian community.

Our initial strategic focus will be on addressing health inequalities in the British Asian community. The strategy will include convening expert advisors and partners, developing relationships across the health system, securing funding, initiating pilot projects and shaping our advocacy agenda. A key focus will be strengthening community organisations and services by supporting grassroots charities to build capacity, access resources and better meet the needs of British Asians. Alongside this, the role will work to improve access to mainstream services by partnering with major charities, institutions and Government bodies to advocate for more inclusive, culturally competent policies and interventions. This work is at an early stage of development, offering the post-holder a unique opportunity to shape the programme and build a lasting legacy.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic programme development and partnership building: Develop a roadmap and delivery plan for the UK strategy, including resource planning. Identify opportunities for programme development including advocacy, partnerships and pilot programmes. Build and nurture collaborations with national and local organisations to identify key priorities and deliver impactful initiatives. Foster cross-sector partnerships, including with government agencies, charities, businesses and community networks, to maximise reach and influence. Represent the Trust at high-level forums, panels and events to advocate for British Asian communities. Co-develop programmes with partners that reflect the diverse needs of British Asians. Develop a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) strategy for the UK programme in collaboration with the MEL Senior Manager. Oversee budgets, ensuring effective use of resources and financial accountability. Manage the funding, implementation and evaluation of pilot programmes.
• Advocacy, convening and campaigns: Develop and lead an advocacy strategy aligned with the UK programme goals. Work with the Communications team to develop compelling, community-focused awareness campaigns. Champion initiatives that empower communities to influence policy and social change.
• Philanthropy, fundraising and business engagement: Work closely with the Fundraising team to develop a fundraising strategy and contribute to its execution to mobilise resources for the UK programme. Build relationships with British Asian philanthropists, business leaders and community ambassadors/influencers to drive funding and support.
• Team leadership and governance: Lead on budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting for the UK programmes. Ensure that programme development, planning and delivery align with corporate strategies, KPIs and governance requirements. Maintain strong internal reporting to relevant governance committees. Lead, mentor and support staff appointed to work on the UK Programme, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture and supporting professional development needs. Collaborate closely with the Central Programmes team and wider leadership to align programmes with the Trust's Theory of Change and organisational approach. Embed safeguarding practices across all UK programmes and partnerships.

Job-related knowledge, skills and experience

Essential skills and experience:

• Entrepreneurial self-starter.
• Solution-oriented mindset with strong critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Proven ability to network and build relationships.
• Track record of leading impactful programmes within the UK charity, social impact or philanthropy sector.
• Experience in developing strategic partnerships and engaging stakeholders at a senior level.
• Understanding of British Asian communities, including their needs, strengths and the challenges they face.
• Experience in one or more of the following: fundraising, advocacy or campaign leadership.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong leadership capabilities, with experience managing teams and working across multiple sectors.
• Strong organisational skills, with a proven ability to manage time effectively and follow through on commitments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative and empathetic interpersonal style.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in dynamic environments with evolving priorities.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience in the health sector (strongly desirable).
• Experience of raising funds for new programmes.
• Knowledge of UK public policy, particularly as it relates to ethnic minority communities and health.
• Familiarity with data-driven approaches to measuring social impact.