Senior Programmes Manager
We are looking for a Senior Programmes Manager to lead the strategic funding, oversight and active management of a dedicated portfolio of grants focused on a specific thematic area supporting intervention implementation, evaluation and research.
Job role: Senior Programmes Manager
Salary: £54,899 per annum, plus generous benefits
Contract type: 12-month contract (Maternity cover)
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Location: Central London (hybrid working)
Closing date: 27 November 2026
Interviews: w/c 7 December 26
The Role
As a What Works Centre, the organisation generates and champions high-quality evidence to improve outcomes for children and families. The Programmes Team creates the conditions for robust evidence generation and use by identifying opportunities, shaping funding activity and overseeing delivery from inception to close. The team develops partnerships with delivery organisations, evaluators, co-funders and stakeholders, supports evaluation readiness and implementation, and oversees grants, budgets, risks and project delivery. Throughout its work, the team embeds EDIE, anti-racism, lived experience and stakeholder voice into programme design and decision-making.
The team’s purpose is to:
- Create the conditions for high-quality research evidence to be generated and used.
- Build partnerships that enable robust and ethical evaluation.
- Represent delivery perspectives to help bridge practice, evidence and policy.
- Design and implement funding strategies for complex evidence-generation programmes.
You will lead the funding, strategic oversight and portfolio management of programmes within the Strengthening Family Networks priority area, ensuring projects are delivered effectively, on time, within budget and generate robust evidence through independent evaluation.
Key areas of responsibility include:
- Grant funding
- Grant management
- Thematic Leadership
- Line management
- External stakeholder management
- Develop and improve processes and systems
About You
- Significant experience of managing large, complex, multi-stakeholder programmes or projects. In particular, experience exercising strategic judgement across complex programmes, balancing delivery, stakeholder, financial and evaluation considerations.
- Experience of grant-making, commissioning and/or grant/contract management
- A track record of successful budget management including reviewing, rephasing and realigning budgets
- Familiarity with research and evaluation methods (including randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental design, and feasibility studies)
- Experience at working in a fast-paced environment with a demanding workload and competing priorities
- Knowledge of barriers to research in early intervention and children’s social care, or related areas (for example: child/young people’s mental health; domestic abuse; violence against women and girls, education)
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills; able to present research to non-technical audiences
The organisation strives to be a great place to work, where everyone is high performing and where together the teams can achieve impact that makes a real difference for vulnerable children and families. Focussig on generating and championing high quality evidence, working directly with government and local leaders to provide practical solutions and encourage change. Join an organisation with ambitious aims and our people are essential to it’s success
You may have experience in areas such as Programme, Programmes, Programme Manager, Senior Programme Manager.
Senior Programmes Manager in City of London employer: Foundations
As an Evidence and Evaluation Officer, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact on children's and families' lives. Our organisation fosters a collaborative work culture that values innovation and professional growth, offering generous benefits and opportunities for skill development in a supportive environment. Located in the heart of the community, we are committed to delivering high-quality evaluations that inform policy and practice, making this an excellent place for those passionate about evidence-based change.
