At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic funding and management of impactful programmes for children and families.
- Company: Join a dynamic organisation focused on generating high-quality evidence for social change.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous benefits, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families through evidence-based programmes.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing complex programmes and grant oversight is essential.
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.
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
We are looking for someone with:
- Significant experience of managing large, complex, multi-stakeholder programmes or projects.
- 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.
Please refer to the Job Description and the job pack for more information when you click to apply. Please submit a cover letter of no more than 1,000 words. Your cover letter should be structured around the four questions below and provide clear, specific examples of your relevant experience.
1. Programme and portfolio leadership - Please describe your experience of leading complex programmes or portfolios involving multiple stakeholders. Include examples of how you have managed delivery, risks, budgets and competing priorities, and how you have used data, evidence, evaluation findings or learning to inform decision-making and improve outcomes.
2. Grant-making, commissioning and programme oversight - Please describe your experience of grant-making, commissioning, contract management and/or overseeing externally delivered programmes. Include examples of how you have assessed proposals, managed funding agreements or contracts, monitored performance, and addressed delivery, financial or operational risks.
3. Evidence generation and evaluation - Foundations funds intervention delivery to support the generation of high-quality evidence. Please describe your experience of working alongside research, evaluation or evidence-generation activity. This may include commissioning or managing evaluations, supporting evaluation readiness, using evaluation findings, or balancing delivery and evaluation requirements within programmes.
4. Children and families sector knowledge, stakeholder management and people leadership - Please describe your knowledge and experience of children's social care, family support, early intervention or related sectors. Include examples of how you have built and maintained effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, worked collaboratively with delivery organisations, funders, evaluators, local authorities or other partners, and supported, managed or developed colleagues to achieve programme objectives.
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. Focusing 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 its success.
Senior Programmes Manager in 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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Programmes Manager in London
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Foundations.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Foundations.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Foundations.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Foundations. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Programmes Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Foundations. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Senior Programmes Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Foundations
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Foundations. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
