Programme Manager

Reporting to the Head of Change, the Programme Manager will manage the Foundation’s strategic change portfolio of work. You will establish a trusted, secure, well‑governed programme of change. The role will be responsible for delivering the project assurance board, ensuring that all programmes of work deliver the organisational-wide change the charity requires. This role is cross-organisational, with involvement with the Chief People Officer on the operating model, the Chief Finance Officer, and the Director of Transformation on planning and delivery.

The role will assist in delivering:

• A transformational, organisation-wide approach to change grounded in best practice.
• High-quality, consistent programme delivery through a strengthened PMO capability.
• Improved organisational readiness and staff confidence during periods of change.
• Clear, measurable outcomes across the Foundation’s strategic transformation priorities.
• A culture that embraces innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Data Leadership
  • Establish and maintain programme governance frameworks, controls, and reporting standards.
  • Ensure the programme delivers measurable business value and ROI.
  • Provide executive-level reporting to sponsors and other appropriate governance groups.
• Portfolio & Delivery Oversight
  • Oversee multiple interdependent projects, managing the end‑to‑end delivery, from design through to implementation and evaluation.
  • Manage the programme with clear plans, milestones, budgets, and risk management so that the Foundation is well informed about the programme's performance.
  • Drive delivery to time, cost, scope, and quality targets.
  • Ensure benefits realisation planning and post-implementation reviews are held, and findings shared where appropriate.
• Risk & Issue Management
  • Develop a programme-level risk management framework.
  • Proactively identify cross-project risks and systemic issues, using data, evidence and learning to improve programme effectiveness.
  • Develop organisational-wide mitigation and contingency strategies.
  • Ensure regulatory, compliance, and governance standards are met within Projects.
• Change & Transformation Leadership
  • Lead on large-scale organisational change initiatives.
  • Embed change management and organisational adoption.
  • Develop communication plans to support transformation.
  • Embed new ways of working, processes, or systems.
• Financial & Commercial Management
  • Support delivery leads with the development of business cases.
  • Ensure financial performance and cost control are managed, an appropriate use of charitable funds and value for money.
  • Develop in Project vendor and third-party relationships and serve as an escalation point for delivery leads.
  • Assist on procurement strategy where required.
• Team & Capability Leadership
  • Lead and mentor more junior project managers and delivery leads so that project teams’ performance are consistent across the programme.
  • Develop performance standards and accountability structures.
  • Foster a culture of delivery excellence and continuous improvement.
• Quality & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify opportunities to improve ways of working, programme design and delivery.
  • Implement programme assurance and quality control measures.
  • Promote best practices in project and programme management.
  • Conduct lessons-learned reviews and drive process improvement.

Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Skills, abilities, and attributes:
  • Self-starter who is adaptable, able to operate strategically and hands‑on in equal measure.
  • Willing to learn and develop new skills, and help to develop the knowledge and skills of peers.
  • Committed to the principle of continuous improvement, with careful attention to detail and due process.
  • Committed to delivering consistent and high-quality customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Good interpersonal skills and able to influence and effectively liaise with both internal and external communities.
  • Confident in communicating well, both in writing and verbally, and exhibits listening and influencing skills, working with integrity, and exhibits the Foundation’s core values.
  • Skilled in working with agile methodologies.
• Knowledge, experience, and qualifications:
  • Proven experience in advanced programme and portfolio management expertise, delivering large, complex, multi-stream programmes.
  • Able to demonstrate good strategic thinking and commercial acumen, showing strong problem-solving and analytical capability.
  • Good financial literacy (budget management, cost modelling, ROI analysis).
  • Expertise in building business cases, development, and benefits realisation planning.
  • Expertise in leading cultural organisational changes, bringing planning to life across an organisation.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for senior and non‑technical audiences.
  • Track record of influencing at senior/executive levels.
• Desirable Qualifications
  • MSP, PgMP, PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent.
  • Experience in fundraising and fundraising organisations (desirable).

Benefits

• Contributory pension.
• Annual personal development budget.
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities.
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit.
• Shower facilities and bike lock area.
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays).
• Subsidies for glasses.
• Employee Assistance Programme.