Strategy & Planning Manager

Strategy & Planning Manager

Application Deadline

19 November 2026

Department

Charities - Fundraising

Employment Type

Permanent

Location

London, Hybrid

Reporting To

Ali Rulton-Reed

Compensation

Description

The Strategy & Planning Manager owns the design and delivery of strategic planning and performance management processes that enable the Charities Directorate to plan, prioritise and deliver effectively.

The role works closely with the Charities leadership team to develop, align and socialise strategic priorities, translating high-level strategy into actionable plans which connect with other business processes, such as communications planning.

The Strategy & Planning Manager uses meaningful metrics to drive effective strategy and performance discussions, create accountability and accelerate decisions across teams.

This role owns the design and delivery of annual and quarterly business planning processes, working in partnership with the Programme Manager to create tools and mechanisms that drive collaboration.

This role leads high-impact workshops, away days and all-staff sessions that improve collaboration, alignment and drive pace.

The Strategy & Planning Manager also represents the Charities Directorate on cross-charity and Foundation strategic projects and provides support on strategically important projects as required.

As part of a small Strategy, Planning & Innovation team, the role works closely with colleagues who lead programme delivery and strategic innovation that unlocks long term growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning & Implementation (approx. 40% of role)
• Work with the Charities Leadership Team to develop, align and socialise strategic priorities, ensuring every team member is clear and informed.
• Support the Charities Leadership Team to develop and evolve a shared directorate strategy and translate high-level strategy into actionable plans that connect strategic priorities with day-to-day operations.
• Own the planning, co-ordination and delivery of annual and quarterly business plans, working in partnership with the Programme Manager to design the tools, processes and mechanisms that will help drive collaboration and enable iteration.
• Facilitate strategic decision making with the Charities Leadership Team, ensuring the right people are involved at the right time and creating clarity around the impact of decisions.
• Represent the directorate on cross-charity and foundation strategic projects.
• Performance Management (approx. 30% of role)
• Develop and deliver the tools and processes that support measuring progress against plans across the Charities Directorate including quarterly reviews and retrospectives, financial reforecasts, OKRs and KPIs.
• Work with the Charities Leadership Team to develop meaningful progress metrics that drive effective discussions and decision making.
• Identify and monitor risks, issues and interdependencies escalating when required and ensuring mitigating actions are in place.
• Facilitate performance discussions that use shared metrics to drive effective decision making and accountability across teams.
• Management of stakeholders (approx. 30% of role)
• Design and facilitate high-impact workshops, meetings, away days and all-staff sessions.
• Facilitate cross-functional working groups that enable teams to translate plans into implementation and maintain momentum.
• Support strategically important projects as required, working with the Charities Leadership Team to ensure milestones are met and outcomes achieved.
• Lead internal communications that keep the Charities Directorate informed and engaged on strategic priorities and business plans.

The post holder should expect to

• Work in a hot desk environment, at least two days a week in the Foundation's office.
• Be responsible for the input and maintenance of databases and files relevant to the post requirements.
• Will occasionally be required to attend events in the evening and at weekends (eg board meetings, launch events)

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

• Exceptional attention to detail and high standard of delivery, with the ability to work on numerous projects at once.
• Strategic thinker who can translate high-level strategy into actionable plans.
• Skilled facilitator who designs and leads workshops and discussions that improve collaboration, alignment and drive action.
• Excellent stakeholder manager, able to build strong relationships, influence at all levels and motivate others without direct line management.
• Confident managing complexity, risk and interdependencies across multiple strategic projects and teams.
• Champions robust planning and performance management whilst remaining flexible and pragmatic in delivery.
• Uses data and insight to inform decisions, test hypotheses and drive continuous improvement.
• Open to change as a necessary part of improvement, and able to deliver despite uncertainty.
• Committed to embedding diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Committed to continuous learning, formally and informally.
• Knowledge, experience and qualifications
• Experience in strategic planning or project management.
• Track record of designing and embedding tools, processes and governance structures that enable effective delivery.
• Experienced in facilitating workshops and discussions that lead to decision making.
• Understanding of performance management approaches including OKRs, KPIs and financial forecasting.
• Knowledge of fundraising, ideally both high value and mass market, and ideally in an NHS or health context.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

• Contributory pension
• 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