Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful projects to improve early childhood outcomes for children from low-income backgrounds.
- Company: Nesta is the UK's innovation agency focused on social good, tackling society's biggest challenges.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working options, and perks like private medical insurance and dental cover.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Five years' experience in early years policy, innovation methods, or managing complex programmes required.
- Other info: Diversity and flexibility are key; we welcome all applicants and support various working arrangements.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 91000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Deputy Director role at Nesta
Join to apply for the Deputy Director role at Nesta
Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.
This range is provided by Nesta. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
Direct message the job poster from Nesta
We are recruiting for a Deputy Director, A Fairer Start
About Nesta
We are Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. We design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest problems. Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet.
For over 20 years, we have worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. We work in three roles: as an innovation partner working with frontline organisations to design and test new solutions, as a venture builder supporting new and early stage businesses, and as a system shaper creating the conditions for innovation.
Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, we work relentlessly to change millions of lives for the better. Find out more at nesta.org.uk .
About this mission: A Fairer Start
We want to break the link between family background and life chances. Our mission is that from 2030 every child has the same chance of developing to their full potential in the early years.
We are focusing on improving the outcomes of children from low-income backgrounds during early childhood because this is when the foundations of physical, emotional and social development are laid. However, babies and young children growing up in poverty are more likely to miss out on the resources and experiences needed for healthy development.
We are working on improving children’s early outcomes by strengthening the early years system – ensuring family support services and early education are available, accessible, appealing, effective and cost-effective for families and children living in low-income.
We work across sectors – with national policymakers, local government, other charities, academics, and funders – in order to drive the changes we need to see to reach our mission goal.
Your role
This is a senior leadership role at Nesta, wholly dedicated to breaking the link between family background and life chances. You will oversee and create projects that make a real-world impact on our mission. They will generate new ideas and evidence for how to improve children’s environments in the early years. You will work alongside the Mission Director and other Deputy Directors to shape the portfolio and enable the team to deliver results. You will lead and work with a highly motivated and capable team including a range of ‘practice’ specialists including designers, behavioural scientists and researchers. You will be pivotal in enabling a step change in our impact through partnership working over the year.
Your responsibilities
- Support in shaping the strategic direction for the mission, how we deliver against this effectively, and ensuring team alignment
- Oversee a portfolio of projects that meets our strategic goals, leverages our innovation methods, appropriately considers and builds the evidence, and delivers at pace; help make tradeoffs between pace and perfection
- Create the conditions to scale solutions that work – by building our networks and influence, forming strategic partnerships, securing funding, and planning for scale from the start
- Manage senior stakeholder relationships with existing partners and build new relationships and partners (e.g. with industry players, local authorities, funders)
- Create the conditions for the team and others to succeed, fostering a high support, high challenge culture that reflects Nesta’s ‘whatever it takes’ mentality, and proactively supporting L&D across the team
- Co-lead a team (total mission team of 25) including staff with specialist skills such as designers, researchers, data scientists and behavioural scientists
- Drive your teams to deliver results, ensuring they have the best chance of making a meaningful impact to our mission
- Represent Nesta externally at events and in the media and enhance our credibility in the domain area of early years
- Contribute to the wider leadership team and work with cross-Nesta departments to enable mission success (e.g. with the project management office, people team and strategy unit)
- Engage with Nesta’s executive team and Board of Trustees on a regular basis or as required
- Experience of the domain i.e. working in early years practice, policy and/or research
- At least five years’ experience in at least one of:
- Applying innovation methods, such as behavioural science, design thinking, experimental design, or quantitative analysis; and/ or
- Managing a complex programme of work and leading a team from problem diagnosis to impactful solutions
- Leading policy change and delivery to alleviate early years inequalities
- An ability to rapidly get up to speed and deliver results in a short timeframe
Preferred attributes
- Excellent leadership skills and experience in creating and leading a high-performing, happy team
- Excellent stakeholder management, and the ability to create new relationships
- Experience of early years policymaking
- Experience of portfolio management and complex project-based working
- Experience critically appraising evidence and using it to make effective decisions
- The ability to write for and talk to senior decision-makers (such as senior policymakers, execs of philanthropic and sector organisations ) and to present to large audiences or the media
- A drive to continuously improve oneself and others, and take a proactive role in one’s own development
What we offer
Salary: circa £77,500 plus array of benefits, including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more.
Location: This role is based in London – with at least 2 days per week working from our Blackfriars office.
Term: Permanent
Start date: As soon as possible
Hours: This is a full-time role but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do.
Reports to: Mission Director.
Making an application
To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8:00am on the 3 September 2025.
First round interviews will take place w/c 15 September 2025.
At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative, and gets better results.
We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.
This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.
We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares, and other arrangements.
Please just let us know in your application, or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond), if these are options you’d like to explore.
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
-
Job function
General Business
-
Industries
Non-profit Organization Management
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Nesta by 2x
Sign in to set job alerts for “Deputy Director” roles.
Deputy Director, Strategy and Central Services
London, England, United Kingdom 6 days ago
Band 8C Associate Director of Operations
London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
Deputy Director, Public Bodies Centre of Expertise
London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago
Divisional Deputy Director of Operations SNCT
London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
Deputy Director, Head of News, Social Media, Visits & External Affairs
London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago
General Manager, Lambeth Urgent & Acute Crisis Pathway
London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
London, England, United Kingdom 21 hours ago
London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago
London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago
Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services
Greater London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago
Associate Director, Supply Chain Business Process Management
London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
Director, Special Assets Group Executive
London, England, United Kingdom 4 days ago
London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago
London, England, United Kingdom 22 hours ago
London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago
London, England, United Kingdom 4 weeks ago
Associate Director – Central & Local Government
London, England, United Kingdom 1 day ago
London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago
Deputy Director Safety, Security, Business Resilience, Technology & Accommodation
London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago
London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago
London, England, United Kingdom 2 months ago
London, England, United Kingdom 2 months ago
Business Development Manager / Associate Director | Research & Innovation
Associate Director – Entertainment (Gaming)
London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago
We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Deputy Director employer: Nesta
Contact Detail:
Nesta Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Director
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Nesta's mission and values. Understanding their focus on social innovation and early years development will help you align your experience and ideas with their goals during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Nesta. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations for the Deputy Director role, which can be beneficial in interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in leading teams and managing complex projects. Be ready to share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive results and foster a high-performing team environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on current trends and challenges in early years policy and practice. Being knowledgeable about recent developments will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations and showcase your expertise during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Mission: Before applying, take time to understand Nesta's mission, especially the 'A Fairer Start' initiative. Reflect on how your experience aligns with their goals of improving early childhood outcomes for children from low-income backgrounds.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in early years practice, policy, or research. Emphasise your leadership skills and any experience managing complex projects or teams, as these are crucial for the Deputy Director role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, clearly articulate your passion for social innovation and how you can contribute to Nesta's mission. Use specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to drive change and manage stakeholder relationships.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: Since this is a senior leadership role, be sure to convey your leadership philosophy and how you foster a high-performing team culture. Discuss your approach to collaboration and how you support team development in your application.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nesta
✨Understand Nesta's Mission
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand Nesta's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their focus on social innovation, particularly in early childhood development. This will help you align your answers with their goals and demonstrate your commitment to their cause.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
As a Deputy Director, you'll need to exhibit strong leadership skills. Prepare examples from your past roles where you've successfully led teams or projects, especially those that involved complex problem-solving or policy change. Highlight how you fostered a high-performing culture and achieved impactful results.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Expect questions about managing relationships with stakeholders. Be ready to discuss your experience in building partnerships, especially with local authorities and funders. Share specific instances where your stakeholder management led to successful outcomes, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Innovation Methodologies
Nesta values innovation methods like behavioural science and design thinking. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied these methodologies in your previous work. Provide concrete examples of how these approaches have led to successful project outcomes, particularly in the context of early years initiatives.
