Head of Programmes in Westminster

Organisation and Location

Organisation: The Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation

Location: Westminster and Hybrid

Salary: £55,000 per annum

Contract: Fixed Term Contract with a possibility of moving to permanent

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Direct reports: 3 staff members

About The Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation

The Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation (PKF) is a non-profit Foundation under the patronage of The Speaker of The House of Commons. We operate apolitically and impartially to enable MPs and Peers to gain knowledge from experiences beyond Westminster. Each Parliamentary Knowledge Scheme is 10 months long where a cohort of 15 cross-party MPs engage with partners through visits, workshops, and experiences. This gives them context across a sector, learning directly from charities, institutions, public sector organisations and businesses. Each scheme offers 12 to 14 modules with MPs reaching a set number of credits to graduate. We maintain strict impartiality through our Advisory Board and Advisory Committees, which ensure balanced perspectives across views, organisations, regions, and expertise.

An Exciting Time For PKF

This is a pivotal moment for PKF. Following a successful launch, we are scaling from three pilot schemes to six concurrent schemes in 2026/27, significantly increasing our impact.

Upcoming Schemes 2026/27

• Energy and Environment V2
• Wellbeing and Sport V2
• Youth and Education
• Industry and Infrastructure

Who is This For?

We are looking for a dynamic, curious and driven individual who can seamlessly blend strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery. The Head of Programmes must be comfortable moving between big picture planning and getting stuck into the detail of programme delivery. Liaising with a wide, weird and wonderful selection of partners, you are comfortable talking to a huge range of organisations and people and creatively seeing how to maximise visits and experiences for MPs and partners. Ensuring Schemes balance interest and impact whilst maintaining our apolitical and impartial stance. Prior parliamentary experience is not required however an interest in supporting MPs and Parliament to understand these key sectors and the many organisations that work within them is vital. If you are engaged and interested in a large range of topic areas, love the idea of directly supporting organisations having their voices heard, have excellent programme management skills, leadership capability and a genuine enthusiasm for supporting democratic processes then we welcome your interest.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of PKF's programme portfolio, including planning for expansion to six concurrent schemes
• Work with the CEO to shape organisational strategy and identify new opportunities for growth and impact
• Design and implement systems and processes that enable efficient delivery at scale
• Support development of and oversee impact measurement frameworks to demonstrate programme effectiveness
• Contribute to fundraising efforts and partnership development

Operational Delivery

• Oversee the day-to-day delivery of all Parliamentary Knowledge Schemes
• Ensure high quality module delivery and exceptional stakeholder experiences
• Manage relationships with delivery partners
• Coordinate with Advisory Committees to maintain programme balance and impartiality
• Be hands-on when needed, troubleshooting logistics or supporting critical deliveries
• Directly manage and develop three team members, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration
• Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback, and support professional development
• Build team capacity to handle increased programme volume as we scale
• Foster a positive, solution-focused team culture aligned with PKF's values
• Model the can-do attitude and strategic operational blend we need across the organisation

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with MPs, their staff, and parliamentary stakeholders
• Engage with delivery partners across charities, institutions, and businesses
• Work with Advisory Board and Committee members to ensure balanced programme content
• Represent PKF at external events and with potential partners

Proven track record of managing and delivering complex operational programmes from conception through to completion. Demonstrated ability to blend strategic thinking with hands-on operational delivery. Experience managing and developing a team, with strong coaching and mentoring skills. Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships across diverse groups. Strong project management skills, including planning, budgeting, and resource allocation. Can-do attitude with a solutions-focused approach to challenges. Comfortable working in a small, growing organisation where flexibility and adaptability are key.

What We Offer

• Salary of £55,000 per annum
• Fixed term contract
• Hybrid working arrangements with flexibility between London office and home working
• International travel within Schemes
• Direct impact on how MPs understand critical policy areas and challenges facing the UK
• Work with fascinating organisations across sectors and engage with diverse parliamentary stakeholders
• A supportive and collaborative team environment

How to Express Interest

If this sounds like the right role for you then please send us:

• A covering letter addressed to Jamie (no more than two pages) explaining why you are interested in this role and what you think an ideal visit should look like for MPs within one of the Schemes. Pick an organisation you are passionate about who could feasibly be part of one of the 6 Schemes and give an overview of the visit you would plan explaining why the activities you have picked would support MPs understanding of what that organisation does.

Send both to "georgew@parliamentknowledge.uk". Include "Head of Programmes" in your email title. We will be doing the first assessment of applications in mid February. The Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage candidates who have the right attitude and core capabilities to apply.