Secondment Programme Manager in London

WIG is a membership charity that is building a community of leaders across public, private and not-for-profit sectors. For over 40 years, WIG has brought together senior decision-makers and thought leaders from business, government and civil society to tackle the challenges that matter most to the UK’s future.

The Secondments Programme Manager leads the project management, delivery and strategic development of WIG’s secondment offer, including the Charity Next brokerage programme and a wider portfolio of advertised secondments and bespoke programmatic interventions inwards. The role is core to WIG’s charitable purpose of porosity between sectors, enabling current and future leaders to share knowledge, build cross-sector skills and improve collaboration for the common good of the UK. This is a delivery, business development and stakeholder management role in equal measure.

The post-holder is accountable for revenue performance against the agreed annual income target, for the year-on-year improvement of service, impact and margin, and for maintaining the senior-level relationships across the Civil Service, charity sector and corporate partners that make the programmes credible and commercially viable. The right person is a confident programme manager who is energised by working at the intersection of sectors.

Responsibilities

• Programme strategy and delivery
  • Working closely with the Head of Leadership Development, own the management and delivery of all WIG secondment programmes, including Charity Next, advertised secondments and other programmes both in train and in development inwards.
  • Take responsibility for strategic improvements and year-on-year improvements in service, impact, and margin.
  • Ensure secondment agreements are designed, signed and stored in line with Civil Service and other host requirements, and are received and stored in a timely manner.
  • Deliver other projects across the leadership offer, including mentoring and recruitment, as required.
• Revenue performance and financial management
  • Deliver Charity Next and wider secondment programme revenue against the agreed annual income target, supporting long-term budgeting and forecasting.
  • Take responsibility for budget setting, invoicing and accounts receivable, working with the finance team to ensure timely payment.
  • Apply commercial rigour to programme pricing and margin, identifying opportunities to grow income without compromising quality or mission alignment.
  • Support the wider leadership development team as required, pivoting where needed to support revenue development and delivery requirements.
• Stakeholder relationships and external profile
  • Ensure the consistent use, accuracy, and upkeep of the organisation’s CRM system as a critical operational tool, maintaining high-quality data, timely updates, and adherence to agreed processes to support reporting, relationship management, and decision-making.
  • Maintain and build key stakeholder relationships within the Civil Service, the charity sector and other potential partner organisations.
  • Present and act as the face of WIG’s secondment programmes at external events, seeking out publicity opportunities to promote the offer.
  • Act as a trusted adviser to both secondees and hosts, resolving issues and finding pragmatic solutions as they arise.
• Business development and innovation
  • Lead business development activities, including regular mailshots, BD meetings, proposals and tender responses.
  • Develop and launch new products as required, for example, secondment exchanges, large-scale secondment programmes or alumni event programmes.
  • Lead the analysis of feedback at relevant points in secondment cycles, using insight to form case studies and evidence of what works for further business development.
• Cross-team collaboration and other
  • Engage with other WIG teams, particularly Marketing and Membership to ensure secondments are well-positioned and well-supported across the organisation.
  • Provide line management to staff as the programme grows, if and as appropriate.
  • A commitment to ongoing professional development.
  • Ability to travel to undertake duties in relation to the role.

Qualifications

Educated to degree level or equivalent.

Competencies

• Programme management: project and programme management with the ability to hold detail across multiple cycles whilst keeping sight of strategic direction.
• Commercial drive: a track record of meeting and exceeding income targets, with confidence in pricing, forecasting and value-for-money decisions.
• Stakeholder engagement: ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders across the Civil Service, charity sector and corporate partners.
• Customer focus: strong service orientation with the credibility to support senior secondees and hosts through complex placements.
• Resilience and self-direction: a positive, proactive operator who manages multiple shifting priorities calmly and to a high standard.
• Cross-team collaboration: works effectively across WIG with Marketing, Membership, Operations and Research, Policy and Impact to deliver joined-up outcomes.

Experience

Essential

• Track record of project or programme management in a relevant area, with a proven record of success in a customer-facing role.
• Experience of financial management of programmes and projects, including budgets and P&Ls.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish and maintain relationships with senior leaders.
• Experience of gathering feedback and proposing and implementing changes to drive innovation in programme delivery.

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of delivering programmes around talent exchanges or secondments, with business development and stakeholder management responsibilities through a cross-sector lens.
• Familiarity with the UK public sector, Civil Service procurement processes and cross-sector policy environment.
• Background in a membership body, charity or not-for-profit organisation.
• Experience of managing or contributing to alumni or community engagement programmes.