Clean Slate is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Head of Programmes on a maternity cover basis.
This is a pivotal role responsible for overseeing the delivery of impactful services across all operational departments, ensuring our programmes continue to improve the financial wellbeing, resilience and life opportunities of people on low incomes.
As Head of Programmes, you will provide leadership to managers across the organisation, maintain strong relationships with funders and commissioners, oversee organisational performance and reporting, support business development and programme growth, and ensure that our services remain safe, compliant, effective and sustainable.
This role will suit an experienced leader who combines strategic thinking with strong operational management skills and who is passionate about creating meaningful change for people facing financial hardship.
About Clean Slate
At Clean Slate, we believe everyone should be able to provide for themselves and their family without paying the extra costs associated with poverty.
Our mission is to create meaningful, measurable change for people on low incomes, helping them become better off financially and more in control of their lives through money guidance, employment support and digital inclusion.
Role Overview
As Head of Programmes, you will oversee the successful delivery, performance and development of Clean Slate's services nationally. Working as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to organisational strategy, support business growth and ensure programmes achieve both their social impact and financial objectives.
You will provide leadership and support to departmental managers, oversee organisational reporting and performance monitoring, maintain relationships with key funders and stakeholders, and ensure that systems, processes and compliance arrangements support high-quality service delivery.
A key element of the role will be identifying opportunities for growth, supporting funding and commissioning opportunities, and ensuring services continue to evolve to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
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Act as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy, planning and decision-making.
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Lead the implementation of organisational objectives across all programme delivery functions.
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Champion continuous improvement, innovation and service excellence.
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Support the development and implementation of policies, procedures and organisational systems.
Programme Oversight & Operational Management
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Oversee the delivery of all services and programmes, ensuring quality, compliance and impact.
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Support managers to achieve contractual targets, performance objectives and growth ambitions.
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Monitor programme performance, budgets and operational risks.
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Ensure sufficient staffing capacity and effective workforce planning across departments.
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Drive consistency, quality assurance and best practice across all service areas.
Leadership & People Management
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Line manage senior managers and support effective leadership throughout the organisation.
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Promote accountability, performance management and staff development.
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Support managers to identify training needs and implement development plans.
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Foster a positive culture that prioritises staff wellbeing, inclusion and professional growth.
Reporting, Data & Systems
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Oversee organisational performance monitoring and impact measurement.
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Lead reporting for commissioners, funders, trustees and senior leadership.
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Ensure the organisation's CRM and reporting systems are effectively managed and utilised to support performance, compliance and decision-making.
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Use data and insight to inform continuous improvement and organisational development.
Business Development & Partnerships
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Support the development of new programmes, services and funding opportunities.
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Work closely with the Managing Director and fundraising teams on commissioning opportunities, funding applications and growth initiatives.
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Maintain and strengthen relationships with funders, commissioners and strategic partners.
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Represent Clean Slate at external meetings, partnership forums and networking events.
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Support the organisation's reputation as a leading voice on financial wellbeing and poverty reduction.
Governance, Compliance & Risk
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Ensure compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and cyber security requirements.
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Oversee risk management processes and contribute to organisational governance.
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Ensure services operate in line with contractual, regulatory and quality standards.
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Promote a culture of accountability, safeguarding and continuous learning.
About You
We are looking for a strategic and collaborative leader with experience managing complex services, leading managers and driving organisational performance.
You will bring:
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Significant experience leading programmes, services or operational teams.
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Experience managing managers and supporting organisational growth.
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Strong strategic planning and organisational development skills.
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Experience working with funders, commissioners and external stakeholders.
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A track record of delivering impactful services and achieving performance targets.
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Experience overseeing reporting, monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance processes.
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Strong understanding of performance management, compliance and risk management.
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Excellent communication, relationship-building and influencing skills.
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Experience using CRM and reporting systems to support operational delivery and organisational performance.
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A commitment to Clean Slate's mission and values.
Desirable
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Experience within financial inclusion, employability, community development or related sectors.
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Knowledge of commissioning, fundraising or business development.
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Understanding of issues affecting people on low incomes, including financial exclusion and the poverty premium.
Why Join Clean Slate?
This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role within a growing organisation that is changing lives across the UK.
You'll help shape strategy, support talented teams, strengthen partnerships and ensure our programmes continue to deliver meaningful, measurable impact for the people and communities we serve.
We want to see a world where people can provide for themselves and their family, where it does not cost more to be poor.


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Director of Community Services
£80,000 pa plus excellent benefits
Remote working
Permanent, 35 hours per week
This is a key senior leadership role, responsible for shaping and leading RNID’s community services so that we change lives one by one. The Director of Community Services will lead our flagship RNID Near You services and Contact RNID, with responsibility for business development, operational delivery, service quality, safeguarding, volunteer management and continuous improvement.
As Director of Community Services you will:
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Provide strategic leadership for RNID’s community services, setting a clear direction, maintaining strong delivery discipline and maximising impact for our service-users.
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Set and maintain high standards for service quality and assurance, ensuring consistent practice, effective compliance arrangements and a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
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Grow RNID’s community services by maximising opportunities to establish new RNID Near You services and maintaining a strong future services roadmap.
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Strengthen safeguarding across RNID, ensuring systems and processes are proportionate, robust and effective in protecting service users, staff and volunteers.
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Lead volunteer management across RNID, ensuring services have the volunteer capacity they need and that volunteers are well trained, supported and recognised.
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Drive continuous improvement and further modernisation of services, ensuring they meet community needs. Improve the efficiency of services, helping RNID reach more people.
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Foster a culture of strong performance management across all services, using insight into demand, quality, risk and impact to support effective decision-making and delivery.
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Build and strengthen partnerships, particularly with NHS trusts, commissioners and other funders, to grow and improve services.
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Play an active role in collective leadership and decision-making as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, modelling values-led, inclusive leadership and creating a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
You are ready to work for a home-working organisation and have good IT skills, particularly with Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Excel, Word.
We are RNID: the national charity supporting the 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. Together, we will end the discrimination faced by our communities, help people hear better now and fund world-class research to restore hearing and silence tinnitus. We work with our communities and partners across industry, government, charity, education and more to change life for the better.
RNID has a proud history and big ambitions. We’re focused on making the greatest impact possible across the whole of the UK. We champion the latest technology and the opportunities it brings. We also know the value of a friendly face in local communities to support people where they need it most.
We champion the value of difference and equality and celebrate our diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively encourage applications from eligible candidates from BAME backgrounds or who are deaf or hard of hearing. With almost 20% of our employees having a disability we proudly hold Disability Confident Leader status and guarantee an interview for disabled applicants meeting the minimum essential criteria.
Closing date: 12 July 2026
Interview dates as below:
- Stakeholder sessions: 20th & 21st July 2026
- Final panel interviews: 27th & 28th July 2026
Supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus