Head of programme jobs in Milton keynes
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Main Role & Responsibilities
The post holder is required to provide strategic leadership and oversight of all programme activity, ensuring all activity is delivered and evaluated effectively and in alignment with organisational goals.
The successful candidate will lead and develop programme teams and oversee engagement, planning and delivery, and monitor risk and opportunities. They will develop strong relationships representing the organisation externally, and ensure programmes demonstrate clear impact and meet quality standards.
Role Requirements
Duties will include but not be limited to:
Strategic Leadership & Direction
- Lead all programme activity and ensure alignment with organisational goals
- Translate vision and strategic goals into actionable programme, content and priorities
- Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and impact
- Contribute to wider organisational strategy and oversee the operationalisation of strategic goals
- Work closely with other heads of services to support strategic development
Programme Development & Design
- Oversee the development and evolution of programmes, content, and resources
- Ensure programmes are evidence-based, relevant, and high quality, aligning with quality standards, working closely with the insights team
- Lead needs assessments and stakeholder consultations to understand programme needs
- Embed inclusivity, accessibility, and best practice in all programme design
Programme Delivery & Operations
- Oversee the planning, implementation and delivery of all programmes
- Develop systems, processes, and timelines for consistent execution
- Manage programme budgets and resource allocation
- Identify and mitigate risks to delivery
- Identify opportunities for commercialisation of products and services
Performance, Monitoring & Impact Measurement
- Define KPIs and success metrics aligned to organisational outcomes
- Analyse data to assess programme effectiveness and impact
- Use insights to drive continuous improvement and strategic decisions
- Report on performance to senior leadership, funders, and stakeholders
Stakeholder & Partnership Management
· Build and maintain strong relationships with:
-
- Partners and collaborators
- Funders and commissioners
- Community or beneficiary groups
- Represent the organisation externally at meetings, events, and networks
- Identify and develop strategic partnerships to enhance programme reach
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead, manage, and develop the delivery leadership team
- Participate in strategic development and oversee work within delivery and impact portfolio
- Work closely with other heads of services to provide support to the SLT
- Set clear objectives, expectations, and performance standards
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture
Quality Assurance & Governance
- Ensure programmes meet quality standards and organisational policies
- Maintain compliance with relevant regulations and safeguarding requirements
- Oversee documentation, reporting, and accountability processes
Resource & Content Oversight
- Ensure the development of high-quality programme materials and resources
- Oversee content consistency, branding, and alignment with organisational values
- Ensure resources are accessible and effectively utilised
Financial Oversight
- Manage programme budgets and ensure cost-effective delivery
- Monitor expenditure and ensure alignment with funding requirements
- Support fundraising and contribute to funding proposals as required
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Work with Insight and Innovation team to stay informed of sector trends and best practices
- Encourage innovation in programme design and delivery
- Pilot and scale new approaches based on evidence and feedback
· Oversee development of all programmes and associated content and resources
Person Specification
Essential
· Educated to degree level or have the equivalent experience
· A detailed understanding of education, Health and Social Care and family services and how to engage these sectors
· Confident leader with previous demonstrable experience in overseeing multiple programmes or portfolios with matrix management experience
· Proven track record of developing, delivering, and scaling programmes with measurable impact
· Experience working with a range of stakeholders, including partners, funders, and communities
· Experience managing budgets and resources effectively
· Experience of delivering regional and national programmes
· Strong understanding of programme design, delivery, and lifecycle management
· Understanding of partnership working and stakeholder engagement approaches
· Awareness of relevant policy, regulatory, and safeguarding requirements
· Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans
· Excellent planning, organisational, and project management skills
· Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex programmes simultaneously
· Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive continuous improvement
· Ability to define KPIs and measure programme success effectively
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships
· Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams through coaching and performance management
· Strong commitment to quality, impact, and continuous improvement
· Collaborative and inclusive leadership style
· High level of integrity, accountability, and professionalism
· Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic and changing environment
· Passionate about the organisation’s mission and values
Desirable
· Experience of working in gambling harms prevention sector or another similar or related field
· Experience of operationalising strategic plans
· Experience in developing harm prevention programmes and or interventions
· Knowledge of sector trends, innovation, and best practice
· Leadership qualification
· An understanding of public health frameworks and approach to harm prevention
· An understanding of PSHE, PSE, Learning for Life and Work
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Are you someone who can build trusted relationships across sectors, develop sustainable income, and turn strategic opportunities into meaningful impact?
Are you looking for a part-time, senior role where you can shape organisational direction, grow partnerships, and deliver programmes with national and international reach?
The Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN) is a UK-based charity dedicated to improving mental health outcomes through better design. We are seeking a strategic and entrepreneurial Head of Partnerships & Programmes to play a central role in our next phase of growth.
In this role, success will mean building high-value partnerships, growing sustainable income, and delivering programmes that expand DiMHN’s impact and influence.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will:
- Drive sustainable income through a mix of commercial partnerships, membership growth, and charitable funding
- Develop and lead strategic and commercial partnerships, from opportunity through to delivery
- Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of programmes across our core areas of work
- Grow and engage a diverse membership across commercial and health sector stakeholders
- Embed strong monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to demonstrate impact and inform decision-making
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for a strategic, relationship-driven leader who can translate opportunity into impact, income, and influence.
Knowledge and experience
You will bring:
- A strong track record of developing and securing income through partnerships, sponsorship, membership, and/or charitable funding
- Experience building and managing commercial or strategic partnerships, including identifying opportunities and maintaining long-term relationships
- Experience designing and delivering programmes involving multiple stakeholders, sectors, and/or geographies
- The ability to develop robust business cases, including assessing opportunities, risks, and resource requirements
- Experience growing and engaging professional networks, memberships, or cross-sector communities
- Confidence working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
Knowledge of the mental health, healthcare, design, or built environment sectors is welcome, but not essential.
Personal attributes
You will be:
- Strategic and entrepreneurial, able to spot and develop opportunities
- Collaborative and relationship-led, with the ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders
- Impact-focused, motivated by delivering measurable outcomes
- Adaptable and resilient, comfortable working in a growing and evolving organisation
- Passionate about improving mental health outcomes and interested in how design can improve people’s lives
WHAT YOU'LL GET IN RETURN
As part of the team, you will benefit from:
- Annual leave - 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
- Work from home – though in-person meetings with partners and members will be expected in order to build strong working relationships
- Flexible working - flexibility in how the 21 hours are worked across the week (to be agreed during offer discussions)
NEXT STEPS
Please see https://bit.ly/DIMHNPartnershipsProgrammes for our Candidate Pack, application instructions and details about the interview process.
Registered Charity
1 - 5
The Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN) is a charity dedicated to improving the design of mental health environments.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Lloyds Bank Foundation
Head of Programme Design and Organisational Development
Starting Salary: £66,438 (if London-based); £61,872 (if not London-based)
Contract: Full-time, permanent contract (we are open to conversations about flexibility - so please ask)
Location: Remote role - can be based anywhere in England or Wales with an expectation of frequent travel across England and Wales
About Lloyds Bank Foundation
Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales is an independent charitable foundation, backed by Lloyds Banking Group and the people within it. We want everyone to be in a good place - personally, in a home that’s a good place to live, and in a community that’s a good place to belong.
We play our role by connecting and catalysing community-led change, providing the money, time, tools and connections that build organisations’ capacity and capability, to make people’s lives better and their communities stronger.
We back people and communities across England and Wales, to make that happen, because when you back brilliant people, brilliant things happen. Our communities are full of ambitious, energetic and determined people stepping up to make their neighbours’ lives better and their communities grow stronger. Day in, day out.
About the Role
This is a leadership opportunity to shape how the Foundation designs, delivers and strengthens its programmes across England and Wales.
As Head of Programme Design and Organisational Development, you will lead the Foundation’s approach to programme design, organisational development and volunteering, ensuring everything we do is high quality, evidence-informed and grounded in lived experience.
You will set the standards, frameworks and tools that underpin programme design across the organisation, working closely with Programme Leads to design new programmes and strengthen existing ones. You will also lead our organisational development offer, ensuring charities and partners are supported to become stronger, more resilient and better connected.
Alongside this, you will shape how volunteering contributes to our work, embedding it across programmes and ensuring it supports both community capacity and connection.
You will work across teams and directorates to ensure programme design, organisational development and volunteering are fully aligned and working together to deliver meaningful community-led change.
About You
We’re looking for an experienced and credible leader with a strong background in programme or service design, ideally in complex or multi-partner environments.
You will bring a deep understanding of how organisational development builds capacity and resilience, alongside experience of using evidence and insight to improve programmes and outcomes.
You will be confident developing frameworks, standards and approaches that ensure quality and consistency, while also enabling innovation and learning.
You will be a collaborative and relational leader, with strong partnership skills and the ability to work across internal teams and external organisations. A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is essential.
How to Apply
Please click ‘Apply’ to be redirected to our website, where you can download the Candidate Information Pack and find details of how to apply.
For an informal conversation about the role and application process, please contact our recruitment partner, Atkinson HR via the information in the candidate pack.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We hold Disability Confident Employer status (Level 2) and are working towards full status by 2027. This means that if you're a disabled applicant and your CV and application answers clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria for the role, we will invite you to interview.
More broadly, we are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities and people we work with. We believe that diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger and helps us make better decisions. We actively welcome applications from people who are under-represented in the charity sector, including people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, and those with experience of the issues our funded charities work to address.
Key Dates
Closing Date: Thursday 28th May 2026
Optional Q&A Session: Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 09:00-10:00
First Interview: Tuesday 9th June 2026
Second Interview: Thursday 18th June 2026
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We support small, local and specialist charities across England and Wales.
