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About the Department
The Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership was set up in 2017 with the mission to 'develop inspirational leaders who are called, connected, committed to deliver the Church of England vision for education'. Since then, it has operated a wide range of leadership development programmes, networks, research, conference and events, and published a range of key leadership resources to equip school leaders at every level to put their vision into practice.
Part of this provision has been as a very successful national provider of NPQ programmes. Beginning in 2017 with the delivery of NPQs for Headteachers, our suite of programmes has now expanded to include programmes for Specialist Teachers, Senior Leaders and also Executive Leaders. More recently, a partnership between the Church of England and the Catholic Education Service is also enabling programmes to be delivered more widely as together our school provision represents around 34% of the sector.
In 2025, the department will launch three new national programmes: Flourishing Leaders, Flourishing Teachers, and Flourishing ECTs (in partnership with UCL). These programmes respond to growing demand for high-quality, values-led professional learning and represent a significant expansion of our work across the education sector.
About the role
As Head of Flourishing Programmes, you will lead the strategic and operational delivery and expansion of our growing suite of values-led professional learning programmes: Flourishing Leaders, Flourishing Teachers, Flourishing ECTs (in partnership with UCL), and Leaders Like Us. These programmes are designed to support the flourishing of educators at every stage of their journey, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, vocation, and leadership development. You will oversee a dedicated team and work closely with internal colleagues, delivery partners, and national collaborators to ensure these programmes are impactful, inclusive, and sector-leading. This role requires a visionary and relational leader who can manage complexity, inspire excellence, and drive continuous improvement across the programmes.
Strategic Leadership and Quality Assurance
- Provide strategic oversight of the Flourishing Programmes, including 'Leaders Like Us', ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and the Church of England Vision for Education.
- Lead the development and implementation of robust quality assurance processes to ensure excellence in delivery and readiness for external evaluation.
- Use data, evaluation, and research to drive continuous improvement and innovation across all programmes.
Team Leadership and People Management
- Line manage team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
- Support the development of a high-performing team through coaching, mentoring, and clear performance expectations.
- Champion a values-led leadership culture that reflects the ethos of the National Society for Education and wider Church of England.
Programme Delivery and Operational Oversight
- Oversee the full participant journey across all Flourishing Programmes, including recruitment, onboarding, retention, and completion.
- Ensure effective systems and processes are in place to support delivery, including digital platforms, communications, and participant support.
- Ensure all contractual elements of the UCL partnership are met in a timely and accurate manner, including KPI reporting and compliance.
- Ensure Flourishing ECTE programme is ready for UCL monitoring, Ofsted or other external evaluations.
- Lead on the resolution of complex operational issues, including participant transfers, deferrals, and reasonable adjustments.
Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Working
- Work closely with delivery partners, including UCL, and MAT/Diocesan networks, to ensure effective communication, training, and support.
- Build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders across the education sector, including dioceses, MATs, and other national providers.
- Drive growth and programme engagement/recruitment across regional areas by developing strong, strategic relationships with schools, trusts, and diocesan networks.
- Represent the Flourishing Programmes on the national stage as an ambassador for our work, contributing to sector-wide conversations, networks, and events.
- Work collaboratively with the leadership team and the Partnerships and Engagement Team to strategically strengthen, streamline, and equip our Delivery Partner network - ensuring consistency across programmes, a unified voice and building capacity to drive increasing participant demand.
Collaborative Leadership
- Collaborate closely with the Head of Curriculum and Enablement and Head of NPQ Programmes as part of the Professional Learning Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the Head of Professional Learning.
- Contribute to the development of a holistic and coherent professional learning offer that reflects the organisation's values and meets the needs of leaders across the system.
- Ensure alignment and collaboration across all programme areas, supporting shared priorities, resource allocation, and cross-team innovation.
Essential
Skills and Aptitudes:
- Proven ability to lead the design and delivery of high-impact professional development in an educational context.
- Strong leadership and line management skills, with experience of building and sustaining high-performing teams.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills across a range of media (written, verbal, digital).
- Ability to manage complex operational systems and processes with clarity and precision.
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement and partnership working, including with national and regional education partners.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to evaluate, improve and innovate at scale.
- Confident in using data and evaluation to inform decision-making and drive improvement.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Successful senior leadership experience in education or a related field, with a deep understanding of professional learning and leadership development across career stages.
- Experience of working with or within national education systems, including collaborative programme delivery and partnership management.
- Strong understanding of quality assurance processes and external evaluation readiness.
- Experience of working collaboratively across teams to deliver a coherent and values-aligned offer.
- Familiarity with the Church of England Vision for Education and its application in leadership development.
Personal Attributes:
- Visionary and values-driven leader, able to inspire and align others around a shared purpose.
- Reflective, evidence-informed and committed to continuous learning.
- Collegial and collaborative, with a strong sense of team and shared responsibility.
- Resilient and calm under pressure, with a solutions-focused mindset.
- Committed to equity, inclusion and the flourishing of all participants and colleagues.
Desirable
Education:
- Postgraduate qualification in Education, Leadership or a related field.
Skills and Experience:
- Experience of delivering professional development beyond your own institution or organisation.
- Expertise in blended or online learning design and delivery.
- Experience of representing an organisation or programme on a national stage.
- Lived experience of the Church of England Vision for Education in practice.
- Experience of designing or delivering programmes that support underrepresented groups in education, such as Leaders Like Us.
Circumstances
- Whilst this is a remote role, the post-holder will need to travel on occasion. This could be for NSE Team Days, NSE Residential (one overnight stay in the Autumn each year), Professional Learning Team Days, other events such as the National Conference, DP Days etc.
- It is anticipated that there will be approximately 12 travel days per year, although this will vary.
- In addition, in this leadership role, you will be involved in Partnerships and Engagement development, promoting the NSE's Flourishing programmes with current and prospective delivery partners, and undertaking QA as required (number of days TBC each year in conversation with line manager)
For an information conversation about the role, please contact
Closing date for applications is 8 March at 11:55 pm.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
The Church of England’s vocation is and always has been to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ afresh in each generation to the people of England.
Thank you!
Fat Macy's is looking for a Head of Programmes to lead the development and delivery of our programmes as the charity grows in response to increasing need for our services and a changing external landscape. This is a key role at a time of significant organisational development, offering the opportunity to shape how we work and how we support our beneficiaries in a truly meaningful way.
About Fat Macy's
Fat Macy's is a charity and social enterprise which supports individuals experiencing homelessness towards lasting and secure employment, resettlement, and overall better personal wellbeing. We deliver on this mission through our Milestone Programme, a 200-hours hospitality based skills and training initiative which consists of the Training Academy (50 hours) and real-life work experience (150 hours). On graduation from the Milestone Programme, beneficiaries receive access to a £1,500 Housing Deposit Award enabling a safe and sustainable transition into the private rental sector, and long-term, tailored employability, resettlement, and wellbeing support.
About The Role
As a new role within our organisation’s structure, the Head of Programmes position will be varied and evolving, with a strong focus on the line management and support of our front-line team, ensuring high-quality, consistent delivery across programmes. This role will line manage our Senior Employability & Engagement Officer and Programme Support Officer, and eventually lead on the recruitment and management of a dedicated Resettlement Officer role as funding allows. In the meantime, the Head of Programmes will provide our front-line resettlement support to beneficiaries.
Alongside this, the Head of Programmes will play a central role in driving continuous improvement, supporting growth, and contributing to the overall strategic development of the charity as it navigates change. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will work directly with the Managing Director to ensure the charity is fulfilling its mission and achieving a high-level of impact.
Please see the recruitment pack for further information on duties and responsibilities.
Person Specification
We know there are great candidates who will not fit every criteria outlined or who have important skills we have not mentioned. If your experience looks different to what we have described below but you believe it is relevant to the role, please do not hesitate to apply.
Essential Criteria:
- At least 5 years of professional experience in the public or charity sectors, ideally in front-line service provision/support work and/or homelessness.
- Successful line-management experience, leading high-performing teams and embedding a culture of continuous improvement, professional development, and accountability.
- Track record of leading a programme of work and meeting key impact KPIs, metrics, and outcomes, including ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
- Strong communication and team-working skills coupled with solid organisation and attention to detail.
- Resilience and adaptability with the capability to work in a dynamic and agile environment involving significant contact with individuals living in temporary accommodation.
- Sound IT skills including confident use of Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and/or CRM systems/other databases.
- A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of providing front-line resettlement support.
- Good working knowledge of relevant policy, legislation, and best practice - benefits system, supported accommodation, safeguarding etc.
Registered Charity
6 - 10
We support individuals experiencing homelessness towards lasting and secure employment, resettlement, and overall better personal wellbeing.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Head of Programme Operations
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Location: The role can be based in London, United Kingdom, Abuja, Nigeria or Kigali, Rwanda, subject to right to work eligibility in the respective countries.
UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40 % of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.
Salary: Salaries and benefits will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience.
- UK: £68,000 - £74,000 per year with excellent benefits.
- Nigeria: NGN 64,968,462 – NGN 90,955,847 per year with excellent benefits.
- Rwanda: RWF 73,661,730- RWF 89,738,798 per year with excellent benefits.
Change starts with water. Change starts with you.
Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.
About WaterAid
We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.
About the Team
The Programme Operations team sits within WaterAid UK’s International Programmes Department (IPD), operating in 17 countries in Africa and Asia. The team is a diverse and motivated group of 14+ people made up of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PMER), project design and management, and programme systems specialists. They support global operational excellence, PMER, risk management, donor compliance and performance assurance across WaterAid UK’s country and regional programmes. Working in partnership with regional and country leadership teams, the function provides technical oversight, systems development and operational support to strengthen programme delivery and organisational accountability.
About the Role
The Head of Programme Operations leads the development, implementation and continuous improvement of WaterAid’s international programme operations framework. The role provides strategic and operational leadership across programme operations, business management, systems, risk and compliance.
Key responsibilities include overseeing IPD business management processes, supporting financial planning and performance reporting, acting as a delegated focal point for operational risk, and providing senior troubleshooting support on complex operational and management challenges.
The role works in close partnership with Programme Funding to ensure operational readiness for new donor opportunities and effective grant start-up and close-out. It also leads operational assurance processes, strengthens compliance with donor and organisational requirements, and supports capacity strengthening across regional and country teams.
In this role, you will:
- Provide Programme Operations Leadership
- Lead IPD Business Management and Support
- Drive Collaboration, Risk and Performance
- Oversee Systems, Compliance and Assurance
- Lead Capacity Strengthening and Support
To be successful, you’ll need:
- Proven experience in managing or overseeing large scale international programme operations in the INGO or development sector.
- Strong understanding of operational systems (finance, procurement, logistics, compliance) in multi country environments.
- Excellent relevant IT skills, primarily Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word), but specifically relevant data systems that support high quality planning, monitoring and reporting.
- Experience of leading, managing and motivating others and driving change.
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships and drive organisational change collaboratively.
- Experience working in complex matrix structures across multiple cultures.
- Strong analytical, problem solving and systems thinking capabilities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of donor compliance and grant management processes.
- Working style that reflects WaterAid’s values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation.
Desirable:
- Experience in WASH, public health or community development sectors.
- Experience working with restricted and unrestricted funding portfolios.
- Relevant university degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Familiarity with WaterAid UK’s operating model and countries of operation.
Closing date: Applications will close 12:00 PM UK time on 3rd March 2026.
How to Apply: Click Apply to answer the pre-screening questions upload your CV and cover letter.
Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.
Pre-employment screening: To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Benefits
As a global organisation, WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. Alongside our inspiring mission and meaningful work, we offer a range of benefits tailored to each country’s context and policies. These will be shared during the process
Our Global Commitment:
Our people promise
We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are
determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.
Safeguarding
We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).
Together, we’ll change the world through water.
Join us and be part of the change!
Registered Charity
More than 1000
Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere has sustainable and safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Thank you!
About Grow
Grow is a youth development charity working with 16-24 year olds facing significant challenges in Sheffield. Many young people we work with experience mental health difficulties that have resulted in social isolation and a lack of engagement in work or training prospects. Our programmes combine coaching with gardening and nature-based activities to help our trainees combat social isolation, boost their wellbeing and develop employability skills.
For our full candidate pack which introduces you to Grow, our strategy and how we work, as well as a full role description please visit our website.
Role Description
The Head of Programmes and Impact is a strategic leadership role responsible for shaping Grow’s overarching programme strategy and ensuring its successful delivery against our five-year plan. The role oversees everything from green space expansion to the growth of our employer networks, ensuring every project delivers transformative results.
A key priority will be evolving our impact framework by gathering the evidence and long-term data needed to showcase our success to partners and funders. This is a high-level leadership role for a passionate professional dedicated to operational excellence, equality, and the future of youth development in Sheffield.
Programme Strategy & Governance
- Develop Grow’s overarching programme strategy, ensuring seamless alignment with the overall five-year strategic plan.
- Oversee programme delivery and green space development.
- Execute strategic reporting, providing clear programme updates and maintaining accountability for all related actions.
- Cultivate strategic partnerships with external organisations to expand Grow’s reach, open opportunities to deliver programmes in new areas, and increase overall impact.
- Expand Grow’s employment partner network, securing new partners to provide meaningful work experience placements.
- Develop a co‑production strategy that brings alumni together to shape Grow’s future direction and share their insights with staff and Trustees.
Impact Monitoring & Evaluation
- Develop Grow’s monitoring and evaluation framework, ensuring all team members are fully inducted in its use and understand the importance of consistent data collection.
- Coordinate the production of impact reports, presenting clear evidence of Grow’s success by analysing and communicating data from across all programmes to stakeholders and funders.
- Develop and oversee robust systems to track long‑term trainee outcomes in education, employment, and training, integrating national benchmarks and sector‑wide data to assess Grow’s performance against best practice in the youth and charity sectors.
Leadership & Team Management
- Oversee the Programme Team in the delivery of all Grow activities.
- Develop a culture of continuous learning within the team, encouraging feedback and professional growth.
- Deliver effective budget management for the Programme Team.
- Oversee and feed into health and safety and risk assessment processes for programmes.
Central Operations
- Work alongside the Operations Manager to ensure Grow’s central systems are working efficiently and that the Programme Team has the necessary tools and resources to succeed.
- Act as a driver for equality, diversity and inclusion; supporting the development of effective policies, procedures and the delivery plans and projects are in place and promoted.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.