Programme manager jobs in Leeds, west yorkshire

Job Purpose

The Research Programme Manager will have a strong grounding in scientific research, expertise in grant management, and report to the Director of Research. 

The role’s core responsibility will be to lead on the implementation and delivery of large-scale collaborative programmes and funding schemes. The post holder will have a visible presence within the research community acting as an important point of contact between partner organisations, researchers, committee members, peer reviewers and the charity. They will be expected to keep updated with the latest research developments in order to use strategic scientific expertise and judgement in the ongoing development and improvement of the Foundation’s grant funding schemes.

They will be responsible for the successful delivery of a large portfolio of active projects by working closely with others in the team to ensure all awards are expertly administered, monitored, evaluated and reported against, ensuring the outputs are of the highest quality and supporting the charities activities. The post-holder will identify opportunities to communicate the progress or impact of the work we fund and work with the communications team to develop compelling communications for our supporters.

Key responsibilities:

Grant Funding Programme

● Lead on the setup of large-scale collaborative research programmes ensuring robust peer review, effective contracting and close collaboration with funding partners;

● Lead on the management of multiple grant funding schemes, as well as ad-hoc applications that come to the Foundation;

● Oversee the smooth running of application rounds, peer review and ensure that funding committees function in line with AMRC guidance;

● Be the main point of contact for the AMRC with regards to research management;

● Support the ongoing implementation and development of the Foundation’s Grant Management Software, ensuring the research team are using the platform effectively;

● Manage project set-up including contracting, the development of detailed project plans, including go/no-go milestones and budgets;

● Work with the other Research Programme Managers to oversee the research programme budget including planning, monitoring and forecasting; work with the Directors of Research and Finance to ensure that accurate research finance information is available for organisational budgeting and planning;

● Seek opportunities to improve the Foundation’s grant funding schemes to increase the number and quality of applications received year on year, ensuring funding projects support the delivery of the Foundation’s research strategy;

● Monitor any developments or innovations across the sector and implement changes to maintain a high-quality impactful research funding programme.

Project Portfolio and Impact

● Oversee the delivery of large-scale collaborative research programmes including:

• Leading on management on behalf of funding partnerships

● Manage and oversee project delivery of the Foundation’s active project portfolio by:

• Building and managing relationships with award holders and attending site visits;
• Approving grant payments and managing the change process for any project amendments;
• Ensuring project progress is effectively monitored and reported against;
• Identifying opportunities for and approving any project communications.

● Lead on the development and implementation of an Impact Evaluation Framework, to monitor and evaluate the impact of the research we fund.

● Lead on the development of an annual impact report to demonstrate the impact of the research we fund.

Line Management

● Provide line management responsibilities to the Research Officer, supporting their performance and ongoing development.

General Responsibilities

● Support the Director of Research to deliver the Foundation’s research strategy;

● Support more junior members of the team through training and mentoring;

● Contribute to the team being proactive and supportive, and working effectively and efficiently to achieve agreed objectives;

● Support the development of research communications activities, working closely with our communications team.

● Contribute to the development and maintenance of strong internal relationships across the charity, working specifically with the Fundraising Team to support income generation;

● Support the Director of Research in the development of updates for the Board of Trustees and other groups such as our Scientific Advisors;

● Keep updated with the latest scientific developments in the field, attend conferences and build strong relationships with MND experts and other relevant stakeholders;

● Represent the Foundation at external scientific meetings and conferences;

● Undertake other work as required by the Director of Research.

Skills and experience required:

● Educated to PhD level or with equivalent experience in a science subject relevant to MND;

● Experience of research management, including the management of grant schemes, preferably with experience of using Flexi-Grant;

● Experience of research communications, including the ability to disseminate complex scientific information and present it to non-technical audiences;

● Experience of liaising with senior individuals in a variety of organisations with an ability to create favourable working relationships;

● Proven project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects at the same time;

● A great communicator, with excellent written and oral skills and the ability to maintain relationships with a wide variety of individuals, including those within the Foundation, researchers and clinicians, relevant organisations and industry bodies, MND patients, and other MND charities;

● Self-motivated, proactive and able to work using own initiative;

● Organised, with a proven ability to successfully manage a broad spectrum of tasks, deadlines and individuals;

● Motivated to make a real difference for those living with MND and future generations.

Working Pattern: Full time, permanent, home-based with regular travel across the UK

Salary: Circa £45,000 dependent on experience

Direct reports: Research Officer, 1 FTE

Closing date: Friday 8th May

Interviews: Week commencing 11th May

At Basecamp Adventure Trust, we empower vulnerable young people from West Yorkshire to thrive through unique, long-term programmes which harness outdoor adventure as a powerful vehicle for personal transformation. Through a combination of skills workshops, exhilarating adventure trips and a deeply relational approach, we challenge, celebrate and inspire young people to discover a newfound sense of confidence, resilience and self-belief, and to explore new possibilities for themselves. Our programmes are intensive, sustained and individualised to make a lasting positive difference on the young people we work with so they can lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

This role demands a unique combination of skills. You’ll be a capable Programme Manager (or at the very least an aspiring one with a strong desire to step up from your current youth experience), with an understanding of the role outdoor adventure can have in supporting health and wellbeing and underpinning personal development.

In addition to this, we’ve got big ambitions to develop an events strand to our work, which brings together three separate but interlinked fundraising ideas. You will support us to create, shape and implement this new initiative alongside our team, helping us to turn our initial idea into a reality. We are proud to be very much a people-led organisation, so it’s possible that your own strengths and experience may sway the specifics of the role.

Reports to: Senior Management Team

Hours: Full time, 5 days (37.5 hours) a week, flexible working evenings and weekends as required

Salary: £28,000 - £35,000 dependant on experience

Location: The Old Fire Station, Leeds (Basecamp HQ), but the role also incorporates travel across Yorkshire and the Lake District

Transport: The role will require access to a car

Start Date: We will accommodate the start date depending on the individual’s situation, but we are looking to get someone in for Spring

Annual Leave: 22 days + bank holidays + 1x day off per Adventure Residential) to account for extra hours worked)

The Role

Programme Manager (~35% of the role) – We are looking for an enthusiastic and capable Programme Manager who can lead the delivery of our Core Programme, having the ability to directly work with young people, lead a team, have an acute eye for detail and organisation and a creative, dynamic approach to problem-solving. The Programme Manager role takes up around 80 days a year, with the days being weighted unevenly across the months of the year.

Events Coordinator (~65% of the role) – We are looking for a driven and creative Events Coordinator who will help us create a Basecamp calendar of external events, which will support our fundraising goals and bring a large and diverse audience to our work. The right candidate will be excited at the prospect of turning ideas into a reality, supporting us with the creative development of this idea as well as the practical implementation.

Programme Manager Roles and Responsibilities

Acting as the key point of contact to organise, deliver and oversee the Basecamp Core Programme to 1 cohort of young people, including managing residential trips, school workshops and other supporting sessions throughout the year’s programme (e.g. Taster Days, Graduation etc) (September - June).

This includes:

• Onboarding young people onto the programme, working in collaboration with schools to ensure our referral criteria are met and we have the information we need.

• Facilitating creative, arts and games-based workshops in school.

• Supporting day-to-day administration and management of the programme including maintaining a database and producing written communications and reports.

• Coordinating Adventure Youth Coaches, Volunteers, Instructors and School Supporting Staff on residential, as the main point of contact.

• Managing disciplinary action as required if a situation is escalated higher than Adventure Youth Coaches or Volunteers.

• Ensuring the highest standards of support, safety and safeguarding across the programme, in line with Basecamp’s ethos, policies and procedures.

• Providing ongoing feedback to young people, parents, carers and schools, through email, Whatsapp and handwritten cards.

• Working with partner organisation such as schools and instructors/activity providers, to ensure the Basecamp mission is consistent and everybody has the smoothest experience possible and to build the Basecamp ‘brand’ to an extent that the schools want to keep working with us and value the work that we do.

• Contributing to organisational planning and development, including supporting the development of further opportunities for young people.

Events Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities

Supporting our team to create, develop, test and implement a calendar of Basecamp events including third-party challenge events, Basecamp events and bespoke corporate adventure challenges. This calendar will support the building of both our new corporate partnerships programme, an innovative new take on traditional corporate fundraising as well as getting our brand-new Basecamp Community off the ground, our own version of an individual giving initiative.

This includes:

• Undertaking prospect research to identify corporate partners who we can build long-lasting, meaningful relationships with.

• Identifying key networking opportunities to help us raise our profile in West Yorkshire.

• Supporting us to develop our pitch to prospective corporate partners, creating bespoke partnerships which demonstrate our ethos, culture and impact.  

• Supporting the development of our new Basecamp Community initiative, creating the necessary comms and finding interactive ways to get members involved and feel a part of the community.

•  Supporting the implementation of systems and protocols that will allow us to effectively manage logistics, budgeting, risk assessments, and delivery on the ground, establishing new supplier partnerships in the process.

• Developing relationships with flagship event providers, maximising engagement with creative and far-reaching communication initiatives and providing supportive inspiring stewarding journeys for all involved.

• Working collaboratively across fundraising and comms ensuring we maximise the effectiveness of each event and that they are supporting our other fundraising initiatives.

Person Specification

The postholder will play a key role in the development and delivery of both programme and charity events. They will be a brilliant ‘all-rounder’ who can go from speaking to a group of 30 children in a muddy field, to being comfortable behind a laptop researching potential corporate partners, to feeling confident in creative meetings where our ideas become a reality.  We are looking for someone with a strong creative drive, excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the natural ability to use initiative. Whilst ticking the experience requirement boxes is important to us, we will always take a holistic view of your application and consider transferable experience.

• Demonstrated experience working with disadvantaged or vulnerable young people with empathy and compassion

• Proven understanding of the issues impacting young people today, including socioeconomic challenges, and mental health considerations

• Sound understanding of safeguarding and commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people

• Experience coordinating, supporting or delivering programmes for young people

• Ability to take initiative to turn plans from scratch into successful events

• Willingness to contribute creatively to organisational development and bring fresh ideas

• Strong research skills, identifying partners who align with our ethos and culture

• Willingness to engage in community and corporate outreach

• Understanding of marketing, communication and social media and using various social networks to promote and build brands

• Ability to manage and prioritise multiple events seamlessly, quickly and easily moving between higher level strategic issues to on the ground delivery details

• Strong ‘relationship builder’ who is able to connect with young people, parents, teachers, and various external partners

• Confident hosting and talking to groups, and setting a positive, encouraging tone

• Flexible approach with the ability to adapt to a variety of settings, from office environments to outdoor residentials

• Strong problem-solving skills, especially in high-energy or challenging settings, with a positive mindset

• Resilience and a good sense of humour, suited to working in a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable environment

• High-level organisational skills

• Strong eye for detail and ability to multitask/notice multiple things going on at once and effectively deal with them

• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with an emphasis on creating professional yet personable written materials

• Proficiency in standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Office or Google Workspace) and database management, ideally some knowledge/experience of basic graphic design software such as Canva

Personal Qualities

Relationally-led: You’ll take a person-centred approach demonstrating empathy and patience that makes people feel seen, valued and respected.

Enthusiasm: You’ll be passionate about the work we do as a charity through both hands-on and office-based work and are excited to be a part of its journey and growth

Dynamic: You’ll be able to adapt to a variety of settings, from office environments to the outdoors, with the ability to notice multiple things going on at once and take initiative when things change.

Detail-oriented: You’ll have a keen eye for detail to ensure safety, quality, and consistency in our delivery, able to solve problems in high-energy or challenging settings with a positive mindset.

Creative: You’ll enjoy contributing creatively to organisational development, bringing fresh ideas whilst adopting a ‘think big’ attitude

Genuine love for the outdoors: You’ll innately understand the power of outdoor adventure, and how it stretches people to believe they are capable of so much more

Other requirements

• Willing to work flexible hours and work in outdoor environments/take part in outdoor activities

• A full driving licence and access to your own vehicle

• A satisfactory enhanced DBS check

• Satisfactory references

Role Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to shape Shine’s strategic direction while managing the operational delivery of our services for children, young people, and families aged 0–25. Building on the success of our Little Stars/Ser Bach programme for members aged 0–12 and the development and extension of the FIRE (Friendship, Independence, Resilience, Empowerment) programme for those aged 13–25, you will play a key role in shaping the future of our support for children, young people and their families.

Working across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you will lead the delivery of an established, evidence-based programme that improves health, social, and emotional outcomes for those living with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and associated conditions.

You’ll lead a passionate team and work closely with Shine’s Adult Services Team (25+), Health Team, Wales and Northern Ireland Managers and wider colleagues across the organisation to ensure work is coordinated, complementary, and beneficial to members. At the same time, you’ll forge strong partnerships with NHS professionals, statutory services, and voluntary organisations—driving collaboration that will support our vision of providing consistent, high-quality support for children, young people and families nationwide.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Management
• Programme Development & Delivery
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
• Member Support & Engagement

Please see the full Job Description & Person Specification below and on our website. 

Benefits to working at Shine:

• Competitive salary: Review due April 2027
• Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)  
• 3% pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year
• Additional annual leave awarded for ‘long service’
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Broadband allowance for home-based roles
• Life insurance after 12 months’ employment  
• Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders 
• Support to learn and develop 

How to apply 

Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job. 

If you would like to discuss the role with our Deputy CEO, Gill Valentine, please contact Shine to arrange a convenient time for a call. 

To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria. 

We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications. 

*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted* 

Closing date: Thursday 16th April 2026 at 11pm 

Interviews:  Monday 27th April 2026  

Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible.