Programme manager jobs in Manchester, greater manchester

WHO WE ARE

We're FIRST UK, an EdTech charity making STEM more diverse – using robots, industry mentors, and epic competitions to drive a skills-equipped, workforce-ready talent pipeline.

It’s an exciting time to join the charity as we move from start-up to scaling mode with a brand new strategy backed by government investment alongside some of the world’s leading tech-enabled businesses, including Arm, Bloomberg, Qualcomm, and many more.

As BBC Broadcaster Spencer Kelly summarised.

“It’s easy to see why competitions like this really do help students develop the skills they’re going to need for the rest of their lives. Honestly, I wish I had something like this when I was at school.”

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

A programme manager with a flair for engaging people. Someone who can help grow the UK’s most ambitious student robotics movement through:

• Outreach - increasing uptake amongst schools and youth groups
• Support - ensuring a high-quality experience for partcipants and teachers
• Events – supporting delivery of epic robotics tournaments
• Volunteering - recruiting, upskilling and stewarding event staff and mentors
• Partnerships – fostering a local community of STEM champions and partners

You’re an all-rounder, motivated by working with young people, educators, and industry to engineer better futures. Reporting to our Head of Delivery (that’s Vicky on our website), you’ll be instrumental in scaling our impact regionally. 

WHAT YOU'LL GET

Responsibility. Ownership. Sense of purpose. You’ll be working in a small (9 merry folk), dynamic organisation which is agile and collaborative. We have a strong value proposition and refreshing brand. Our case for support is built on three decades of evidence. Well before pandemics, we were working flexibly and remotely – it’s embedded in our culture.

• £32,000 - £39,000 per annum dependent upon experience
• 25 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays, and a Christmas gift
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Super-flexible, hybrid role with lots of responsibility

I like the sound of this. Is there more I need to know?

Yep - check out the full role profile on our website.

What's the process?

• Submit CV and optional cover letter
• Answer three simple screening questions
• Role closes 23:59 on Sun 28 Jun

Global Programs Project Manager (Contractor)
Overview
The Maclellan Giving Together Foundation (MGTF) is a UK Christian charity connected to the longstanding international Maclellan Foundation, who describe their focus as: “establishing and strengthening the local church, promoting discipleship and leadership development, sparking community transformation, promoting the power of prayer, advocating for generosity, and increasing access to Scripture”.
Based in the UK, MGTF rolls out key global initiatives that focus on equipping local Christian ministries and releasing local resources to foster sustainable Kingdom growth.
This is a dynamic, high-impact role, ideal for someone who is highly organised, relational and passionate about seeing the Kingdom flourish globally.

Job Summary
Working alongside the Global Programs Team, the Project Manager is responsible for coordinating the planning and delivery of projects from concept through to execution. The role involves managing logistics, supporting stakeholder engagement, and ensuring initiatives are delivered on time and to a high standard. The postholder will manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously, with the ability to prioritise effectively, must thrive in a fast-paced environment, and apply creative problem-solving to deliver successful events. Remote working, with the ability to attend on-site meetings in Milton Keynes (MK19) ideally once a month.

Key Responsibilities
Project Management & Logistics

• Manage the planning and delivery of multiple concurrent projects, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and achievement of key milestones.
• Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of events, from initial concept, registration, and contracting through to delivery and post-event evaluation.
• Work with the Global Programs team to ensure events are delivered on time and to a high standard.
• Accountable for overseeing end-to-end project delivery, coordinating across a wider team with defined responsibilities to ensure successful delivery within the project workstream.
• Build and manage strong stakeholder relationships, providing professional, timely support and acting as a key point of contact.
• Ensure data integrity on the information we hold.
• Provider effective reporting as needed.
• Manage and optimise delegate registration and booking systems, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and a seamless participant experience.
• Manage the logistical event delivery (remote or in-person), including setup, logistics, and real-time issue resolution, ensuring a high-quality delegate experience throughout the event.
• Coordinate complex scheduling, calendars, and travel arrangements.
• Any other task in relation to the charity’s needs.

Communication & Content

• Coordinate pre-event production, collaborating with external designers and stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of all assets and documentation.
• Manage cross-functional coordination for event delivery, ensuring effective communication across stakeholders, including localisation and translation requirements for regional relevance.
• Ensure accuracy, consistency, and timely updates of all event-related content across online platforms.
• Provide administrative and practical support to event personnel in global locations as they deliver our programs.
• Follow established brand guidelines to maintain consistency in tone, messaging, and visual identity across all content.

Research, Reporting & Finance

• Ensure relevant reporting and documentation are supplied to stakeholders.
• Manage expense processing and support budget oversight, ensuring accurate tracking, forecasting, and alignment with programme objectives in collaboration with senior leadership.

Cultural Adaptation & Coordination

• Contribute to the development of our programs globally, from ideation through to delivery.
• Assist with the localisation of content to ensure materials are culturally appropriate,supporting communication with translators and stakeholders to help adapt resourcesfor different cultural contexts.

Occupational Requirement
The candidate must have an active Christian faith. By virtue of the job’s involvement in faith-sensitive work under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010, the post-holder must be an active Christian with a genuine personal faith in Jesus, grounded in Scripture and reflected in their everyday life.

Experience (Essential)

• Have experience in a church/charity or professional environment.
• Strong understanding of and commitment to the Foundation’s mission with an understanding of the Church scene.
• A genuine passion for advancing the gospel through the global Church, with a commitment to supporting both Christian givers and churches and charities.
• Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously, with the ability to prioritise effectively, owning and delivering end to end events from planning through to execution and evaluation.
• Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and work effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Proven track record of managing and controlling project or event budgets including forecasting and cost management.
• Negotiating and managing external suppliers and partners.
• Working across different regions, cultures, or time zones demonstrating cultural awareness and adaptability.
• Professional in appearance with a proactive approach and a desire to constantly improve and grow.
• Willingness to be flexible in working hours with occasional travel and overnight stays.
• Knowledge of standard office administrative practices and procedures.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Experience (Desirable but not required)

• Experience delivering a programme of learning (content and structure).
• Understanding of generous giving and experience of working with donors.
• Knowledge of copywriting for different platforms (e.g. digital, presentations, printed materials).
• Additional language skills.
• Working knowledge of Asana, Beacon, Canva, Mailchimp and Survey/ticketing Apps.

Contract Terms
Working hours and hourly rate will be agreed in advance.

Future First is looking for a passionate and organised Programmes & Partnerships Manager to lead the delivery of key partnership programmes that help state school students build confidence, motivation and career aspirations through alumni networks.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a mission-driven charity working to ensure every state school and college is supported by a thriving alumni community. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, funders and partners to manage projects, strengthen strategic relationships and help shape the future of our programmes.

We’re looking for someone with strong project and stakeholder management experience, excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach. You’ll also line manage our Corporate Partnerships Executive and play a key role in driving programme quality, learning and impact across the organisation.

About us Future

First wants to see every state school and college in the UK, and every state pupil, supported by a thriving and engaged alumni community, which improves students’ motivation, confidence and life chances. We have a network of alumni who have supported our programmes in schools for over a decade. They act as accessible and inspirational role models by sharing their stories through a variety of activities, including blogging, online mentoring, networking and careers activities in our member schools. We manage these relationships through our Future First Hub – a safe, social media style interface that allows schools to build and manage every aspect of their network in one place.

About the role

The role of the Programme & Partnerships Manager is to lead and coordinate the planning, delivery, management and monitoring of Future First’s key partnership programmes. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with demonstrable experience in project management, excellent partnership and stakeholder engagement at all levels, and committed to Future First’s aims and values. 

Application process 

To help you prepare the strongest possible application, we are hosting an information and Q&A session about the role on Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 12 noon. This is an optional session where you can hear more about the role and ask any questions you may have. If you would like to join this session, please see the attached job pack for how to register your interest. 

Applications must be submitted by Monday 15 June at 12 noon. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. There will be two rounds of interview, initially via Zoom (week commencing 22 June) and for those short-listed, in-person in London (week commencing 29 June).

Future First is committed to safeguarding the staff, volunteers and young people we work with. Where applicable, a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check will be required for the successful candidate.