Director of Programmes
London (with flexibility for one day of remote working per week)
£72,000 – £92,000 per annum
Our client is a fast-growing charity using the power of football to change lives. They run accessible, high-quality football programmes for thousands of young people across London, regardless of their background or ability to pay.
In just six years, they’ve grown from a bold idea to reaching 6,000 young people every week. Their ambition is to reach 20,000 by 2028. To get there, they need a strategic operator to lead the next phase of their growth.
They’re looking for a Director of Programmes with a proven ability to scale services, build systems that support consistent delivery, and ensure quality is never compromised. This is not a frontline delivery or coaching role, it’s a senior leadership position that combines strategic oversight, operational rigour, and cultural leadership.
You may come from a background in large-scale event operations, network-based service models, or high-growth commercial environments where building for scale was central to your role. Whether you’ve grown delivery infrastructure for a logistics platform, designed consistent customer experiences across digital and in-person touchpoints, or codified a service model for expansion, you’ll understand how to scale something complex with consistency and care. At our client’s organisation, the product is the experience they deliver to thousands of young people each week and they’re looking for someone who can ensure that experience remains exceptional as they grow.
You’ll lead a growing team, shape delivery strategy, and build systems that support high performance across all programmes. Football experience isn’t essential, but you’ll need to understand and value the role it plays in engaging and inspiring young people.
The successful candidate will bring:
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Proven experience designing and scaling programme or product delivery in a fast-growth, impact-focused or operationally complex environment
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Strong operational and strategic leadership, with the ability to codify delivery models, build scalable systems, and maintain quality at pace
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A data-informed mindset, with confidence using insight, analytics, and digital tools to drive performance and decision-making
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Experience leading and developing teams, fostering a high-performance culture, and collaborating effectively across functions such as digital, marketing, fundraising, and partnerships
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A strong understanding of safeguarding, risk management, and quality assurance, particularly in youth or community settings
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Deep personal alignment with our client’s mission and the belief in sport as a tool for social change
This is a rare opportunity to shape a much-loved product at scale and to ensure no young person is left behind because of where they’re from or what they can afford.
Recruitment Timeline
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Deadline for applications: Wednesday 26th June 2025
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Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 30th June
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First Interview with the Client: w/c 14th July (online)
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Final Interview with the Client: w/c 21st July (in-person)
To learn more and see how to apply, please redirect to the role on our website.
Prospectus is proud to support candidates throughout the recruitment process. Applications are welcome from all backgrounds, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive recruitment experience.
Job title if successfully recruited into the role will be Head of Creative and Production
Are you a creative leader with a passion for social justice, a talent for storytelling, and a track record of inspiring brilliant ideas? Join Shelter as our Head of Creative and Production and lead our award-winning in-house team in delivering powerful, purpose-driven work that fuels the fight against the housing emergency.
In this exciting and varied role, you’ll oversee creative output across a wide range of channels – from print and film to digital and experiential events – helping to shape the campaigns, content and communications that drive change. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you’ll champion creativity, nurture talent, and lead the Creative Team in campaigns to achieve Shelter’s mission.
About the role
Shelter is seeking a Head of Creative and Production to lead our award-winning in-house creative team (In-House Agency of the Year, 2025 Drum Awards) and build on its impressive track record of fighting homelessness and the housing emergency through sector-leading creative content.
In this varied, fast-paced and stimulating role, you will collaborate closely with your Planning Lead, Copy Lead and two Creative Leads to inspire and support Shelter’s talented writers, designers, videographers, photographers and other creatives to respond to briefs, develop concepts, and deliver highly creative and impactful outputs across a range of media (including print, tv, social, web and experiential events).
Role specifics
We’re looking for a creative leader to help drive fresh thinking and brilliant ideas across all our work. You’ll play a key role in supporting the team to develop and deliver innovative, impactful concepts that really make a difference. Working closely with the marketing team, you’ll help shape strong, clear propositions that lead to the best possible creative solutions. You’ll also build collaborative relationships across the organisation – from income generation and communications to campaigns, services and retail – making sure their creative needs are met and spotting new opportunities for the team to add value.
As well as mentoring and inspiring a talented team of designers, writers and content creators, you’ll help plan and prioritise projects, keeping things running smoothly and efficiently. You’ll work with a trusted network of external creatives to bring ideas to life to a high standard, on time and within budget. A natural champion of great creative work, you’ll foster a supportive, can-do culture, oversee asset management, and make sure the team’s work is visible, accessible and celebrated. You’ll also take the lead on managing the team’s budget and helping shape the future of the Creative Team at Shelter.
Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
About the team
Shelter’s multi award-winning in-house creative team (In-House Agency of the Year, 2025 Drum Awards) has an impressive track record of fighting homelessness and the housing emergency through sector-leading creative content. In leading this team, this role will collaborate closely with our Planning Lead, Copy Lead and two Creative Leads to inspire and support a talented cross-organisational team of writers, designers, videographers, photographers and other creatives.
About Shelter
Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.
We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.
We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.
Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.
Safeguarding statement
Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.
Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.