Senior programme manager jobs

About the Roundhouse:
The Roundhouse is a youth charity and independent multi-arts venue based in Camden, London. We've spent the past 20 years shaping the UK’s cultural landscape as a home for world-class music, boundary-breaking theatre, circus, poetry and immersive installations. We're the UK’s leading creative centre for young people, engaging more than 10,000 young people annually through our creative youth programme. 

The Role

As our Senior Programmes Business and Evaluation Manager, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful delivery of Roundhouse's creative programmes for young people. Leading the Programme Business Team, you'll oversee the operational infrastructure that underpins our youth offer – from programme planning, timetabling and business systems, to monitoring, evaluation, compliance and financial management – enabling high-quality experiences for thousands of young people each year.

Reporting to the Head of Young People (Interim), you'll manage the Programme Business Manager, Alumni Manager and Youth Programme Data and Operations Coordinator, working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to deliver efficient, compliant and insight-led services. You'll use data and evaluation to inform strategic decision-making, drive continuous improvement and ensure robust reporting against organisational and funding objectives.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced operational leader who enjoys translating strategy into action, improving systems and processes, and leading high-performing teams. You'll play a key role in supporting Roundhouse's mission to put young people at the heart of everything we do while helping shape the future of our youth programmes.

About you:

You'll be an experienced operational leader with a strong track record of managing business support functions, leading high-performing teams and delivering continuous improvement. You'll be confident using data and evaluation to inform decision-making, with experience of monitoring impact, producing insightful reports and implementing effective systems and processes. You'll also bring strong financial management skills, a collaborative approach to working across teams and stakeholders, and a thorough understanding of compliance, including safeguarding, health and safety and GDPR. Above all, you'll be passionate about creating the conditions that enable exceptional opportunities and outcomes for young people.

Due to the nature of this role, you must be available to commence work by the end of November 2026. 

We welcome applications from people who feel they can bring their own skills, experiences and ideas to the table and empower those around them to do the same. We encourage those currently underrepresented across the cultural sector and all intersections of our diverse society to apply.

The successful candidate must have a current and acceptable DBS check, or be willing to undertake one due to the nature of the role. 

For more information please download the full job description from our website and if you would like to apply, and feel you have the skills and experience we are looking for, please click “Apply Now” to complete your application by midnight on Sunday 6th September 2026.

Contract: Fixed-Term until 30th July 2027

Working Hours: 35 hours per week (excluding breaks); Weekend and evening work will be required according to business needs.

Salary: £47,443.45 per annum

Application Deadline: Sunday 6th September 2026.

First Stage Interviews: w/c 21st September 2026 in-person

Second Stage Interviews: w/c 5th October in-person

Benefits:

• 25 days’ holiday per year plus bank holidays pro rata, increasing after 2 years service up to 30 days

• Ability to buy up to 3 days annual leave

• Pension scheme

• Cycle to Work, Tech  and Home Scheme

• Season Ticket Loan

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

• Health Cash Plan

• Group Life Assurance

• Staff discount at our bar and café

• Complimentary staff tickets

• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption leave

• Staff networks, forms and social groups

All personal data submitted to the Roundhouse in the form of personal details forms is used for recruitment purposes and equal opportunities reporting only. By submitting a personal details form, you consent to the Roundhouse retaining your personal data for these purposes. Personal details forms contain your name, address and details relating to your gender, religion and nationality. All forms are anonymised before use. In accordance with GDPR all information submitted by unsuccessful applicants will be deleted within six months. 

KEY INFORMATION

Location: Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester or London

Hours: 37.5 hours

Start date: October 2026

Duration: 12 month fixed term maternity cover

Salary: £42,000 - £47,000, plus £2,730 London weighting if based in London

Application deadline:Monday 31st August 5pm. Applications will be marked on an ongoing basis with rolling interviews, so we reserve the right to close the role before this date if the right candidate is found. 

ROLE SUMMARY

We’re looking for a Senior Programme Manager (12-month fixed term maternity cover) to lead our programmes of support for Associates pursuing careers in STEM, including Energy & Net Zero, Motorsports, Tech, and Engineering. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a multilayered team and work closely with strategically important employer partners and funders, ensuring that all engagement is delivered to a high standard.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

As STEM Senior Programme Manager, you will lead on upReach’s STEM programmes of support, managing significant partner relationships and supporting a team to effectively manage partner relationships, achieve programme OKRs, and complete their day-to-day tasks. You will also play a key role in the Programme Management group, leading on a cross-functional area of responsibility with a strategic impact across the entire Programmes team.

1) PROGRAMME DESIGN AND DELIVERY

• Make strategic decisions concerning the design and delivery of STEM programmes, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure quality and effectiveness. 

• Monitor and evaluate the impact of STEM programmes, with overarching responsibility for meeting internal engagement and application success OKRs, which you will utilise throughout the year to set priority areas for your team.

• Contribute to weekly Programme Manager meetings, sharing your insight and experience to generate ideas and practical solutions that support the overall improvement of upReach’s programme design and delivery. 

• Lead on parts of the weekly Programmes Meeting with the wider Programmes team, to ensure weekly focus areas and key team messages are communicated clearly to all team members. 

2) TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Manage a team consisting of a Programme Manager and Programme Leaders in a variety of locations, both virtually and in person, providing ongoing personal and professional development support through weekly 1-to-1 calls or meetings, written feedback on documents, and day-to-day guidance via Slack. 

• Support your team to provide high quality personalised support to their Associates, using centralised Programmes guidance and helping them to document all interactions with Associates and application progress.

• Use relevant impact dashboards and data to set priorities, support with managing competing workload demands and time management, to ensure that OKRs and stakeholder KPIs are achieved.

• Manage performance and development, including setting SMART goals and using appropriate tools and resources to support success. Provide regular, constructive feedback through weekly 1:1s, mid-point check ins, and end-of-year appraisals.

3) PARTNERSHIPS & EVENTS

• Maintain strong relationships with significant external partners, including managing the provision of appropriate volunteering opportunities and acting as a representative of upReach at external partner-led events.

• Lead on external reporting to partners, including managing bespoke quarterly/annual data & reporting requirements on aims and objectives, and having oversight of accurate data and survey response collection. Quarterly reporting will include leading regular internal stakeholder meetings, and gathering input from teams across upReach. 

• Oversee budgets for major funder-led programmes, including managing events costs and ensuring forecasts are met. 

• Have oversight of all STEM partners, supporting your team to manage day-to-day partnership responsibilities and ensuring that relationships are managed effectively to achieve programme objectives. 

• Support with running events and application processes smoothly, both in your team and within the wider team where necessary. 

• Collaborate with the partnerships team to make strategic decisions regarding how to grow upReach's existing and new partnerships within STEM, including playing a key role in renewal conversations and helping to shape the strategy and direction of STEM partnerships.

4) ASSOCIATE SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT

• Support a small group of your own Associates, engaging them with the upReach programme in line with OKRs.

• Act as a role model for the broader Programmes team, ensuring Associate facing tasks are completed to a high quality.

• Proactively use data dashboards to monitor Associate engagement across STEM programmes, identifying any areas of concern throughout the year and setting focus areas/action steps for your team to address these.

EXPERIENCE

To be successful, it is anticipated that you would have prior experience in the delivery of programmes and projects.

Essential experience:

• Experience in programme delivery from end to end, from design to reporting and evaluation.

• Experience working directly with key stakeholders to manage and grow a relationship and/or partnership.

• Line management or team leadership experience.

• Strong data skills, including Google Sheets/Excel experience. 

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and working independently to find solutions to problems.

• Ability to engage and flex communication style confidently with a variety of stakeholders, such as beneficiaries, upReach partners and all levels of employees across the organisation.

• Strong collaboration skills when working in both small and large teams of varied team members.

• Self-motivation and an ability to work in a small team as well as independently, with a creative and a proactive attitude.

• Excellent influencing, facilitation and communication skills (both oral and written) and comfortable preparing and presenting reports and proposals to senior management and external stakeholders.

• University degree in any discipline, or equivalent experience.

Desirable experience:

• Knowledge of the types of roles available in the STEM space.

• Familiarity with G Suite and Zoom video conferencing software.

• Project management or programme management qualification.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Motivation 

• Leadership 

• Continuous improvement

• Planning and organising 

• Problem solving and decision making 

• Innovative

• Management 

• Commitment to social mobility

• Communication

TEAM CULTURE & BENEFITS: 

By joining the upReach team, you will be joining a team who are committed to supporting you in your career journey and fostering an inclusive culture. 

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days, plus bank holidays. This increases to 27 days 2.5 years and then to 30 days after 5 years of working with us.

• Birthday leave and volunteering leave

• Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members. 

• 3% Pension Contribution, which increases to 5% after 5 years of working with us. 

• Cycle-to-work and tech buying schemes.

• Monthly socials

• Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aid Training and annual wellbeing days

• Summer Hours (early Friday finishes from June to Aug)

• Personal Development Budget, activated after 6 months in the role

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Diverse Roots Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

  • Parents and Carers Network 

  • Socio-economic Background Network

  • (Im)Migrants Network 

READY TO APPLY?

We are committed to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible.

Applications close on: 31st August 2026, 5pm

Applications will be marked on an ongoing basis with rolling interviews, so we reserve the right to close the role before this date if the right candidate is found. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

At upReach, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Diversity in the workplace creates dynamic and effective organisations and we are actively working to build a more inclusive workforce by continuously improving our recruitment, retention, and development practices. We  particularly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities , those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+.

The Senior Programme Manager will be responsible for  managing  FFRP, a London wide programme that supports families on low income to access good quality, free and independent advice, in order to prevent or alleviate financial hardship. The ideal candidate will be an experienced project manager, confident in relationship management and in evaluation and monitoring, with a strong understanding of the free legal advice sector in London. 

Senior Programmes Manager (Fixed-term contract)

Reports to: Director of Finance and Operations
Hours: Full time with flexible hours. Core hours are 10am to 4pm
Location: Hybrid. London (Embankment) on Wednesdays and Thursdays and remote working
Salary: £44,748 p.a.
Contract length: 13 months (starting mid November 2026)

Applications close: 23:59 on August 28th.

First round interviews: September 8th (online)

Second round interviews: September 16th at The Economist Group’s offices in London.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process. If there are any adjustments or support we can provide to help you perform at your best during the interview, please let us know.

BENEFITS

• 25 days annual leave, UK bank holidays and one volunteering day a year, one day for moving home
• A highly competitive pension (up to 11% employer contribution for 5% employee contribution)
• Private health insurance, eye tests and medical checks
• Flexible working: core hours from 10am to 4pm with a minimum of two days spent in the office in London each week (currently Wednesdays and Thursdays)
• 24/7 access to counselling and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Programme
• Income protection insurance and life assurance
• Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan and gym membership loan
• Free access to The Economist content, including an online subscription, our range of apps, podcasts and more

ABOUT US

The Economist Educational Foundation is a fast-growing charity on a mission to ensure that every child is empowered to think critically and communicate effectively about the world’s most complex current issues.

In 2025-6 our core programme, Topical Talk, more than doubled its reach to over 1 million young people across 99 countries. We are at a time of great opportunity, in England and internationally, and have ambitious plans to keep growing and deepen our impact further.

Topical Talk helps children join inspiring discussions about the news by providing:

• Topical Talk Headlines – award-winning weekly lessons for classroom discussions about global news stories
• Leadership for Change Prize – child-led solutions to complex global issues
• Community partnerships – support and training for teachers via partnerships with Multi-Academy Trusts in the UK and School Districts in America

Our programme has received international recognition, including from HundrED as one of the top 100 education initiatives, from UNESCO as a winner of the Global Media and Information Literacy Awards 2022 and from the Money And Inclusion Awards (MAIA) for best content in 2025.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a highly organised, agile and structured Senior Programmes Manager to lead the operational planning, project management and execution of our flagship educational programmes. In this role, you will be the operational engine behind multiple cross-departmental projects, with a focus on meeting the needs of our global teachers and students, as well as funders.

In this fixed-term role you will work closely with our educational content leads, designers and external stakeholders to ensure our high-impact classroom resources and live events are delivered seamlessly, on time and to the highest standard. Rather than drafting the pedagogy yourself, you will manage the project lifecycles, coordinate workflow across internal and external teams and optimise the systems that allow our world-class educational programmes to reach over 1 million young people globally.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project and operational management

• Manage the Topical Talk Leadership for Change Prize, Live Lessons, curriculum modules and student workshops end-to-end: from roadmaps and capacity mapping through to impact and evaluation
• Project manage the filming required for our content delivery, including the booking and management of experts, production teams and Economist colleagues
• Track and coordinate progress across content creators, graphic designers, proofreaders and editors to ensure all deliverables meet tight production deadlines
• Balance team workloads across concurrent educational projects and plan capacity for incoming projects
• Continuously refine workflow processes to streamline resource creation and evaluation

Programme governance and evaluation

• Partner with the Director of Programmes to track key performance indicators (KPIs), evaluate audience reach and maintain rigorous data collection for monitoring and evaluating our programmes
• Proactively identify bottlenecks, content risks or scheduling delays, implementing swift mitigation strategies to keep delivery on track

Live Lesson and workshop operations

• Manage the end-to-end operational execution of student workshops and our Live Lessons – handling scheduling, platform setups and logistics
• Coordinate school visits for content testing and observation, ensuring all safeguarding and operational requirements are fully met

Stakeholder and relationship coordination

• Serve as the primary operational point of contact for external topic experts, guest contributors, and editorial contributors from The Economist Group
• Maintain clear lines of communication between the programmes team, marketing, operations and external partners to ensure projects are aligned with strategic aims
• Manage external freelance contractors and vendors, with support from the administrative officer

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS

Whether you come from a project or educational management background or are a leader in charity operations, you possess the following:

• Outstanding ability to build, manage and maintain complex multi-phase project plans with precision and accountability
• A relentless eye for detail, operational rigor, and a knack for creating clean, efficient workflows out of complex tasks
• A proactive, self-starting mindset capable of foreseeing risks, resolving bottlenecks quickly and keeping cross-functional teams moving forward
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to effectively coordinate across diverse stakeholders – from freelance producers and internal creative teams to senior editors and external experts
• A collaborative nature. You motivate project contributors, keep teams aligned and foster a supportive working environment
• Discipline with deadlines, whereby you act as a dependable anchor for the team, managing requests consistently

EXPERIENCE

You have…

• Proven project management experience where you have demonstrated success in managing content creation, publishing workflows or educational delivery pipelines from conception to completion
• Experience using project management and collaboration platforms to drive team accountability and workflow tracking
• A track record of coordinating multi-disciplinary teams (e.g. writers, designers, subject-matter experts) under tight production schedules
• Experience implementing monitoring, reporting and evaluation frameworks to track project success metrics and user engagement
• Practical experience running hybrid, in-person, or large-scale virtual workshops and webinars

You might have…

• Formal project management certifications or training
• Background working within ed-tech, publishing or non-profit environments

We're particularly keen for you to apply if you are from a community under-represented in the charity sector or have lived experience of facing extra barriers because of your background.