Strategic programmes director jobs

Be the spark that turns creativity into impact.

​Help Age Exchange grow arts & heritage programmes that change lives in social care.

Age Exchange—embedded in social care and powered by the arts—is hiring a Business Development Manager to ignite partnerships and funding that deliver innovative programmes across the UK. If you come from museums, galleries, archives or cultural organisations and can spot opportunities, craft compelling bids and open doors fast, this is your stage. Lead the growth of projects that boost health, wellbeing, learning and social connection—so creativity reaches the people who need it most.

The role will require someone who can work from our head office in Blackheath and the role will include some national travel as and when required so the ideal candidate will be based within an hours commute of the Community Hub in Blackheath, London. 

What is The Deal for you?

• Flexibility! You will be working 35 hours per week over 5 days with some weekend work.
• Location: You need to be based within a commutable distance to our Community Hub in Blackheath, London.
• Benefits: retail discounts, holiday discounts, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts through our benefits app
• Best Lives Possible: You'll be working for an award winning charity who is passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives possible 
• Development: We'll work with you to develop your career or to learn and experience new things. We're passionate about developing our people!
• Support: From our Employee Assistance Programme (available 24/7), financial support options, and wellbeing fund you'll have the support available to lead an easier (financial) life

This role will design and secure a portfolio of national and local strategically aligned, market-relevant and impactful programmes which use arts, culture and creativity to achieve a positive impact on our target audiences. These programmes will empower the health, wellbeing, learning, social mobility and social connection of people supported by Age Exchange and Community Integrated Care. The role holder will play an essential role in leading the growth, reach and sustainability of Age Exchange by generating funding and commercial revenue and new partnerships.

​What You'll do (list not exhaustive):

• Win funding & partnerships that fuel our programmes and core costs—trusts & foundations, corporates/sponsorships, individual giving, and earned income.
• Build and manage a high-quality pipeline—prospect, cultivate, write compelling bids/proposals, negotiate, and steward partners.
• Collaborate across the delivery team—aligning with colleagues so proposed projects and tenders are fundable, impactful, and on-brand.
• Report outcomes & learn—own quarterly KPI reporting and iterate approaches to hit clear income and partnership targets.

Our ideal Candidate:​

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
• Proven success in bid writing and securing projects/tenders of £250k+.
• Strong experience in fundraising, commercial development, and project management within a funded environment.
• Creative thinker with the ability to design innovative programmes aligned to strategic objectives.
• Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills, with experience engaging stakeholders at senior levels.
• Skilled communicator and presenter, able to craft compelling proposals and pitches.
• Proficiency in MS Office and project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet).
• Bring proven success in the arts or heritage sector (e.g., museums, galleries, performing arts, creative health, community arts) with a track record of securing grants and/or sponsorships.
• Are a confident storyteller and bid writer who can turn creative ideas into fundable, strategically aligned propositions.

Why join us ?

• Be part of a nationally recognised charity making a real difference in people’s lives.
• Lead ground-breaking projects that combine creativity and social impact.
• Work in a collaborative, values-driven environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Success in this role means:​

• Meeting funding and growth targets.
• Delivering a diverse portfolio of innovative programmes.
• Enhancing the charity’s profile through impactful projects and partnerships.

Ready to make a difference ?
Apply now and help us shape a future where arts and creativity empower communities across the UK.

​Please note, if you are interested in this role, we welcome your application as soon as possible! Depending on the volume of applications received, the vacancy may be closed before the expected advertising end date.

​We’re really proud to be a Hive HR Employee Voice Certified organisation, a recognition that confirms our commitment to creating a culture where our colleagues are not only encouraged to share their thoughts, but where this feedback is actively sought and acted upon to drive positive change at every level.

In our 2025 Colleague Engagement Survey, 59% (nearly 3,800) of our people shared their feedback and insights, giving us an incredible Employee Net Promoter Score of +34.

The Employee Net Promoter Score is a measure of how willing our colleagues are to recommend us as a good place to work to their loved ones – and a score of +34 is considered a Very Good score when compared to global benchmarks set by hundreds of other organisations.

CENTRE FOR AGEING BETTER

Head of Engagement and Partnerships – Equalities

• Permanent
• Salary £60,571 per annum
• Full time
• Flexible working options will be supported.
• Central London Office and Hybrid working

We offer a pension scheme with employer contribution up to 10%, in addition you’ll receive 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, 24-hour access to a comprehensive employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan scheme and other benefits.

About the role

We’re looking for an exceptional leader to drive our mission to reduce inequalities in ageing and ensure the experiences of disadvantaged and marginalised older people sit at the heart of everything we do.

In this role, you’ll lead the development and delivery of our inequalities in ageing programme - shaping strategy, managing collaborative research and influencing projects, and building powerful partnerships with equalities, community and faith based organisations. You’ll champion best practice in accessibility and involvement, ensuring experts by experience inform all aspects of our work-based organisations. You’ll champion best practice in accessibility and involvement, ensuring experts by experience inform all aspects of our work.

You’ll provide organisation wide leadership on equalities, support our advisory groups, and strengthen our approach to meaningful involvement. You’ll also represent Ageing Better externally, contribute to policy development, and support funding bids.‑wide leadership on equalities, support our advisory groups, and strengthen our approach to meaningful involvement. You’ll also represent Ageing Better externally, contribute to policy development, and support funding bids.

If you’re a strategic thinker with deep equalities expertise, excellent partnership skills and a passion for driving change, we’d love to hear from you.

About you

You’re a strategic, collaborative leader with deep expertise in equalities issues, theories and approaches and a passion for tackling inequalities in ageing.

You excel at building trusted partnerships, with community and faith‑based organisations in particular, and you’re confident working with people with lived‑experience to shape meaningful, inclusive practice.

You’re skilled at managing complex programmes, guiding teams, and bringing clarity and direction to evolving work. You will be comfortable representing an organisation externally, and are able to communicate with credibility and influence across senior stakeholders.

Above all, you’re committed to amplifying marginalised voices, challenging inequalities, driving systemic change, and ensuring our work reflects the full diversity of later life.

About us

The Centre for Ageing Better is a charitable foundation funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and part of the government’s What Works Network

Everyone has the right to a good life as they get older and our whole society benefits when people are able to age well. But far too many people face huge barriers, and as a result are living in bad housing, dealing with poverty and poor health and made to feel invisible in their communities and society. 

The Centre for Ageing Better is pioneering ways to make ageing better a reality for everyone. Its key areas of work include challenging ageism and building a nationwide Age-friendly Movement, creating Age-friendly Employment and Age-friendly Homes.

We are striving to create an organisation that reflects our society and the communities we serve. A workplace where everyone feels empowered and where diversity of background and thought is celebrated. We know there is more work to be done and are committed to continuing to improve our practice around Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. 

We very much welcome applications from minority groups and those underrepresented in our workforce. This especially includes people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBT+ people, and Disabled people.

We are a Positive Action employer, therefore in recruitment where two candidates are ‘as qualified as’ each other, we will favour a candidate from any group identified as currently underrepresented in our team based on protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

To apply please follow the link to complete an application and EDI form. 

Please address in your supporting statement how you meet the person specification for the role as fully as possible to demonstrate why you should be shortlisted for interview for this post. Failure to do so will result in your application being automatically rejected.

The closing date for this role is 9am Monday 9th March with in-person interviews to take place 19th March. 

Funders In Good is looking for a Programme Officer to join our programmes team and help deliver initiatives that support and grow social ventures.

Funders In Good provides capacity-building support, including training, diagnostics, tailored grants, and strategic support, to help social ventures enhance their growth and impact. By 2035, our goal is to help build 10 best-in-class community organisations serving Islam and Muslims in the UK. We back ventures and leaders who are contributing to our vision of a society in which commitment to God is flourishing.

As a Programme Officer, you will work closely with the existing team to develop and deliver high-quality interventions. You will support key areas of work within our programme framework, contribute to the delivery of ongoing projects, and assist in other important areas of the organisation, such as our Funder Community and core operations.

We are looking for an organised, experienced, and confident Programme Officer who is committed to our vision.

To apply for the role, please submit your CV and prepare a supporting statement (maximum 200 words per question), answering the following questions:

1. What resonates with you about Funders In Good’s God-centred mission and long-term approach?

2. How you would plan, deliver, and evaluate a cohort-based capacity-building programme.

3. How you would handle a disengaged venture leader while managing competing programme priorities.

Please read the Job Description for full details or to arrange an informal chat with the team. Please note the applicant should be UK based, as the role will require travel to London.

About Screen Share

Screen Share is the leading refugee digital inclusion charity in the UK. Our mission is to ensure every refugee in the UK has access to a connected digital device and the skills to use it to achieve their goals. We provide devices, connectivity, digital skills support and IT repair training to refugees and asylum seekers who are digitally excluded — unlocking their access to education, employment, wellbeing, information and support services. By digitally including refugees, our support fosters agency and independence and allows refugees to rebuild their futures on their own terms.

This is a really exciting time to join Screen Share. Our new 2026–2030 strategy sets an ambitious vision: to scale our impact to reach 5,000 people annually; build a nationwide, integrated programme model across multiple cities; deepen our lived-experience leadership; and deliver a sustainable, circular-economy approach to device reuse. Every element of our work is guided by Responsibility, Sustainability, Equity, and Collaboration.

We are looking for a hands-on leader who can bring significant programme expertise to a new challenge. You’ll sit at the heart of the organisation, be a collaborative “do-er” who leads inclusively and wants to add value from day one. We need someone who is excited by our mission and growth journey and can be flexible as we scale. We are looking for you to take ownership of programme delivery and development, lead the team effectively, and drive a high-impact social value offer for our clients and partners.

About the Role

The Director of Programmes is a new senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the integration, effectiveness, and evidence-based delivery of Screen Share's sector-leading programmes. The role sits at the heart of the charity and will oversee the development and execution of programmatic plans that deliver our new organisational strategy. It will oversee and advance our key programme areas, including digital access, digital skills, digital connectivity and IT repair.

The postholder will be responsible for the smooth running of our charitable programmes, managing staff and ensuring our monitoring and evaluation and safeguarding is of a high quality. They will work closely with the Head of Operations to ensure a high-quality and multi-faceted support product for thousands of refugees across the UK, managing risk and budgets accordingly. They will also work closely with the Head of Outreach to ensure we are communicating our social value proposition effectively. 

The Director of Programmes will play a crucial role in translating strategic objectives into clear operational outcomes, overseeing the performance of programme managers, and leading a collaborative approach to programme delivery across the organisation. They will also deputise for the CEO, ensuring strong organisational leadership as the charity continues to grow and mature. 

The Director of Programmes will also champion the integration of lived experience leadership throughout the organisation, ensuring that the perspectives and expertise of refugees and those with lived experience of digital exclusion are embedded within programme design, delivery, decision-making and strategic direction at Screen Share. 

The postholder will also serve as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring that safeguarding practices are fully integrated into all programme strands and that our safeguarding process and practices are up-to-date, understood and activated in an inclusive and trauma-informed way.

Please see the attached Appicant Pack for full information on the role's responsibilities. To view the pack, click the blue 'Apply' button. 

If you have any questions about the role or it’s scope, please feel free to get in touch. 

Recruitment Schedule

Advert Closes: Monday 9th March 2026

First Round Interview (online): 18th & 19th March 2026

Second Round Interview (In person): 25th and 26th March 2026

Our Approach to Recruitment

Screen Share is committed to building a fair, inclusive and equitable organisation where everyone feels respected, valued and able to thrive. We aim to make our recruitment process consistent, transparent and accessible.

As the leading charity supporting digital inclusion for refugees in the UK, we value diverse perspectives and especially welcome applications from people with lived experience of displacement and forced migration or digital exclusion

We involve clients from refugee backgrounds in our recruitment as part of inclusive and participatory hiring approaches.

We’re happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process to remove barriers for disabled candidates.

Selection decisions are based on skills, experience, potential and values alignment, supported by a fair and transparent process.

If you don’t meet every requirement of the role but feel aligned and excited by our mission, we still encourage you to apply.

We want to hear from talented and driven people who share our commitment to inclusion, equity and meaningful social change.

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.

We are a looking to appoint a Community Programmes Manager who can manage teams and ensure delivery of quality services effectively to meet targets and service specifications. They will be expected to work collaboratively with partners, manage resources and budgets, and report consistently to commissioners and funders to ensure services are delivering impact and affecting change.

Reporting to the Programmes Director, you will work closely to support strategic development of interventions that lead to better outcomes for individuals and communities; as well as building Public Voice’s reputation as a leader in designing and delivering community programmes.

Help shape a future where people with motor neurone disease (MND) receive joined-up, person-centred support. As a Programme Lead - Integrated Support, you will guide the development of a new integrated support model, coordinating activity across seven connected work-packages and ensuring progress that is timely, focused, and grounded in real need.

As the Programme Lead, you will work across teams to plan, align, and drive programme delivery. You will ensure each area of work is clearly structured, purposeful, and supported, while maintaining strong relationships across the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead planning and delivery of projects within the Integrated Support Programme
• Maintain a clear programme framework that supports governance, prioritisation, rick-management and quality assurance
• Collaborate with senior leaders to inform strategic direction and future development
• Engage colleagues, volunteers, and community stakeholders to support innovation and inclusive co-production
• Track progress, evaluate effectiveness, and embed continuous improvement
• Oversee budgets, resources, timelines, and project standards
• Identify and manage risks and interdependencies
• Promote integrated, person-centred approaches rooted in lived experience and best practice

About You

• Experience leading complex project portfolios within service-focused settings
• Knowledge of service improvement and the ability to apply recognised Quality Improvement methods
• A formal project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM, Agile)
• Skilled in programme framework development, resource planning, and financial oversight
• Strong analytical skills and confidence using metrics to inform decisions
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and clear, inclusive communication
• Ability to lead collaboratively, supporting both staff and volunteers
• Strength in risk management and constructive problem-solving

Further information about MND Association and full job description is available in the attached Candidate Pack.

This is a home-based role with a requirement to travel to Northampton, London and regionally in-line with role and organisation requirements.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.

What We Offer

• 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays
• Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies
• 24/7 GP access via phone and video
• Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave)
• Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Opportunities for training and personal development
• Hybrid working

About Us

Motor Neurone Disease moves fast. It takes away time, it takes away independence and it has no cure. Every day we support people affected by MND. We fund ground-breaking research. We campaign for better care. We’re here for everyone who needs us. Because with MND, every day matters.

The Director of Programmes & Learning (DPL) provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership for Amna’s programmes across all geographies, partners, and ecosystem levels. The DPL champions a culture of learning, quality, and continuous improvement, ensuring that all programme strategies and initiatives are designed to advance Amna’s global mission.

Please note that compensation will be benchmarked and weighted according to the cost of living and market standards in the country where the candidate currently resides

Icon, the Institute of Conservation, is looking for an experienced and collaborative Groups and Public Programmes Lead to help us empower our volunteer community and bring the value of heritage conservation to wider audiences.

Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this new role will support Icon’s volunteer-led specialist Groups, helping deliver inspiring events, talks, training and activities that celebrate and share widely the importance of conservation.

You’ll develop and lead Icon’s public engagement programme – creating partnerships with charities, schools and community organisations, coordinating studio visits and workshops, and championing opportunities for conservators to connect with new audiences. You’ll also design and deliver volunteer training, support Group committees, and line‑manage our Groups & Public Programmes Administrator.

We’re looking for someone with experience delivering creative or cultural programmes, supporting volunteers, and managing partnerships. Strong communication, organisational skills and a passion for heritage are essential.

Icon is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

We are looking for a dynamic Programme Manager. The post-holder will play a key role in managing specific programme and partnership activities in partnership countries such as the Gambia, Kenya and Sierra Leone as well as project management, monitoring and reporting for our cross-partnerships strategic project on strengthening health systems through strengthened postgraduate medical education of health worker.

The post-holder will also support the design and management of new programmes, working closely with the KGHP Director, Head of Programmes, Partnership Leads, Advisors and with our partners.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape innovative and impactful health systems strengthening programme, rooted in strong local partnerships.

Based in the UK, this role may require line management support to in-country coordinators/UK based Programme Officer(s).The role will require travel for 1 week at a time to monitor projects abroad to our projects/ partnership countries, totalling no more than three times a year.

Keychange is a Christian charity with a proud history of supporting people invulnerable situations for over a century. We believe that everyone has dignity and worth, and that people thrive best in communities where they are known, valued and supported. Across our care homes and housing communities, we seek to provide support that goes beyond compliance and is rooted in compassion, excellence and Christian values.

We are now seeking a Director of Operations to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our services and ensuring that our vision is lived out every day across the organisation.

The role

As Director of Operations, you will be a key member of the senior leadership team, working closely with the CEO and Board to translate strategy into high-quality, sustainable delivery with exciting future developments ahead.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across 7 care homes and 3 housing communities in the south of England, leading and supporting a talented operations team to deliver safe, effective and person-centred services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing visible leadership that embeds Keychange’s Christian vision, values and culture across all services
• Leading and overseeing multi-site operations, ensuring consistently high standards of care, safeguarding and support
• Holding accountability for regulatory compliance, quality assurance and service improvement
• Driving operational excellence, innovation and efficiency through effective systems and processes
• Ensuring services are financially sustainable, working closely with finance colleagues on budgets and resources
• Developing, coaching and inspiring senior managers and leaders to perform at their best

This is a senior role with real influence – both on the strategic direction of Keychange and on the lives of hundreds of people we support.

About you

We are looking for a values-led, strategic and credible leader who brings:

• Senior leadership experience within social care, housing, homelessness or a closely related sector
• A proven track record of leading multi-site services and managing senior operational leaders
• Strong experience of working within regulated environments and delivering high-quality, compliant services
• Sound financial and commercial awareness, with experience of managing budgets and resources  of a similar scale to Keychange (250 staff across 10 sites)
• A passion for developing people, culture and values-driven practice
• A personal commitment to the Christian faith and active agreement with the Keychange mission, vision and faith basis. (This is a genuine occupational requirement under the Equality Act 2010)

You will be someone who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery, and who leads with integrity, humility and purpose.

What we offer

This is a rare opportunity to take on a senior leadership role where your professional expertise and Christian faith can make a lasting and meaningful difference.

The role involves regular travel across our sites in the south of England with flexibility around base location.

Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) is an international non-governmental organisation which works to amplify the voices of rural women globally.  We are looking for an Executive Director for our small Central Office team which works with member organisations and individuals in the UK and around the world to ensure that rural women are represented, recognised for their critical importance in society, and have a platform to influence policy makers.  We combine advocacy and small-scale, women-led development projects designed by the local women who will implement them for the benefit of their communities.

This an exciting time to join ACWW in the lead up to our centenary and planning for the 32nd Triennial World Conference in 2029.  We are looking to appoint an Executive Director as our current Executive Director will be retiring this summer.

The successful candidate will be reporting to the Board of Trustees and working with colleagues and trustees to foster relationships, partnerships and collaborations with individuals, funders and networks in line with the Association’s objectives, priorities and values. You will have an important contribution to make in all aspects of the Association.

We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion.  We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

This role is offered as full-time.  If you have successful charity sector experience, ability to build and maintain positive relationships and are looking to work for a charity focused on championing women’s empowerment and advocating for change, we’d like to hear from you. Please see application pack for further details and to apply.

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!

Role Summary 

As our Global Director of Strategic Communications, you will turn ProVeg’s strategy into a unified, high-impact narrative that accelerates the protein transition. You’ll set evidence-based objectives, prioritise where we can win, and align teams across countries and functions to deliver measurable engagement with media, policymakers, industry, partners, and supporters. You’ll elevate the voices of our Senior Leadership Team while staying hands-on for high-stakes moments—balancing speed with quality, and clarity with nuance. You’ll build and lead a high-performing team, create clarity and trust, and enable others to succeed through transparent goals, timely feedback, and consistent follow-through. This role is ideal for someone who has a solutions-first mindset, is passionate about our mission, excited to shape the way the world eats, and motivated by turning bold ideas into lasting, real-world impact.

Job details

• Reports to: Global CEO

• Department: INT Communications

• Direct Reports: Media Lead, Advocacy Communications Manager, Social Media Manager

• Location: Remote, UK

• Hours: full-time

• Salary: £56k- £63k

• Start date: May 2026

• Application deadline: 22.03.2026

Responsibilities 

Leadership & Strategy Development

• Develop and execute a global communications strategy that drives narrative shifts, making plant-rich food systems a priority for decision-makers and addressing polarisation on food systems transformation.

• Oversee the development of strategic communications plans for ProVeg’s flagship Global Programmes – from insight and strategy to content, campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and measurement.

• Define how we measure the impact of our strategic communications on organisational and programmatic goals, working with Programme Leads and our Impact team.

• Collaborate with the Development team to develop compelling, mission-aligned content and narratives for major donor proposals, grant applications, and fundraising campaigns.

• Oversee the development and execution of our internal communications strategy, making recommendations on how we can improve communications with globally distributed employees.

Narrative Influence & Thought Leadership

• Use your existing network and develop new high-level media relationships to ensure ProVeg’s insights are front and center in top-tier global business and policy media outlets (e.g. FT, BBC, Guardian, NYT.).

• Act as a senior adviser to the Global CEO and SLT on reputation management and media appearances.

• Drive a "thought leadership" engine that positions ProVeg experts as the go-to source for food system transformation.

• Elevate ProVeg as an expert voice in the food system transition, leveraging our track record to secure high-impact presence at major national and global forums.

Brand Integrity & Editorial Direction

• Oversee and maintain the ProVeg brand, ensuring visual and verbal consistency across all global markets while maintaining a clear identity that resonates with key audiences.

• Provide clear guidance and capacity-building tools to international and programme teams on content narrative, positioning, and tone.

• Uphold the ProVeg Writing Style Guide and messaging frameworks across all platforms.

• Oversee the development and governance of owned channels, including the optimisation of the ProVeg website and global newsletters.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing global communications team, fostering a culture of excellence, creative-problem solving, and continuous improvement.

• Set OKRs, manage budgets, and streamline workflows to ensure maximum efficiency.

• Champion inclusive and effective communication practices that empower our 14 national teams.

Competencies 

Required:

• You are a strategic thinker with deep knowledge of how to influence B2B and policy actors through communications and a persuasive communications style.

• You have a proven track record of managing diverse, high-performing, globally distributed teams. You lead by example - you’re as comfortable directing a global launch as you are drafting a press release when the pressure is on.

• You bring an extensive network of international media contacts and a proven ability to craft narratives that break through the noise to secure coverage in top-tier outlets.

• You have experience of delivering results within a matrix structure, preferably within an international federated network.

• You prioritise open and honest communication, demonstrate excellent judgement under pressure, make decisions based on evidence, and are comfortable managing trade-offs and navigating crisis/risk communications.

• You bring strong alignment with and passion for ProVeg’s mission and vision, and familiarity with the food systems, climate, and/or public health spaces.

Preferred:

• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for programmes or portfolios.

• Experience of working with and overseeing  agency partners.

• You bring strong digital strategy expertise across web, email, SEO, and social; familiarity with CRM/automation and analytics tools.

• You have experience with crisis scenarios, misinformation dynamics, and reputation management.

• You speak additional languages.

Benefits of working with ProVeg

• A strong organisational focus on personal development, with a designated training budget.

• Provision of a work laptop.

• Flexible, trust-based working arrangements and home-office arrangements.

• Career development support.

• Mental health & wellbeing support via access to the OpenUp platform and a free Headspace subscription

• We are a workplace that encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work. We are an inclusive workplace for our diverse employees around the world.

• Generous annual leave entitlement - 25 days increasing by one day a year to a maximum of 30 days (plus bank holidays)

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.

• Employee Assistance Programme including counselling

• Access to 24/7 virtual GP Service

• Access to the Wisdom app with exclusive perks and discounts

• Compassionate animal companion leave

• And, last but not least, become part of a great team and work with us towards a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet!