Programme Lead

We're delighted to be recruiting for a Programme Lead within the Charity Development and Funding Directorate to an ambitious £2.1 million pilot for the National Lottery Community Fund,  in partnership with eight organisations — IVAR, Groundwork UK, CAST, School for Social Entrepreneurs, NCVO, Voice4Change England, the AVOCADO Foundation, and Access (advisory role). 
This success is the result of the Foundation and its partners' long-standing commitment to small and local charities and gives us a unique opportunity to work with the UK's largest community grant giver to shape the future of grant holder support, while also strengthening our own learning and approach.

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About the Pilot

Working in partnership with IVAR, Groundwork UK, CAST, School for Social Entrepreneurs, NCVO, Voice4Change England, the AVOCADO Foundation, we will provide diagnostic-led, tailored and relational support to up to 640 community organisations across the North West, South West of England and Yorkshire and Humber.

The pilot has a strong emphasis on equity and access, aiming to ensure charities of all sizes and backgrounds can benefit. It will also generate valuable learning to shape the future of the National Lottery Community Fund's approach to grant holder support and strengthen the Foundation's own development practice.

You can read more in the Executive Summary here - Executive Summary

About the role 

• Salary: £56,501 per annum (FTE) 

• Role type: Full-time (1.0 FTE), Fixed Term Contract until end of January 2027

• Reports to: Director of Charity Development and Funding

• Location: Flexible, with some travel to London and across England

A further list of benefits can be found here: Work with us

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As Programme Lead, you'll have overall responsibility for the successful delivery of this ambitious and collaborative pilot. You'll lead a multi-partner consortium, oversee a £2.1m budget, and ensure that up to 640 charities receive high-quality, equitable support.
You'll manage delivery, governance, performance, and learning, while championing a test-and-learn approach that generates insights for the Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund, and the wider sector. You'll also lead a small team and play an active role in the Foundation's leadership group.
This is a strategic and hands-on role for someone who thrives in complexity, values collaboration, and is passionate about strengthening small and local charities.

Who we are looking for 

You are an experienced programme leader with a strong track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives in the charity, social or funding sectors. You bring a deep understanding of the voluntary sector, particularly the needs of small and community-led organisations.
You are confident managing partnerships, budgets, and governance structures, and skilled at translating strategy into delivery. 
You are a collaborative leader who can inspire and support a team, while championing equity, learning, and continuous improvement.

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• Proven experience leading complex programmes or partnerships with accountability for delivery,  budget, risk, and reporting.

• A strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in programme design and delivery.

• Experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborative delivery models.

• A solid understanding of how to support and develop small and community-led organisations.

• Excellent people leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Confidence in representing programmes externally and influencing funders or decision-makers.

Experience with test-and-learn approaches, diagnostic tools, or equity-led programme design would be an advantage.
We are hoping for an immediate start for the position or as soon as possible thereafter.

Full Job Description link here - Programme Lead JD

For further details or to discuss the role, please contact Michele at [email protected] 

How to Apply

So, if you're looking to make a meaningful impact as a Programme lead, please apply using the green 'Apply for this job' button.

• The deadline for applications is Sunday 7th December at 23:59. 

• Interviews with shortlisted candidates will be held online on Friday 19th December.

The Foundation is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Data will be handled in accordance with GDPR and our equality statement.

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Our information on equal opportunities can be found here: Equal Opportunities

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If you need our application form in other accessible formats such as a word document, please get in touch with us at [email protected].