Director of Programmes and Partnerships

Director of Programmes and Partnerships

The Talent Foundry

Key responsibilities

What you will be doing The Director of Programmes and Partnerships is a core member of the Senior Leadership Team at

The Talent Foundry. The role provides strategic and operational leadership for all programme

development, delivery and partnerships – ensuring all our work supports under-served young people

across the UK and aligns with the charity's vision, purpose and values.

With responsibility for a portfolio of high-impact programmes and corporate partnerships that

generate over £1.6 million annually, this role leads on building and sustaining long-term relationships

with our programme funders and corporate partners, and ensures that TTF's programmes are

consistently high-quality, innovative, and aligned to impact goals.

The Director of Programmes and Partnerships is accountable for, and manages the Programme

Team (c. 16 FTE) and works closely with the CEO and Head of Finance and Resources to set strategy,

drive performance, and deliver cross-organisational priorities.

The post holder also plays a key external-facing role, representing TTF at a senior level with funders,

business leaders, sector peers and education stakeholders.

Strategic leadership

• Lead the strategic direction of TTF's programme delivery and corporate partnership activity,

aligned to the five-year strategy – Ambition 2030.

• Set annual departmental objectives and KPIs and workplans to ensure clarity, focus, and

accountability across the team.

• Work collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team to shape and deliver organisational

strategy.

• Identify new opportunities to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and increase income

through partnership innovation, including shaping and testing new delivery models (e.g.

residentials, regional hubs) that support TTF's scale and sustainability goals.

• Monitor sector trends, policy developments, and business insights to inform programme

design and positioning.

• Contribute to sustainability planning by identifying ways to increase cost-efficiency, diversify

delivery models and reduce dependency on a small number of partners.

• Act as an ambassador for TTF's mission in the wider education and social mobility landscape,

strengthening the charity's positioning and visibility with external audiences.

Partnership leadership

• Develop an ambitious prospect pipeline across the corporate landscape, that supports TTF's

ambition to represent a range of sectors and industries.

• Lead and maintain relationships with TTF's existing corporate partners at a senior level,

ensuring excellent stewardship and long-term collaboration.

• Oversee the design and renewal of multi-year strategic partnerships, ensuring alignment

between partner priorities, student needs, and TTF's delivery model/strategic goals.

• Write bids and programme plans to secure external funding for programme activity, including

preparing individual programme budgets

• Develop and review partnership strategies for individual corporate or public sector funders,

ensuring tailored engagement, high-quality reporting and demonstrable impact.

• Support the CEO and Head of Fundraising on scoping, positioning and pitching for major

donors, trusts or foundations income*.

* Within our team, the responsibility to secure fundraised income through major gifts, trusts and

foundations sits with the Head of Fundraising.

Programme delivery and innovation

• Oversee the Programme Team to deliver our suite of programmes, ensuring they meet

agreed targets for reach, quality, budget, and impact.

• Ensure programme content is relevant, engaging and inclusive – and regularly reviewed in

response to student feedback, impact data, and partner needs.

• Ensure robust quality assurance, safeguarding, and risk management processes are in place

across all delivery.

• Drive innovation in programme models and delivery formats, responding to the evolving

needs of students, schools, and funders.

• Manage the Impact and Data Lead to ensure TTF programmes are evidence-led and data

driven.

Cross-organisational collaboration

• With the Senior Leadership Team, agree annual targets for restricted and unrestricted

fundraising.

• Work closely with the Head of Fundraising and the wider Engagement Team to ensure

programme goals are embedded in fundraising, marketing and communications.

• Collaborate with the Head of Finance and Resources on accurate forecasting, budgeting, and

financial reporting for all programme and partnership activity.

• Ensure the Impact and Data Lead function has access to programme data and delivery teams

to capture, analyse, and share learnings effectively.

• Contribute to whole-organisation initiatives including CRM development, systems

improvement and learning & development.

Team leadership and development

• Lead the Programmes Team, including line management of senior staff and dotted-line

support to Programme Managers.

• Foster a high-performing, values-led team culture that prioritises TTF values and encourages

professional learning

• Provide effective line management, support, coaching and guidance to direct reports.

Any other requirements, tasks and activities consummate with the role.

Experience
• Extensive experience in programme leadership, ideally in youth, education or social impact

sectors

• Proven track record of managing high-value corporate partnerships or funder relationships

• Experience of working at senior leadership level, with responsibility for team performance,

strategy and budget

• Demonstrable ability to lead and develop high-performing teams

• Track record of innovation in programme design and delivery

• Experience of cross-functional working and collaboration at organisational level

• Excellent relationship management skills with internal and external stakeholders

Skills
• Strategic thinker with the ability to set vision, lead change and make decisions

• Commercially astute and confident in budget management and income generation

• Highly organised, analytical and able to manage competing priorities

• Exceptional communicator with strong influencing and negotiation skills

• Skilled in managing complexity and leading teams through ambiguity

• Confident using MS packages including Teams, PowerPoint, Forms, Excel and Word

• Collaborative, collegiate, and mission-aligned

Everyone in our team:
• Operates as a flexible team player and provides a high level of self-administration to facilitate

a 'one team' approach

• Understands and complies with all policies and procedures at TTF including Safeguarding,

Health & Safety and Data Protection & GDPR responsibilities

• Supports diversity and equal opportunities for all, appreciating and supporting the role of

other professionals

• Attends and participates in TTF meetings, events, training and learning activities

• Undertakes all other duties commensurate with the level of the post as required