Director of Programmes and Partnerships (maternity cover)

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 charitys 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 TTFs 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 TTFs 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 TTFs 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 TTFs mission in the wider education and social mobility landscape

strengthening the charitys positioning and visibility with external audiences.

Partnership leadership

Develop an ambitious prospect pipeline across the corporate landscape that supports TTFs

ambition to represent a range of sectors and industries.

Lead and maintain relationships with TTFs 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 TTFs 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