Interim Programme Director

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Interim Programme Director

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Starfish Search

This role offers a salary of c.£90,000. This hybrid role is based at the organisation’s London offices, with occasional travel in and outside of London.

OverviewStarfish Search is working with a dynamic charity focused on improving outcomes for children and young people. Reporting to the CEO, this is a critical leadership opportunity to drive programme development, strengthen partnerships, and support the organisation through a period of ambitious growth and transformation.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of programme activity that delivers better outcomes for children and young people, embedding a place-based approach for long-term systemic change.

Collaborate with schools, local authorities, and community partners to ensure services are responsive, high quality, and aligned with local needs.

Shape and refine the organisational Theory of Change, ensuring programmes are designed, operationalised, and adapted to achieve maximum impact.

Oversee community engagement, alumni activity, and local campaigns, building momentum towards a broader national movement for change.

Guide the set-up of programmes in new areas, facilitating co-design with children, families, and communities, and supporting the recruitment of local teams.

Work closely with the Executive Team, modelling inclusive leadership and helping to shape the structures needed to support the organisation’s growth.

Qualifications / Experience

Substantial experience of collaborative and partnership working across systems and sectors.

Proven ability to design, operationalise and/or scale complex models that deliver social outcomes.

A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to build trusted relationships, listen, and bring together diverse priorities.

Strong line management experience, with the ability to empower and motivate teams.

Confidence in navigating complexity and ambiguity, with the resilience to adapt and make purposeful decisions.

A values-driven approach, with a commitment to equity, inclusion, and participation.

Experience in children’s education and services is highly desirable, with a strong track record of improving outcomes for children and young people.

DetailsThis role is running for a period of 12 months.

Seniorty level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Contract

Job function

Management

Industries

Non-profit Organizations and ..... full job details .....