Interim Programme Director

Charity Sector
London
Circa. £90,000
Hackney

Starfish Search is working with a dynamic charity focused on improving outcomes for children and young people in seeking an Interim Programme Director. 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.

THE ROLE

You will:

  • 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.

You will have:

  • 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.

 

This role is running for a period of 12 months and 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.

Closing Date: Friday 12th September