Are you an experienced, values-driven leader with a passion for inclusive employment and partnership working? A leading human services organisation, working through a locally rooted consortium, is seeking a Programme Director to lead the delivery of a publicly procured employability contract across the East Midlands. This is a senior, high-impact role for someone who thrives in complex, multi-partner environments and is motivated by improving outcomes for people facing barriers to employment.

About the Role

The Programme Director is accountable for the successful delivery of a publicly procured employability contract on behalf of the Connected Communities Consortium.

Rather than delivering services directly, you will provide strategic leadership, integration and oversight — bringing together diverse delivery partners, ensuring high-quality, locally responsive provision, and maintaining strong relationships with commissioners and stakeholders.

You will act as the senior operational lead for the contract, maintaining a clear line of sight between delivery activity, quality, compliance, and outcomes, while enabling partners to perform at their best.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Providing strategic leadership across consortium partners to ensure consistent, high-quality contract delivery
• Translating commissioner priorities and contractual requirements into clear operational direction
• Overseeing performance, quality and compliance, with a strong focus on participant outcomes
• Supporting effective consortium working, governance and decision-making
• Managing delivery risks, dependencies and issues across partners and places
• Acting as the primary senior operational contact for commissioners and key stakeholders
• Championing quality, fidelity and continuous improvement across the contract
• Supporting joined-up, place-based approaches that create positive, seamless participant experiences

About You

You are a credible, collaborative leader with significant experience in employability, supported employment, welfare-to-work or wider human services delivery.

You are comfortable operating at senior level, influencing without direct control, and navigating complexity with sound judgement and diplomacy. You balance strategic thinking with a strong focus on delivery, quality and relationships.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Significant senior leadership experience within employability, supported employment or complex public service programmes
• Proven experience leading multi-partner, consortium or subcontracted delivery models
• Strong track record of performance, quality and compliance oversight
• Confidence working with commissioners, public-sector stakeholders and delivery partners
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills

Desirable

• Experience working across employment, health, skills or community services
• Understanding of evidence-based employability or supported employment models
• Background in programme mobilisation, quality assurance or performance management
• Lived experience of disability, health conditions or other barriers to employment — or extensive experience working alongside people with lived experience

Our Values

As a human services organisation, we are committed to:

• People-centred, inclusive delivery grounded in dignity and respect
• Local empowerment and partnership working
• Integrity, transparency and accountability
• Safe, supportive environments where people and communities can thrive

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role within a high-profile, publicly funded employability programme, shaping delivery across the East Midlands and making a meaningful difference to people’s lives.

Apply now to explore how your leadership could help deliver lasting impact through inclusive employability services.