Head of Programme: Alleviating the Consequences of Poverty (FTC)

Head of Programme: Alleviating the Consequences of Poverty (FTC) Comic Relief

Employment Type: Contract (7.5 month Fixed term Contract)

Location: Hybrid London, City of, UK (2 days a week in our London Office)

Team: Funding

Seniority: Senior

• Closing: 11:55pm, 23rd Feb 2025 GMT

Job Description

This role is offered on a hybrid contract giving you the opportunity to also work from home three days a week.

This post is responsible for leading and delivering Pillar 1 of Comic Relief's strategy, the 'Alleviating the consequences of poverty' funding programme at Comic Relief, overseeing all the grant-making in this area. The Head of Programme will be responsible for working closely with the Head of Impact and Learning to develop clear theories of change with tangible objectives and deliverables for the programme. The Head of Programme will report to the Director of Funding and work with colleagues from across Comic Relief and with external stakeholders to achieve social change and measurable impact towards our vision of a just world free from poverty.

Provide strategic leadership of Comic Relief's global portfolio of investments within the 'Alleviating the consequences of poverty' strategic programme (Pillar 1), leading team members to deliver a programme with positive social impact, in line with our strategic objectives.

Work cross-organisationally to ensure understanding of the programme is embedded and contributes to delivery of our organisational strategy through effective storytelling, fundraising, and public engagement.

Take personal responsibility for high risk, high value or complex relationships within the programme portfolio.

Work closely with colleagues in Assurance and Finance teams to ensure specialist, technical input is received in relation to financial, contractual, reputational, or safeguarding risk.

Work closely with the portfolio managers and the MEL team to develop a theory of change for all funding within Pillar 1 with clear learning objectives and impact measurements.

Develop and sustain relationships with key strategic partners and stakeholders invested in tackling the impact of poverty.

Work closely with the Fundraising team to provide strategic oversight to existing and potential funding partners including both corporates and Trusts Foundations and Institutions (TFIs).

Ensure that, where applicable, people with lived or learnt experience are actively engaged within the way we design our funding calls and manage our funding portfolios.

Manage Pillar 1 team budget.

Travel (including international) may be required for this role.

Lead and line manage the small team of Portfolio Managers working with the Pillar 1 team.

Proactively undertake business planning, prioritise activities and set clear and realistic objectives based on capacity, expertise and aspirations.

Provide balanced, constructive feedback, undertake effective performance management to embed accountability and proactively support the professional development and growth of staff.

Maintain regular two-way communication and dialogue with staff, ensuring information is cascaded and escalated as needed.

Model an enabling, inclusive and empowering leadership style that builds a values-based culture throughout the charity.

Lead, manage and support direct line reports through regular contact with clear performance objectives and KPIs and create a culture of collaboration and flexibility within the team.

Leadership

Support the Director of Funding in leading the wider Funding team through participation in the Funding Leadership Team.

As a senior member of Comic Relief, represent the organisation at external events as required, disseminate learning and support the Director of Funding in networking and developing relationships for increased collaboration.

Contribute towards Comic Relief's new impact framework and its operationalisation.

Person Specification

Significant experience and knowledge of grant-making and programme design.

Extensive understanding of the philanthropic sector in the UK and Global South.

Understanding the complex intersectional nature of a people-centred approach to solutions to poverty.

Leadership experience, managing and motivating a team effectively to achieve high quality outcomes.

Proven track record of developing and sustaining key partnerships and working collaboratively to influence the sector and achieve impact.

Thorough understanding and commitment to the use of storytelling and creativity to engage public and partners towards our vision of a just world free from poverty.

Excellent communication skills, able to present and interact with a range of stakeholders including Trustees and Committee members.

Self-motivated and flexible, able to adjust priorities as required when working in a busy complex environment.

Proven track record of working in alignment with Comic Relief's commitment to social justice, anti-racism, diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Experience of living and working in the Global South.

Ability to collate and analyse data quickly and effectively.

Ability to think strategically and critically, and be solution-focused.

Don't meet every single requirement? At Comic Relief, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.