SEL Fostering Hub Programme Manager

Job Introduction

Are you an experienced programme or project manager with a passion for improving outcomes for children, young people and families? Are you confident managing grant-funded programmes and working with partners to turn ambitious plans into successful, measurable projects? Then we have a role for you! 

The Innovation and Improvement teams focus on the development and delivery of projects and programmes across Children’s Services and support our drive for continuous quality improvement. We work with colleagues, partners and senior leaders to develop and deliver initiatives that build on our strengths, address areas for development and ensure children, young people and families thrive across Royal Greenwich. 

We are looking for a Programme Manager to lead the successful development and delivery of a new sub-regional service initiative, Foster South-East London.  

The role will provide strong programme management oversight, ensuring projects are well planned, effectively delivered and able to demonstrate clear outcomes and impact. You will work across organisational boundaries, bringing together colleagues and partners, managing risks and dependencies, monitoring budgets and grant conditions, and ensuring delivery remains focused on agreed objectives. 

Recent projects and initiatives that the service has helped to deliver have included: 

• Opening a new children’s home for adolescent young people
• A dedicated Mentoring programme for children in our care and care leavers
• Comprehensive innovation and change management projects, including the development of new services for children and families
• Collaborative programmes designed to strengthen services and improve outcomes for children, young people and families

We are looking for a Programme Manager (fixed-term or secondment opportunity for 1 year) with: 

• Proven experience of managing and delivering complex projects or programmes, ideally including grant-funded programmes
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective programme plans, monitoring delivery against milestones, outcomes, budgets and funding requirements
• Strong partnership and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across Children’s Services and with external organisations and stakeholders
• An ability to identify and manage risks, issues, dependencies and barriers to delivery, escalating appropriately and supporting teams to find solutions
• Experience of using data, insight and performance information to monitor progress, demonstrate impact and support continuous improvement
• Excellent communication and engagement skills, with the ability to bring people together around shared objectives and communicate complex information clearly
• A strong understanding of project and programme governance and the ability to produce high-quality reports and updates for senior leaders, boards and funders
• A genuine interest in improving services for children, young people and families, with a commitment to keeping their needs and experiences at the centre of all you do

If you have the skills, experience and enthusiasm to successfully manage a portfolio of grant-funded projects and help us deliver ambitious programmes such as South-East London’s new Fostering Hub, we want to hear from you! 

Applicants are required to submit a full application addressing the individual Person Specification. Please do not submit CVs. 

This role is also available as a secondment opportunity to Royal Greenwich employees and Foster South-East London partners. Please note South-East London partners are subject to confirmation and so will be communicated separately. 

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Acting Head of Projects and Partnerships David Travis; David.Travis@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or Acting Assistant Director Olajumoke (Jummy) Hemsley; Olajumoke.Hemsley@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Diversity Statement: Royal Borough of Greenwich values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.

Advert Close: All vacancies close at midnight unless otherwise stated. 

Early Advert Close: Royal Borough of Greenwich reserves the right to close any job advert earlier than the advertised closing date where there is reason to do so (for example high volume of applications).

Full Employment History: A full employment history is required for this role. Please provide a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment.

How Applications are Scored: Each application is scored according to how well the supporting statements addresses each point on the Person Specification for the role. Candidates will be short-listed for interview on the extent to which they meet the specific points within the Person Specification. The Person Specification is supplied with the job advert. When completing your application, please use the supporting statements section to tell us how you meet each of the points on the Person Specification. We need to have this information in order to consider your application.

Salary: Salaries advertised are for a standard working week of 35 hours unless otherwise stated. Please use this 'Salary Calculator to help you calculate a pro rata salary.

Our Staff Values: Our Staff Values are important to us. Candidates will be continuously assessed against our staff values throughout the recruitment process. Where candidates demonstrate views and behaviours that do not meet the standards of our staff values, we reserve the right to reject their application/ registration.