Senior Programmes Manager

Who you are

• Experience in budget management
• Strong programme and event management and/or delivery experience, preferably for an audience of young people
• Line management experience, preferably of managers
• Ability to produce effective, engaging and concise written and verbal communication
• Proficiency in using technology, for example CRM software
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to multi-task and prioritise
• Uses data to drive decisions and improvements
• High degree of initiative, with the ability to solve problems and take advantage of new opportunities
• Ability to convene and facilitate strategic and creative working groups and teams
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to influence and manage expectations
• Consistency in taking responsibility for specific areas of work, with strong attention to detail
• Proactive and strategic planning skills
• Personable and supportive, with the ability to bring out the best in others
• Sympathy with the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage
• Flexibility and discretion, and the ability to fit into a small team
• Eligible to work in the UK

What the job involves

• The Sutton Trust is the UK's leading social mobility charity. Its programmes empower young people to access life-changing opportunities, and its research influences national change to deliver a fairer future
• Over the next year, the Trust will celebrate its 30th anniversary. As part of its strategy, it has ambitious plans to grow its access-to-the-workplace programmes in new and innovative ways. The Senior Employability Programmes Manager will lead in-house delivery through this period of growth
• The Trust's employability programmes support talented young people from lower-income backgrounds to access highly competitive universities, degree apprenticeships and professional careers. They are delivered in partnership with leading UK universities and major employers
• Reporting to the Head of Employability Programmes and Sector Engagement, oversee the portfolio of in-house employability programmes, including Pathways Online, Access Apprenticeships and Careers Plus, and provide strategic oversight of the new Tech and Digital Pathways to the Professions programme, due to launch in September 2027
• Lead and develop a talented, passionate team, ensuring high-quality delivery and impact across existing programmes while driving the design and launch of new programmes. Work with colleagues across employer engagement, evaluation, development and marketing to shape the future of employability work and the wider industry engagement strategy
• This role leads the development, growth and quality of the Trust's in-house employability programmes, helping young people build the skills, experience and connections to progress into higher education and the workplace. The postholder will be part of the employability leadership team and help deliver the Trust's 2030 ambitions
• Continue to develop and evolve programmes to stay relevant in a changing university and employer landscape and meet the needs of the young people supported
• Take a leadership role in developing in-house employability programmes, using sector insight, evaluation data and participant experience to shape design, delivery models and entry points so each young person is on the programme that best supports their journey
• Work with the Employer Engagement and alumni team and sector partners to connect participants to employer talent pipelines and tangible routes to employment
• Contribute to the 2030 programmes strategy by growing the suite of in-house programmes and strands, piloting programmes in new sectors and scaling existing programmes
• Represent the Trust externally, including at sector events and speaking engagements
• Oversee the design and delivery of the Trust's in-house employability programmes
• Support Programme Managers to design and deliver innovative employability programmes, engaging relevant stakeholders
• Oversee in-house programme delivery to a high standard and in line with the Trust's theory of change, with robust systems, processes and risk management
• Work with senior colleagues to ensure centrally provided provision, such as Sutton Trust Online, complements employability programme delivery and creates a cohesive, impactful journey for students
• Identify and implement improvements to quality, consistency and ways of working across programme delivery
• Oversee programme budgets across the team, ensuring resources are used effectively to serve beneficiaries
• Work with senior colleagues in the programmes team to develop the Trust's approach to skills development, particularly supporting beneficiaries' progression into professional jobs and qualifications
• Identify the skills that matter most in an evolving employer landscape and oversee the development and delivery of skills support across student and alumni groups, initially focusing on AI literacy
• Engage beneficiaries, employers and external stakeholders in shaping skills support
• Review student and employer engagement, impact and feedback to continually improve the skills offer for beneficiaries
• Work with Communications colleagues on marketing plans to reach target beneficiaries, particularly regional and hard-to-reach students for online programmes
• Work with programmes colleagues to ensure application systems and processes work effectively, leading this area ahead of and during each employability recruitment cycle
• Quality-assure cohort selection across in-house programmes
• Ensure onboarding and communications are consistent and effective for all participants
• Line manage two Programme Managers and support them in managing and developing their own teams
• Build a high-performing, supportive team culture based on collaboration and shared learning
• Work with the Head of Employability Programmes and senior colleagues to ensure employability programmes are coherent and well managed
• Act as the central point of contact across internal teams, including University Access, Employer Engagement, Development, STO and Alumni
• Act as a Designated Safeguarding Officer for the Programmes team
• Ensure effective safeguarding systems and processes are in place and promote a positive safeguarding culture
• Work with the wider group of Designated Safeguarding Officers to manage internal and external safeguarding concerns in line with Sutton Trust policy
• Ensure the impact of the programmes is understood, evidenced and communicated
• Work with the Impact team to strengthen the evaluation framework and long-term tracking for employability programmes, particularly apprenticeship outcomes
• Ensure timely collection, analysis and sharing of process and impact data across the Trust
• Support reporting to funders and external communications about programme impact
• Carry out other duties as necessary from time to time

Benefits

• Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank holidays (29 days per annum for roles at 'Head of' level and above).
• Pension scheme: Contributory pension scheme (subject to the conditions of the scheme) which includes a 7% employer pension contribution.
• Family leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity/ partner, adoption, shared parental leave pay and carer's leave (conditions apply)
• Flexible working: Minimum 2 office days per week, plus Flexible Working Policy
• Wellbeing: 2 paid mental health/ self-care days, annual wellbeing workshops and access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Other benefits include: Cycle to work scheme, life assurance cover, season ticket loans, and free tea, coffee, fruit and lunch when working from the office.