Delivery Manager - Centre for Early childhood

About us:

The Royal Foundation works to create a better future for a fairer, more inclusive society and a healthier planet, tackling some of the greatest issues of our time.

The Centre for Early Childhood sits within The Royal Foundation. Through research, collaboration and campaigning, we’re working towards a healthier, happier, more nurturing society, transformed by a collective approach to early childhood. We are a small team, with ambitious goals.

Job Purpose:

We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven Delivery Manager to take a leading role in our work to drive up quality in the early childhood workforce.

This is a truly exciting opportunity to contribute to a new work programme as we move from the early scoping phase to delivery at scale. You will be integral to shaping the success of the programme and ensuring it delivers tangible impact.

We are looking for a positive, flexible team player with experience of delivering complex projects to a high standard. You will be comfortable working strategically and operationally, seeing the big picture while ensuring attention to detail.

With your strong programme and project management skills, you will help drive our ambitious goals and ensure effective delivery. Your ability to navigate complex environments, understand strategic context, and adapt to change will be important in ensuring the programme’s success.

We are looking for someone with a commitment to quality, who is ambitious to deliver better outcomes for babies and young children across the UK.

Core Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning: Develop clear, actionable plans with defined scope, objectives, timelines, and deliverables.
• Project Management: Manage the project to ensure milestones are achieved on time, within budget and to the highest quality.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with stakeholders, ensuring engagement and alignment. Ensure external providers deliver the desired outcomes on time and to the expected quality.
• Resource Management: Oversee resource allocation and ensure that the work is delivered within the agreed budget. Escalate and address any concerns as required.
• Reporting & Communication: Collect data to monitor and demonstrate progress. Provide regular updates to senior management and stakeholders, sharing project progress, challenges, and results.
• Risk & Issue Management: Identify and address risks early, implementing proactive solutions.

• Quality Control: Maintain a sharp eye for detail and ensure the highest quality standards are met throughout the project. Continuously assess project outputs and refine processes to drive the best possible results.

Relevant knowledge, experience and personal qualities.

The ideal candidate will have:

1. A commitment to the Centre for Early Childhood’s vision to build a happier, healthier, more nurturing world transformed by our approach to early childhood.
2. Proven experience in delivering large, complex, and high-profile projects within a fast-paced environment.
3. A solid understanding of project management methodologies. Experience in choosing and tailoring project management approaches to fit organisational culture and the needs of specific projects.
4. A proactive, solution-oriented mindset. The ability to respond confidently and positively to changing scenarios.
5. Experience working in policy, commissioning or service delivery for babies, children and families.
6. Excellent communication and strong interpersonal skills. Experience of collaborating and building relationships with a diverse range of internal and external partners. Proven ability to engage effectively with senior leaders.
7. An optimistic and energetic outlook, keen to maximise the positive change you and the team can deliver. 
8. The ability to work under pressure, handle competing priorities, and make decisions in high-stakes environments.

Wider context and requirements

Working at the Royal Foundation presents exceptional opportunities. Here, you will have the chance to be involved in landmark events and collaborate with world-leading partners. We are looking for someone with ambition and a steadfast commitment to excellence and quality in everything you do.

We work as a team, supporting each other, particularly around key milestones and high-profile events. We need someone who is willing to be hands-on and adaptable to help with tasks outside the core job description when necessary.

Given the high-profile nature of the Foundation's work, discretion, confidentiality, and professionalism are essential. We expect all our staff to approach their work with maturity and an understanding of the responsibility that comes with being part of an organisation under significant public scrutiny.

This post is subject to receipt of two satisfactory references and right to work in the UK.

Flexibility and working patterns.

At The Royal Foundation, we understand the importance of balancing work with family and other commitments. We are proud to support our team members with flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working, to help you thrive both professionally and personally.

This role requires you to work three days a week in our office based in London to foster collaboration and teamwork, with the flexibility to work two days from home. We will work with you to ensure the days in the office align with team priorities while supporting your personal needs.

We are committed to being a family-friendly employer. Whether it is adjusting start and finish times for school runs or supporting you with caring responsibilities, we are open to discussing how we can best accommodate your situation while meeting organisational needs.

Our Company & Culture:

The Royal Foundation is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and to ensuring a positive, safe, and respectful environment which promotes the wellbeing and dignity of our employees, partners, suppliers, and those whose interests we represent. We are committed to promoting a positive and inclusive working environment that has a diversity of people and views, and one that supports our culture of collaboration and curiosity. These principles underpin our professional behaviour and are embedded in our policies, procedures, day-to-day practices, and external relationships.  We therefore welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

If you have the relevant skills and enthusiasm for the role, then we want to hear from you. 

Please submit a cover letter that outlines why you are excited about this opportunity and why you believe you are a strong fit for the role. In your letter, please specifically highlight how you demonstrate each of the 8 key areas of knowledge, experience, and personal qualities listed in the job description