Programme Director – Parenting and Early Years

The Henry Smith Charity is one of the UK's largest independent grant makers, with a mission to tackle social and economic exclusion and help individuals and families facing adversity to thrive. As one of the oldest endowments in the UK, we distribute around £40 million annually to organisations that work to create positive, long-term change.

Ahead of launching our new strategy in 2025, we are looking to address the UK’s most complex social issues, including tackling disparities in equity, safety and justice across areas such as employment and opportunities, education and early years, migration and asylum and domestic abuse.

We are now looking to recruit three new Programme Directors with specialisms in these themes to drive forward an approach that maximises impact, influence and systems change.

The Henry Smith Charity
Programme Director – Parenting and Early Years
London/Hybrid
Circa £80,000 per annum

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Programme Director to lead our Parenting and Early Years team, overseeing a critical funding priority that focuses on improving outcomes for families and young children.

You will play a key role in driving forward our ambitious 2025 strategy, working collaboratively with grantees, partners, and other funders to ensure that our grant-making has the greatest possible impact.

As Programme Director, you will lead a dedicated team and manage an annual budget of approximately £10 million. You will take an externally focused, relational approach, building partnerships and working closely with stakeholders across the sector, including policy makers, researchers, and delivery organisations. You will ensure that our grants are impactful, fair, and aligned with the strategic goals of The Henry Smith Charity.

We are looking for a candidate who has:

• Significant experience in the Parenting and Early Years sector
• A strong understanding of effective interventions and the current policy landscape in this field
• Proven leadership experience, including managing teams and complex projects
• A track record of fostering partnerships and driving collaboration with external stakeholders
• An entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for driving positive, sustainable change

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for families and young children, and have the leadership experience to take forward a vital area of work, we encourage you to apply.

Henry Smith Charity welcomes applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experience including people with disabilities, those from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQI+ and individuals from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds.  

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and we are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity.    

For further information, please visit our dedicated recruitment website by clicking 'Apply via Website'

Recruitment Timetable 
Deadline for applications:  Wednesday 20th November 2024 
Interviews with Prospectus:  28th November – 9th December 2024  
Interviews and engagement meetings with Henry Smith Charity:  11/12/13th December 2024