Head of Innovation, Programmes and Technology

• Salary: £70,889 per annum rising to £74,619 after 12 months in London. £66,700 per annum rising to £70,430 after 12 months outside of London.
• Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week). Part time and job share applications are also welcomed.
• Contract: 12-month fixed term contract with the option to extend pending a strategic review.
• Location: Home based, or office based at Society Building, 8 All Saints Street, London N1, in line with NCVO’s flexible working policy or home working policy.
• Closing date: 09.00 on 13 September.
• Shortlisting date: 16 September.
• Interviews: 2 and 3 October (dates may change).

About the role

NCVO is entering a new era of transformation. We will need to adopt new ways of working and embrace new technology to meet the needs of our members and the voluntary sector.

There is an opportunity for NCVO to better lead the way. We can do this by becoming a standout example of how charities can utilise tech. We can pilot innovative projects to work more efficiently, widen reach and become more sustainable.

The head of innovation, programmes and technology will be integral to realising this ambition. They will ensure NCVO’s technology, organisational systems and project management approach are best in class.

They will innovate how we currently work by fostering the strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI) and utilising large language models (LLMs) to transform NCVO's services and support for the voluntary sector.

This is a dual role. The post holder will lead the design, development, and implementation of our strategic programme management office. This will ensure all projects have strategic join-up and are managed efficiently to deliver against agreed KPIs.

They will also be the strategic lead for technology solutions. This will ensure our IT and tech are fit for purpose, resilient, and support the organisation to grow and develop. In parallel, they will review our current processes and drive efficiency and improvement.

They will also take an external leadership approach, looking for partners, technologies, AI solutions and funding opportunities.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

NCVO is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector.

We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work with us. We welcome submissions from people from all backgrounds and identities. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups in the voluntary sector and those with diverse, lived experience.

If you tell us you’re disabled (according to the Equality Act 2010) and your application meets the minimum criteria for each specification listed in the job description, we’ll interview you for the role. We’ll make reasonable adjustments during each recruitment stage to ensure it’s inclusive and works for you.

Benefits for NCVO employees

NCVO offers attractive benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave for full time staff and pro-rata for part-time staff. After three years, annual holiday increases to 27 days. After five years it increases to 30 days (pro rata for part time staff)
• office closure between 25 December and 1 January inclusive
• the option to purchase or sell up to five more days each year
• five days volunteering leave (pro rata for part-time staff)
• two and a half extra wellbeing days off during the year
• enhanced pay for sick, maternity and adoption leave
• subsidised gym membership
• season ticket loan
• flexible working, including opportunities to work from home or off site
• monthly homeworking allowance for permanent homeworkers
• monthly office worker allowance for those who have to work from the office on a daily basis
• generous employer pension contribution of up to 8.5% of salary into our stakeholder pension scheme (linked to employee contribution)
• training and development opportunities
• the opportunity to join Hospital Saturday Fund health cash plan for free at the basic level of cover, or at a reduced rate for other levels of cover
• 24-hour free and confidential employee assistance programme.

We’re located a short walk from London King’s Cross station in a modern, accessible building overlooking Regent’s Canal.

About NCVO

We are the charity for charities. For over 100 years, NCVO has stood shoulder to shoulder with communities, championing and celebrating voluntary action.

Our membership is made up of around 17,000 voluntary organisations across England, from small, grassroots community groups and social enterprises, to large, far-reaching charities.

We believe that communities are strengthened by voluntary action. We therefore want charities to thrive and be empowered to deliver for people and communities.

We focus on empowering charities and volunteers by making sure they have the knowledge, tools, and resources they need. We advocate for and with our members, giving voice to those not often heard, and harnessing the collective power of partners to ensure the voluntary sector is valued. We bring charities together so they can learn, connect, and create greater impact.

As the voluntary sector and volunteering adapt to new challenges and a changing context, so must NCVO. We are therefore prioritising work to evolve as an organisation to ensure we live our values of ambition, inclusion, openness and collaboration in everything we do internally and externally.

We have around 80 staff and income of more than £7m per year. With our members at the heart of everything we do, our mission is to unite to champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers. Because stronger charities make for stronger communities.

NCVO is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from everyone. Charity No. 225922.