Director of Programmes and Partnerships (maternity cover)

Director of Programmes and Partnerships: The Talent Foundry

Charity People is proud to be working with The Talent Foundry to find an exceptional Director of Programmes and Partnerships for a maternity cover contract. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a talented team, oversee a portfolio of impactful programmes, and manage strategic relationships with some of the UK's most exciting corporate partners.

Salary: £62,500 (full-time)
Contract: Fixed Term Contract - minimum 9 months (maternity cover)
Location: Home-based/hybrid with national travel averaging out at 2-3 days a month, including monthly team days in London and visits to partners and programmes
Closing date: 9am, Tuesday 27 November
First stage interviews: Friday 5 December (online)
Second stage interviews: Friday 12 December (in person, London)

About The Talent Foundry

The Talent Foundry is a brilliant, high-impact social mobility charity that works to unlock opportunities for young people aged 7 to 18 from under-served communities. Their mission is to help these young people discover their talents, build confidence, and develop the skills needed to succeed in higher education and the workplace.

They achieve this by:

• Delivering skills-based workshops and programmes in partnership with schools and employers.
• Creating career pathways by connecting young people with industry professionals.
• Encouraging employers to value potential over background, helping to foster a fairer society.

About the role

This is an incredible opportunity with responsibility for delivering the programme and partnership strategy, ensuring work is high-quality, innovative, and aligned with their mission. You'll also play a key external-facing role, representing The Talent Foundry at a senior level with funders, business leaders, and education stakeholders.

This is a role for someone who thrives on variety, enjoys thinking strategically while staying connected to delivery, and who values collaboration and strong relationships. You'll be joining a passionate, fun, and high-performing team, and working with partners who are deeply committed to making a difference.

"If you want a role where your work has visible, lasting impact both for young people and for the partners who support them, this is it. I feel genuinely lucky that this is what I do every day - and I know you will too!"
Cate Smith, Director of Programmes and Partnerships, The Talent Foundry

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction of TTF's programme delivery and corporate partnerships, aligned with our Ambition 2030 strategy.
• Manage and develop a high-performing team fostering a values-led, inclusive culture.
• Oversee the delivery of innovative, high-quality programmes that meet the needs of young people and our partners.
• Build and sustain long-term relationships with corporate partners, ensuring alignment with TTF's mission and impact goals.
• Collaborate with the CEO and senior colleagues to drive organisational strategy, performance, and sustainability.

About You

We'd love to hear from candidates who bring:

• A strong track record of managing high-value corporate partnerships or funder relationships.

• Significant experience in programme leadership, ideally in youth, education, or social impact sectors.
• Experience of working at senior leadership level, with responsibility for team performance, strategy, and budget.
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to lead change and drive innovation.
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing, and communication skills.
• A collaborative, values-driven approach and a passion for supporting young people.

How to Apply

If you are excited by this brilliant opportunity, please send your CV to and to request a full job pack. If your skillset aligns with what we are looking for we will follow up with full job pack and to arrange a Teams call to share more information about the application process.

Closing date: 9am, Tuesday 25 November

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.