Head of Programme

Salary range: £57,759 - £60,798 per annum (pro-rata 21 hrs pw) 

Job type: Fixed term post or secondment until 31 July 2025

Hours: 21 hours per week

Location: Hybrid / London WC1H 9HF (We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with 40% of your time per month being office based)

Join the ACU as Head of Programme to provide the overall leadership and contract management of the ACU’s contribution to the successful delivery of a UK government mobility scheme, working with a range of UK-based partners.

The ACU offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the higher education sector. We are one of the largest, most diverse international university networks, bringing together over 400 universities in over 40 countries. Championing the power of higher education to improve lives, we support our members – and our people – in contributing to sustainable development across the Commonwealth and beyond.

The role

This is a key role, and the post holder will need excellent project and risk management skills and to be able to use appropriate tools to monitor and report on progress, dependencies, and risks to provide assurance to the ACU senior team and partners. The Head of Programme will have experience of working at pace to deliver multi-partner projects.

The Head of Programme will work with colleagues in the ACU’s External Affairs, People and Culture, Finance, Programmes and International Mobility teams and will lead the dedicated ACU Programme team of three ACU staff, four senior assessors and 24 assessors to deliver the assessment and appeals processes and related assessment boards helping ensure delivery of the programme’s policy objectives.

The role will report to the Head of Programmes and International Mobility and provide regular updates for the ACU Leadership Team and our partners.

Who are we looking for?

You will need:

Project Management
• Significant project management experience at a senior level – professional track record and appropriate qualifications
• Expertise in risk management
• Knowledge of theories of change and logical frameworks and experience managing project monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrable experience of managing multiple priorities and work under pressure and to deadlines

IT
• Demonstrable knowledge and expertise in relevant IT/ software, e.g. Excel.
• Expertise in data visualisation and dashboard/reporting for senior leadership

Financial Management
• Proven financial skills, with knowledge and experience of budget development, and financial monitoring and reporting.

Leadership/ Team Management
• Experience of leading, empowering, and motivating teams to promote a high performance culture.
• Experience of working at pace with a focus on results.
• Strong sense of personal accountability whilst ensuring others clearly understand their accountabilities.
• Strategic thinker with ability to anticipate impact of actions on partners, customers and colleagues
• Ability to champion a shared culture working across teams and integrated shared services

What to expect:

We see equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our mission and we value the many different perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our collective performance (you can find out more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and safeguarding on our website).

We believe in investing in all our people and creating cultures in which everyone can thrive.

We offer a fantastic package of benefits including:

• 27 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees), plus 4 Christmas closure days
• Generous pension scheme – 5% employee contribution, 10% employer contribution
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental leave
• Give As You Earn charitable donations scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Sabbatical leave
• Ability to request flexible working from day one

How to apply

Closing date: 20 November 2024 at 09:00 AM.

Interview Date: 29 November 2024

The interview will take place in person at our Woburn House offices.