London, UK
Programme lead
at Design Council
Design Council is seeking a programme lead to join its team in London.
Role: programme lead (maternity cover, potential for permanent)
Welcome from the Chief Executive Minnie Moll:
I joined Design Council on 1 March this year and feel so proud to be leading an organisation with such an amazing heritage and reputation. The caliber of our people, the extraordinary talent in our unique network of experts and the impact we have working with our clients, partners and government is without comparison. It is a real privilege to be carrying the torch as we enter the next chapter for Design Council.
That next chapter will be led by our recently announced new mission, Design for Planet:
The greatest challenge of our era is the climate crisis, so as the national strategic body for design, we will be focusing our efforts on galvanising and supporting the 1.69m people across the design sector to make sustainability central to their work.
Design shapes the world and will have a critical role to play in meeting net zero targets and beyond. As a design organisation we have power and responsibility to make a difference.
At the heart of Design Council are our colleagues. We offer a structured career path, great learning and development, exposure to unique and exciting projects and the opportunity to work with our leading experts. In addition, our pension scheme goes up to a 7.5% employee and employer contribution, 30 days annual leave (including time off for everyone over the Christmas period) and an excellent additional package of benefits including a newly agreed hybrid working policy for all colleagues.
At more than at any other time in our long and distinguished history, now is an incredibly exciting time to be at Design Council.
About Design Council
Design Council’s purpose is to make life better by design. And our new mission is to do that by focusing on Design for Planet. There can be no greater cause than fighting to save our precious planet.
Design for Planet will be a theme through all our work to create better places, better products and better processes, all of which lead to better performance. We commission pioneering evidence-based research, develop ground-breaking programmes and deliver influencing and policy work to demonstrate the power of design and how it impacts three key areas of the economy: business innovation, places and public services. We bring together designers and non-designers – from grassroots to government – and share with them our design expertise to transform the way they work.
Good design is inclusive design. We actively aim to employ a diverse workforce, and we have a commitment to do that (see our black lives matter statement). We encourage conversations around flexibility in terms of location, hours and other arrangement so we can welcome people with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives.
About the delivery team
Design Council is a team of 40 people.
As a small team with a massive remit, we work collaboratively within this structure:
This role fits within the delivery team.
The delivery team is led by the director of place supported by the head of delivery and the delivery manager.
Everyone else in the team actively works on client delivery, in a flat structure with just four types of role:
- leads – have expert knowledge in their discipline and are responsible for driving forward a programme of work to achieve Design for Planet. They generate significant revenue, ensure our quality standards and extend Design Council’s reach and influence. They also personally manage our most complex client work, hold our most significant client relationships and develop a team of managers. For leads who excel, they move up to head.
- managers – are highly skilled professionals in their field, managing a number of projects working across our programme areas. They have a key role in generating new income and securing new clients, achieving our quality standards and contributing to Design Council’s reach and influence externally. They manage projects of varying scale, hold a number of important client relationships and are skilled at working collaboratively. For managers who excel, they move up to senior manager.
- coordinators – provide technical and administrative support across our programmes of work by supporting the delivery of a number of projects. They organise delivery (workshops etc.), produce communications (presentations, social media activity, draft reports, etc.) and process various transactions (purchase orders, contracts, invoices, etc.). These are our entry level roles for anyone wising to start a career in design or project management. For coordinators who excel, they move up to senior coordinator.
Career progression
Design Council is committed to the learning and development of its colleagues so that they gain the necessary skills to reach their full potential and progress within the profession and within Design Council. We operate a structured career path on set criteria so that colleagues have a clear understanding of how they can progress and be recognised and rewarded.
How to apply
Submit your CV (at least one page, but no longer than four pages) and a covering letter (at least one page, no longer than two pages) to Ishbel Allotey, HR Manger via the ‘apply for job’ button below.
The closing date for all applications to be received is 27 October 2021. Design Council is fully committed to being a diverse and inclusive organisation. We welcome applications from everyone who meets the criteria. If you need any additional support, please do send in an early alert to [email protected]
Equality and diversity
The Design Council is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community. Public appointments are made on merit with independent assessments, openness and transparency of process.
Reporting to: director
Contract type: maternity cover, potential permanent
Salary band: professional (lead)
Salary range: £45,000 – £50,000 (heads can earn up to £60k)
Job description
Title: programme lead
What does a programme lead do?
Our leads have expert knowledge in their discipline and are responsible for driving forward a programme of work. They have the responsibility for leading programmes in terms of strategy, direction and all deliverables on time and to budget. They generate significant revenue, ensure our quality standards and extend Design Council’s reach and influence. They also personally manage our most complex client work, hold our most significant client relationships and develop a team of managers. For leads who excel, the step up would be to programme head.
Programme management:
- shape our programmes of work in order to achieve our strategic goals
- oversee a number of projects within a range of different programmes, supporting programme managers with the delivery of their individual projects
- manage specified major projects as part of Design Council’s programmes of work
- ensure each project (including design reviews) is delivered to the agreed contract, meeting quality standards, financial targets and all deliverables on time
- be actively engaged in external networks, gathering insights and best practice to contribute to programme development and apply to specific projects
- monitor activity across programmes, sharing information, learning and applying improved techniques
- lead the gathering of service data, evidence and resulting insight to support the effective delivery of Design Council services and their continuous improvement and development
- ensure that evaluation data and details are captured appropriately, and actively contribute to final reports
- provide high quality client and stakeholder management
Income generation:
- working with the directors, define programmes of work and target audiences
- identify strategically relevant opportunities of a significant scale, log them on CRM and develop proposals
- secure support internally for major proposals
- develop networks and influence in strategic target markets
People management:
- line manage a number of programme managers
- develop the skills and experience of programme managers, guiding them as they progress towards being a senior programme manager
- deliver learning and development activity to support the growth of all colleagues at design council
Influence:
- establish and maintain relationships with Design Council’s most significant client organisations
- speak at conferences, write blogs and actively further professional understanding of Design Council’s programmes of work
- actively contribute to internal and external forums on design or areas relevant to our programmes of work
- gather insights and share with colleagues to develop sector and professional knowledge
Other responsibilities:
- contribute to the dissemination of best practice
- support the director, head and programme leads develop strategy and new opportunities
- support in the professional development of colleagues
- undertake any other reasonable tasks/duties as required
Corporate responsibilities:
- demonstrate leadership in the identification and management of risks and financial control which face both the organisation and your specific area of responsibility
- ensure you comply with the Design Council operational policies and procedures including financial and risk management, project management and evaluation processes, brand guidelines and internal health and safety policy
- to comply with management policy, including GDPR, information security and confidentiality
This role will involve some evening work and travel as required in accordance with the needs of the projects and programmes.
Does this sound like you?
Expert knowledge and qualifications:
- academic and professional qualifications, or associated discipline, or equivalent experience
- significant expert knowledge in place making or social innovation which is recognised externally
Experience:
- proven track record of success in managing complex multiple programmes and delivery on time and on budget
- significant experience of managing major key clients and client relationships
- proven business development skills including winning significant income with existing clients and providing information which supports income generation
Skills:
- proven external influencing skills which raises the profile of Design Council including writing thought pieces, representing Design Council externally through public speaking and building and leveraging their network for positive impact
- demonstrable line management skills, leading by examples and by providing consistent line management support and mentoring
- ability to work collaboratively – building creative consensus, and consulting and involving others internally and externally
- good IT skills a skilled and advanced user of all Microsoft Platforms and other applications used by Design Council, with the ability to train others
Career development
Design Council is committed to the learning and development of its colleagues so that they gain the necessary skills to reach their full potential through our commitment to learning and development. Once appointed we have a structured career pathway where programme leads can progress to programme heads.
In addition to the above skills and experience our programme heads are required to demonstrate:
- having raised significant revenue from existing and new clients
- significant influence in sectors and with major clients
- strong leadership skills in developing and inspiring others
- highest levels of professionalism in the delivery of all work
- enhancing Design Council’s profile