London, UK
Programme coordinator
at Design Council
Design Council is hiring a programme coordinator to join its team in London, UK.
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: delivery manager
Contract type: permanent
Salary band: administrative
Salary range: £25,000 to £28,000 – senior coordinators can earn up to £32k
Job description
What does a programme coordinator do?
Our 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, and process various transactions (purchase orders, contracts, invoices). These are our entry level roles for anyone wishing to start a career in design, project management or societal change.
For coordinators who excel, the step up would be to senior coordinator, and if we have opportunities they can progress their careers and become programme managers via a competitive interview process.
The role includes the following responsibilities
Project set-up:
- coordinate and support contract administration, including drafting and issuing the appropriate paperwork/contracts for our experts and any third-party suppliers
- support the preparation, set up and delivery of external and internal events, by booking or arranging in person or online conferences, meetings and workshops
- set up and maintain processes to support delivery, including booking
- experts and managing their logistics
- provide marketing and social media activity to communicate about a project
- project delivery
- work closely with programme leads and managers to support the production of content for project
- supporting the facilitation of workshops, whether in person or online
- liaise between programme managers, experts and third parties to ensure the smooth delivery of all projects
- produce draft visual designs for projects
- proofread content and draft reports, working with programme managers
Income generation:
- update CRM with latest information on a range of opportunities
- find information and complete sections of bids and tenders
- proofread, copy edit and improve the quality of bids and tenders
- collaborate closely with marketing and communications colleagues to ensure materials and resources are kept up to date and relevant
Project administration:
- work with the programme managers to set up and manage the appropriate structures and templates to gather financial information and monitor spend
- prepare monthly reports, including monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting procedures (including accruals) to support delivery management
- manage and coordinate the procurement process (ie raising purchase orders and processing invoices) for all projects and programmes in a timely manner
- responding to ad hoc finance enquiries from suppliers and liaising with the finance department to identify swift and accurate solutions
- support the gathering of information for the evaluation of impact of each project
Corporate responsibilities:
- actively identify, alert managers and mitigate risks
- 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?
Knowledge and qualifications:
- educated to degree level (or equivalent experience)
- qualifications in project management, visual design, communications or administration
- knowledge of design practice is an advantage
Experience:
- previous experience of commercial project management support and administration
- experience with event management/coordination
- proven experience with quality systems (document control, minute taking etc.)
- experience of working with databases (client relationship management, content management systems, other)
- proven experience in managing financial information and monitoring budgets
Skills:
- project management, visual design, communications and administration
- ability to analyse, interpret and assimilate financial and reporting information with good attention to detail
- outstanding written and verbal communication skills
- advanced Microsoft skills (all applications)
- advanced skills in other applications (communication, financial, etc.)
- good client relationship skills with the ability to focus on best outcomes for client
- strong collaboration skills working and understanding others with tact discretion and integrity
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 coordinators can progress to senior programme coordinators.
In addition to the above skills and experience our senior programme coordinators have demonstrated:
- good proficiency and understanding of design principles
- professional qualification level understanding of project management, visual design, communications or administration
- excellent project management at Design Council
- excellent communication with external, audiences at Design Council, including non-technical audiences
- advanced IT skills and have successfully upskilled Design Council colleagues