Head of Programme Development

Role overview

Strategy and programme development

• Lead policy development and strategic design of Challenge Fund competitions.
• Define competition themes, objectives, intended outcomes and intervention rationale using strategic priorities and regulatory evidence.
• Lead evidence gathering, stakeholder engagement and market testing to refine scope and delivery choices.
• Assess funding against alternative interventions and advise senior leaders on trade-offs, feasibility and risk.

Business case and competition design

• Develop business cases, delivery plans, governance arrangements and recommendations for senior decision-makers.
• Coordinate input and assurance from Finance, Commercial, Legal, Grants Hub, analysts and policy teams.
• Design eligibility, application, applicant support, assessment, moderation and award arrangements.
• Oversee competition guidance, application materials, assessment criteria and funding documentation.
• Address due diligence, fraud risk, subsidy control, affordability and value for money in competition design.

Launch, assessment and mobilisation

• Lead competition launch and applicant engagement, tracking milestones, risks, dependencies and decisions.
• Coordinate assessor recruitment and training, assessment panels, moderation and award recommendations.
• Lead award and initial mobilisation activity.

Salary and contract

• Permanent contract.
• Salary range is £56,850–£68,570, with national and London ranges; salary is pro-rated for part-time working.
• A Civil Service Pension is offered with a 28.97% employer contribution.

Working pattern

• The vacancy lists flexible working, full-time, job share and part-time working patterns.

Location

• The stated location is Salford.

Department context

Requirements

• Translate strategic priorities and evidence of regulatory need into clear competition themes, objectives, intended outcomes and intervention rationale.
• Gather evidence proportionately, engage stakeholders and market-test proposals, applying findings to scope and delivery choices.
• Assess whether funding is the appropriate intervention and advise senior leaders on alternatives, trade-offs, feasibility and risk.
• Develop business cases, delivery plans, governance arrangements and recommendations for senior decision-makers.
• Coordinate assurance and input from Finance, Commercial, Legal, Grants Hub, analysts and policy teams.
• Address due diligence, fraud risk, subsidy control, affordability and value-for-money requirements in competition design.