Programme Director – Credit Union Transformation Fund 

Salary: £90,000 - £110,000 excellent benefits, including 27 days holiday, 2:1 pension (up to 12% employer contribution), plus many more 

Location: This is a highly mobile role which will by necessity involve building relationships across England. Primarily based in London (Aldgate East)/Hybrid for at least two days a week with an expectation to join meetings across London, and at client meetings nationwide; with flexibility on working from home at other times 

Did you know that there are at least 20m people in the UK in vulnerable financial circumstances, who are poorly served or unfairly excluded from mainstream financial services?  

We are Fair4All Finance. We are a not-for-profit organisation working with Financial Services providers to improve the financial wellbeing of those in vulnerable circumstances by increasing access to fair, affordable and appropriate financial products and services.  

Following the announcement of a major £30m Credit Union Transformation Fund within the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, we are now seeking a Programme Director - Credit Union Transformation Fund to lead one of the most significant and ambitious system‑change programmes in the UK mutuals sector. 

The fund will modernise, strengthen and scale the credit union sector in England & Wales— improving its reach, resilience and long-term sustainability. 

Credit unions are locally rooted, member-owned and mission-led. Yet in England & Wales the sector remains fragmented, constrained by legacy systems and under-penetrated compared to international peers.  

With nearly a third or the UK’s population in financially vulnerable circumstances, the need for strong, scalable affordable credit provision has never been greater. 

As the Programme Director – Credit Union Transformation Fund, you will lead a significant multi-year programme to translate national strategy into practical, funded transformation — enabling collaboration, mergers, digital modernisation and organisational capability growth. 

This is a senior, sector-facing leadership role combining strategic design, political judgement and disciplined programme delivery. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead the sector wide Credit Union Transformation Programme, including end-to-end design and delivery of the £30m Credit Union Transformation Fund 

• Translate consultation insights into a clear funding framework and delivery roadmap 

• Deploy blended capital (debt, equity, grant) alongside capability and governance support 

• Act as a senior external face of Fair4All Finance across the credit union and mutuals ecosystem 

• Build trusted relationships with credit union CEOs and Boards, trade bodies, funders, regulators and government 

• Navigate complex political and sector dynamics with credibility and influence 

• Shape compelling narratives that strengthen sector capability and confidence 

• Own programme governance, risk management, reporting and accountability 

• Manage multi-million-pound budgets and commissioning of specialist partners 

• Ensure funding decisions are transparent, evidence-led and outcomes-focused 

• Integrate transformation activity with Fair4All Finance’s wider affordable credit strategy 

• Ensure measurable improvements in: 

• Sustainable provision of fair, affordable credit 

• Member outcomes for people in vulnerable circumstances 

• Operational resilience, governance and scalability 

Essential experience & qualifications: 

• Significant experience leading complex business transformation and restructuring multi-year, multi-million value programmes in a highly regulated and relevant sector, which may include, but not limited to: Financial Services (inc Consumer, mutuals/credit unions), Technology, regional economic development, 

• Experience operating within regulated, politically sensitive or multi-stakeholder environments 

• A track record of designing and implementing interventions that shift organisational capability and drive strategic growth 

• Proven stakeholder leadership - able to build trust with senior c suite leaders and boards ideally across credit unions, funders, local, central/regional government, major employers, sector representative organisations, or cross-sector partners, and to influence in multi-stakeholder settings

• Strong programme leadership fundamentals including governance, risk, and delivery through ambiguity 

• Commercial acumen including budget ownership, procurement, commissioning and contract management 

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with executive presence 

Desirable experience 

• Understanding of the credit unions and/or community finance landscape 

• Knowledge of affordable credit and savings ecosystems 

• Experience delivering publicly funded or quasi-public programmes with strong accountability requirements 

• Familiarity with blended finance or impact investment approaches 

• Experience engaging regulators or central/local government stakeholders 

Person Profile 

We are seeking a leader who is: 

• Purpose-driven and motivated by improving financial wellbeing for people in vulnerable circumstances 

• A systems thinker, able to connect policy, market dynamics, organisational capability and customer outcomes 

• Politically astute and credible, comfortable navigating personality, power and alignment challenges 

• Strategic yet hands-on, able to translate ambition into disciplined delivery 

• Bold but measured, testing new approaches while maintaining strong governance 

• A clear communicator who can translate complexity into action and sustain momentum 

The Hiring Process

Role closes for applications: Monday 16th March at 12noon

1st Stage Interviews via Teams: w/c Monday 23rd March

2nd Stage interviews (with Case Study) in person in London office: w/c Monday 6th April

Whilst we will do everything we can to maintain the above interview dates, they are subject to change

Who are Fair4All Finance? 

We are a not-for-profit organisation working with Financial Services providers to improve the financial wellbeing of people in vulnerable circumstances by increasing access to fair, affordable and appropriate financial products and services.  

Founded in 2019, we are funded from the Dormant Assets Scheme. The scheme is led by the financial industry and backed by the UK government. This makes it possible for money in dormant bank and building society accounts to be used to help good causes. 

Our vision is of a society where the long-term financial wellbeing of all people is supported by a fair and accessible financial sector.  

You can find more information on us and our work at www.fair4allfinance.org.uk. 

Fair4All Finance is a Disability Confident Committed scheme member.  

Fair4All Finance is a Disability Confident Committed member. We’re committed to an inclusive workplace and will offer an initial interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. You’ll be able to indicate this in your application.   

If you do require any support or reasonable adjustments during the process, please contact us at jobs@fair4allfinance.org.uk.  

Our Benefits include: 

Financial Security: 

• Pension (2:1 up to 12% employer contribution), group life assurance, critical illness, and income protection, family leave 

Wellbeing: 

• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays, agile working, health cash plan, health & wellbeing resource hub (including an Employee Assistance Programme) 

Personal & Professional Development: 

• Individual discretionary Training budget 

• Book Club – mission aligned, up to 4 per year 

Fair4All Finance is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value different perspectives, experiences, and expertise, encouraging everyone to grow and contribute fully. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including age, gender identity, disability, marital status, race, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and socioeconomic status. 

We ensure fair and equitable treatment for all team members and applicants and actively recruit from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to making reasonable adjustments to support candidates and promote flexible working for a healthy work-life balance. 

To apply, submit your application via Applied by 12 noon on Monday 16th March.

For informal enquiries, please contact us at jobs@fair4allfinance.org.uk. 

Please note that your application will be reviewed through a blind, unbiased process, so be sure to provide clear, specific examples in your responses. Your CV will only be reviewed at a later stage in the process. 

Due to the nature of our work, and depending on the role, successful applicants may be required to undergo pre-employment checks, which include employment reference, financial and criminal record checks. All checks will be role appropriate and your recruiter will confirm which checks are required. We manage our checks via TrustID. 

All applicants must have an existing Right to Work in the UK