ROLE PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

Bridges Outcomes Partnerships (BOP) is a mission driven not for profit social enterprise. We help radically change human services and environmental initiatives to improve outcomes for people, the planet, and value for society. We work with Government, community groups and specialist partners to design and deliver vital services that support people to improve their lives, in areas ranging from housing and employment to education and wellbeing. We enable personalised and strength-based delivery through collaborative design, flexible delivery, and clear accountability for improving people’s lives.  Over the last decade, we have supported over 48,500 people in the UK, whilst catalysing £129m of outcomes and, according to BSC’s Outcomes For All report, delivering over £1.3bn of value to society.  In recent years, we have extended our work beyond the United Kingdom through our international social impact projects

The Programme Director will report to the Director of Operations, Learning and Innovation) and will be accountable for the successful performance of two health programmes designed to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people accessing Social Prescribing services. The role holder will have responsibility for the delivery of the projects, leading a team and coordinating the work of the delivery organisations across the programmes to ensure the programmes have the most positive impact possible in the community. They will support the delivery partners to implement programmes through an intensive person-centred approach, ensuring that they provide the right support at the right time.

The role requires someone who has excellent organisational and communications skills, experience of operational budgets and who is not afraid to get involved operationally to support the team to solve challenges or innovate. Our projects rely on data collection and interpretation, the role will require someone who is able to translate data into operational initiatives and develop the right processes to ensure the project can continue to scale.

The Programme Director will need to work in close collaboration with a diverse set of stakeholders involved in the service, which will include the local NHS and Public Health commissioners, key local stakeholders such as GPs as well as the local voluntary sector organisations selected to deliver the frontline service.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Delivering Impact and Innovation

·       Lead the operational delivery of the programme which coordinates and consolidates the work of four delivery organisations across two programmes. Lead a team (currently 3 people) - ensuring the team is well coordinated, effective and able to successfully deliver the strategy

·       Develop strong relationships with all stakeholders, including commissioners, Bridges Outcomes Partnerships (BOP) team, the delivery partners

·       Measure and evaluate results and, revise the shared goals and targets where required in partnership with commissioners and delivery partners with a view to achieve the strategic aims of the programme

·       Ensure the team and delivery partners have the right processes in place and continuously look at improving those as the project evolves or needs change 

·       Drive innovation across the service, through identifying and implementing what is working well and creating a culture of innovation amongst delivery partners

·       Where performance concerns are identified, work with the team in assessing the challenges and developing a clear path forward including performance managing the delivery partners, and coordinating with other senior stakeholders as necessary

·       Bring in external learning and creative ideas from wider sector/services to build on and improve overall delivery

·       Lead the operational team to ensure lean processes are implemented strategically to improve the delivery of the service, and the experience of front-line staff and people accessing the service

·       Working collaboratively with the Impact Analyst to understand what is really happening in the programme, and lead the team and delivery partners to use these insights to make continuous improvements to the service delivery.

Strategic Thinking

·       Identify and create contingency plans for future challenges/changes e.g. political or environmental and work with commissioners to implement these plans

·       Provide strategic leadership and direction to delivery partners to support the achievement of the overall programme objectives

·       Work with the commissioners to create sustainability plans for the two programmes and expand their reach, as appropriate

·       Work with Health Procurement lead to identify and relay future opportunities to grow the Health platform more broadly

Building strong stakeholder relationships

·       Establish strong relationships with the Commissioners, Senior Management and Operational Leads of the Delivery Partners and other project stakeholders that are key to the success of the Programme, at both an operational and strategic level.

·       Develop a shared vision and relationship / governance which fosters and enables joint problem solving

·       Coordinate and foster the collaboration between delivery partners, which includes developing workshops, forums and other events at different level of the organisations to resolve problems/issues and collectively identify solutions to improve service delivery

Data analysis and reporting

·       Ensuring data dashboards are relevant and provide the necessary early warning mechanisms to identify priorities for action

·       Analyse information, find insights and report to the Project Board and other stakeholders

Management

·       Leading, managing, supporting and developing the Operations Lead and having strategic oversight of the Impact Analyst’s work

·       Ensuring the team has the right resources and development opportunities to succeed in their roles

·       Create a culture of collaboration and team working within the health team, and working with the Director of Operations, Learning and Innovation to achieve cross-team collaboration with the broader organisation

·       Provide hands-on support and guidance in the preparation of reporting and communication materials (e.g. Monthly Board packs, Commissioner reports, external presentations)

Business Development

·       Capitalising on ways to communicate the impact of services that will influence policy in existing and potential new market areas

·       Participate in relevant stakeholder forums to create a network of contacts and promote a positive image of the company in the community, including preparation of communication materials

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

This role has responsibility for developing and/or maintaining key relationships with:

External:

• Local commissioners

• Local stakeholders such as GPs

• Delivery Partners

• Other local voluntary sector organisations

• Key partners at national level organisations in the Health and Social care sector such as the NHS

Internal:

• Programme team

• Programme Board

• Investment Manager

• Chief Executive Officer

• Central BOP team

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential Skills and Experience

• 6+ years of experience in delivering and managing services supporting vulnerable people

• Excellent leadership and strategic development skills

• Experience in developing in managing teams

• Ability to develop and manage positive and collaborative relationships with many partners and stakeholders with different perspectives and interests

• Organisational and project and programme management skills including negotiation, scheduling, contract management and budgeting

• Ability to think creatively and implement innovative service solutions

• Business planning, budget preparation, budget management

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills including writing formal reports for presentation to Boards

• Outstanding interpersonal skills

• Excellent contract management skills

• Team player with strong work ethic and ability to take initiative in proactively resolving issues and rolling up sleeves to support the team when needed

• Ability to manage multiple priorities

Desirable

• Experience growing / developing a business / social sector organisation

• Experience of delivering community health or related social sector services

• Outcomes contracts, payment-by-results or SIB experience

• Experience working with Local Government (ideally NHS or Public Health teams)

• Passion and desire to make a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable people

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants for this role need to have the right to work in the UK

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The remuneration offered will be commensurate with experience. We offer an attractive salary package and benefits along with a tremendous learning opportunity to grow with an international team that is currently leading the market in supporting outcomes contracts across the globe.

• The health and wellbeing of our employees is really important to us.  We will offer a range of benefits to you, including enhanced family friendly policies, employee healthcare benefits, employee protection benefits, an employee assistance programme, alongside other well-being initiatives to promote a healthier working environment.

• You will receive 25 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays, and a 5% contribution to the company pension scheme.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications will close at 9am Wednesday 20th September. First round interviews will be scheduled for w/c 25th September

At BOP, we take Diversity, Equity and Inclusion seriously. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views and recognise that the more inclusive we are in the way we approach our work, the better our work will be.