Programme Manager (Lemann Foundation Programme for the Public Sector)

12-month fixed contract

About the Blavatnik School of Government

Our vision is of a world better led, a world better served and a world better governed. We are a global school committed to improving the quality of government and public policymaking worldwide, through three routes: teaching current and future leaders; generating research with impact; and engaging with governments and practitioners.

What we offer

The School is a collaborative, friendly, and dynamic department based in an award-winning building in Oxford. We host regular events and talks with well-known guest speakers – all of which are open to staff. On the social side, we have regular coffee/cake mornings for staff, a family-friendly Halloween event, and Christmas and summer parties.

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days’ annual leave
• Family leave schemes and a comprehensive range of childcare services
• Cycle loan scheme and discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
• Opportunities for remote working.

More information about working at the School can be found on our jobs page.

About the Role

The Programme Manager will lead and coordinate the Programme’s engagement strategy, overseeing delivery, stakeholder relationships, and partnerships to enhance the Programme’s profile and impact. The role involves working closely with the Director and internal teams to ensure effective delivery of engagement activities, managing budgets and financial reporting in line with University procedures, and coordinating logistics for meetings and events. The postholder will also provide organisational and operational support to the Programme’s Director, researchers, and visiting fellows as required.

About You

You will bring demonstrable experience in managing complex projects, with excellent organisational skills, strong initiative, and the ability to work effectively with people at all levels. You will have proven problem-solving skills, sound judgement when handling sensitive matters, and the confidence to know when to act independently and when to seek advice. You will be an excellent communicator, able to synthesise complex information clearly for non-expert audiences, and capable of building strong professional relationships, including with external partners.

You will be a collaborative team player with a flexible, proactive approach, able to work across teams and with diverse (including remote) stakeholders. You will demonstrate high attention to detail, particularly when working with legal and financial information, alongside experience in budget management, financial reporting, and compliance. Strong numeracy and IT skills (including Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel) are essential. Fluency in Portuguese would be a significant advantage, though it is not a requirement for the role.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a supporting statement, your CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon (UK time) on Monday, 12 January 2026.

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