Director of Programmes

About Common Mission Project

The Common Mission Project (CMP) is a registered UK Charity that delivers Mission Driven Entrepreneurship™ through our university education programmes. We base our university entrepreneurship courses on core principles of the Lean Launchpad® in a fast-paced higher education module taught at universities across the UK and Europe. CMP is targeting £1m revenue by April 2027, active programmes in Poland and Ukraine, Nordic/Baltic expansion, and recognition as a trusted Whitehall partner. The Director of Programmes is central to delivering that ambition.

The Role

A senior leadership role owning programme quality, curriculum, international expansion, business development, and team performance. You report to the Executive Director, line-manage the programme team, and carry CMP's delivery reputation across all H4 variants and geographies. This requires commercial instinct alongside academic and operational rigour. You will identify new programme opportunities, convert prospects into contracts, and build the evidence base that underpins CMP's funding and influence. 

The role is a hybrid role, with regular travel to London, programme sites, and internationally alongside home working. 

The salary range for this role is £75,000-85,000 pa with 28 days holiday (plus bank holidays) and private health insurance.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Growth

• Shape CMP's programme strategy with the Executive Director, spotting opportunities across education, government, technology, and innovation to position CMP as a leading mission-driven education organisation.

Programme Quality and Curriculum

• Own quality standards across all H4 variants and countries; intervening when delivery falls short.
• Lead curriculum innovation aligned to HE sector standards and build a transferable educator-training framework for independent in-country delivery.

International Expansion

• Lead programme adaptation for Poland, Ukraine, and the Nordic/Baltic pipeline, building in-country partner capacity so programmes become self-sustaining.

Business Development

• Maintain an active pipeline of government and university opportunities; scope new propositions and convert them into signed agreements.
• Contribute to funding bids where programme evidence and design are central to the case.

Impact and Evidence

• Own CMP's impact measurement framework and build the evidence base (theory of change, measurement, independent evaluation) underpinning Whitehall influence and fundraising.

Team Leadership

• Line-manage and develop the programme team (currently three roles), holding direct reports to account against defined KPIs; ensure the team have agreed development plans.

Innovation and Emerging Technology

• Monitor developments across education, government, and technology, and integrate emerging tech including AI into programme design, keeping CMP responsive to future skills needs while fostering a culture of experimentation across complex, multi-stakeholder systems.

HE Sector Engagement

• Build relationships with Advance HE, UKRI, and relevant HE bodies; develop CMP's voice in the sector.

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience in programme design, management, and quality assurance spanning higher education and/or government contexts.
• Commercial instinct and business development experience: shaping propositions and converting interest into contracts.
• Proven team leadership in a fast-paced, mission-driven organisation.
• Curriculum development and delivery experience.
• Excellent communication across academic, government, and public audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management, emotional intelligence, and ability to operate effectively in a small, growing organisation.
• Excellent communication and presentations skills and the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and concisely in oral and written communications to academic, government and public audiences.
• Experience of leading multiple work-streams and motivating a team to deliver on multiple programmes.
• The ability to command respect and to create a sense of community amongst the members of the team.

Desirable

• Experience working with or within UK government, MoD, or defence-adjacent organisations.
• International programme development experience, particularly in European contexts.
• Familiarity with lean startup, design thinking, or problem-based learning methodologies.

Interested candidates should email their CV and a cover letter via the ‘Apply’ button above (arichmond@commonmission.uk).

CMP is committed to an inclusive culture and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.