Bristol Future Strategic Programme Lead

Fixed Term until 31st March 2028, Part Time 22.2 hours per week.

Bristol is a city that is aspirational for its children. Too many young people still face barriers linked to deprivation, and we are determined to change this. Bristol Future is an ambitious programme bringing together schools, academy trusts, businesses and civic partners to improve outcomes for children and young people across the city.

We are now seeking an experienced, collaborative and forward thinking leader to help shape and drive this work. This position would particularly suit someone seeking a part‑time senior leadership opportunity, offering the chance to make a significant impact while working at c. 0.6 FTE.

About the Role

As the Strategic Programme Lead, you will provide clear, systemwide leadership for the Bristol Future programme. You will work across organisational boundaries, build strong relationships and develop the structures and conditions that enable meaningful change. The role requires someone who can bring people together around a shared vision, navigate complexity, and champion new ways of working that support long term improvement.

You will also ensure the programme is underpinned by strong governance, evidence based decision making and a commitment to delivering real, measurable impact for Bristol’s children.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading a major programme designed to break the link between deprivation and educational outcomes, shaping innovative approaches that support a more inclusive and equitable system.
• Building and embedding our trust based partnership with academy trust CEOs, Headteachers, employers and community organisations across the city.
• Coordinating activity across multiple agencies, ensuring alignment and shared ownership of priorities.

• Establishing the programme’s governance and partnership structures, ensuring there is clear accountability, strong assurance and a framework that supports the long term sustainability and viability of the Bristol Future programme.

• Driving a culture of learning, creativity and continuous improvement across the programme and its partners.
• Ensuring the programme’s work is evidence led, well governed and delivers clear benefits for children and young people.
  
  

About You

We are looking for someone who brings:

• A strong understanding of the education system, including the role of multi academy trusts, inclusion and local authority roles.
• Experience leading large, complex or place based programmes, ideally involving partnerships across schools or trusts and demonstrating clear impact.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage senior leaders in a high stakes environment.
• The ability to build productive, long term relationships across diverse partners.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, including the ability to use evidence to guide decisions and assess impact.
  
  

Experience of Bristol’s education landscape is helpful but not essential.

This is an opportunity to contribute to a programme that will shape the future of education in Bristol for years to come. You’ll be working alongside committed leaders from across the city, all focused on creating better opportunities for children and young people. The work is challenging, collaborative and hugely rewarding.

Please note that this role is subject to a Basic DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.

 

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Interviews will be held during the last week of April and the first week of May.

If you have a query that is not answered by the details provided, please contact Kristina.Afford@Bristol.gov.uk

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit. 

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.