Senior Programme Director
Wilton Park
Posted
Mar 02, 2026
Location
UK
Type
Full-time
Compensation
$93409 - $93409
Mission
What you will drive
Senior Programme Director
Contract type
Working pattern and hours
Expected start date
Location
About us
The role
Person specification
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Contract type
Permanent or fixed term for 3 years for civil
servants whose home department supports a right to return.
Working pattern and hours
Full time working for 37 hours (net) per week Monday-Friday including an unpaid lunch break of one hour.
Expected start date
May/June 2026subject to relevant clearances.
Location
Wilton Park is based in Wiston House, a 16th-century Grade 1 listed house in the heart of the South Downs. This is where the majority of our events are held, and will be your official place of work. Wiston House is not accessible via public transport, and is approximately 20 minutes by taxi from the nearest railway station (Shoreham-by-Sea). As Wiston House is the official place of work, Wilton Park is unable to reimburse travel costs to get there.
Wilton Park staff are also able to work from FCDO Headquarters in Whitehall, and one or two members of Policy Department are there most days. Most Policy Department staff also work from home 2-3 days per week. You will be expected to travel to Wiston House to attend the events you have worked on, as well as for staff and team days to connect with your colleagues.You may be able to stay the night at Wiston House during your event if you do not live locally.
About us
Wilton Park is dedicated to solving the most complex global challenges. A home of strategic thought, respectful dialogue, and discreet diplomacy, it is the place people go when they need answers to difficult questions. It is where people turn when they need a space to resolve differences. It is a belief that dialogue and expertise can make the world a better place. Partners work with and return to Wilton Park because of its unique ability to generate new ideas, help them find practical solutions, and support them in building networks of influence.
Wilton Park brings together government, business, civil society, and the expert community in a secure environment where they can challenge, understand, and learn from each other. For government, Wilton Park helps to inject external thinking, build networks, promote agreement, and harness expertise that improves policy and provides strategic foresight. For businesses, it provides unique insights, a platform to engage with policy discussions and the opportunity to understand governments and make themselves better understood. For civil society groups, Wilton Park supports their representation and coordination so that they can maximize their impacts.
As an Executive Agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Wilton Park is proud to support UK foreign policy development. It directly supports UK diplomatic objectives and plays a vital role in strengthening cooperation, dialogue, and multilateralism.
The role
To design and convene outcomes-orientated high-level policy retreats and exchanges to deliver impact, networks and solutions around issues of technology, artificial intelligence and international relations.
To establish, nurture and sustain relationships with a wide range of senior policy-makers and funding partners.
To provide other policy, strategic and corporate support to the Head of Policy, Chief Executive, other Programme Directors and Policy Officers, helping to plan and deliver a cohesive and strategic set of projects, sequenced evenly across the year.
To contribute to the effective running of Wilton Park, including communications, outreach and mentoring of junior staff.
**Key responsibilities **
- Develop relationships with governmental and non-governmental funding partners to generate support for 8 or more policy retreat/dialogues per year. Identify and pursue revenue generating and partnership opportunities.
- Identify, design, develop and deliver projects (in the UK and overseas as required) on issues of AI, technology and international relations, ensuring policy relevance and impact, and ensuring activities are fully and appropriately funded
- Co-create retreats/events with partners, whether in FCDO, other UK government departments, other governments or organisations, managing relationships to ensure partner input and objectives together with Wilton Park autonomy and agency
- Identify and thoughtfully engage with potential speakers and participants to ensure high-quality events to meet objectives, deliver outcomes for partners and reflect balanced participation of nationalities, disciplines and gender
- Convene and facilitate Wilton Park discussions and events in a neutral fashion to create a safe and trusting environment so that all participants and speakers have an opportunity to engage in meaningful, discreet and constructive dialogue using appropriate, relevant and outcome-focused facilitation techniques
- Edit and oversee the delivery of dialogue-related outputs including summary reports capturing key findings and policy recommendations/options, graphics and so on
- Represent the organisation at a senior level, making presentations and attending networking opportunities as required and relevant to field of work
- Deputise for the Head of Policy and members of the Senior Management Team when appropriate
- Work with Policy Officers, Project Managers (PMs) and the event Delivery Team to oversee effective and efficient management of project administration, including regular planning meetings
- Financial oversight for project budgets: work in collaboration with PMs to ensure the monitoring of income and expenditure throughout event life and accountability for financial outcomes
- Digital and social media communications: work with the communications department to plan, agree and assist with implementation of each project’s media strategy (in line with Wilton Park’s social media strategy)
- Monitoring and evaluation: understand and report transparently on outcomes to partners and sponsors to ensure aims and objectives are met within prescribed timelines. Apply lessons learned and outputs to inform future quality events
- Standard operating procedures and knowledge management: comply with Wilton Park’s database requirements and comply with local health and safety requirements
- Participate in central/corporate groups or tasks and carry out other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time
**
**
**For full details of this role, please refer to the job description. **
Person specification
**Essential skills **
- Substantial
experience in technology, artificial intelligence and international relations,
including informing foreign policy and liaising with government officials at a
senior level - Track
record in fundraising, partnership and business development - International
networks of relevant influential stakeholders - Experience
of designing, convening and facilitating, discussions, workshops and
conferences - Strategic
planning to meet business objectives - Ability to lead, inspire, develop and work with
diverse teams at different levels
Desirable skills
The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.
- Strong
inter-personal and communication skills - Ability
to balance a demanding and varied workload, meet targets, ensure constructive
collaboration with event teams, work to tight deadlines and manage time
effectively - Passion,
imagination and ambition - Experience
of at least one of the following - Multilateral
institutions and global governance - Global
economy and trade - Climate,
nature and the environment
Benefits
Flexible Working
Enhanced Family Pay
Annual Leave
Special Paid Leave
Learni...
Profile
What makes you a great fit
Senior Programme Director
Contract type
Working pattern and hours
Expected start date
Location
About us
The role
Person specification
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Contract type
Permanent or fixed term for 3 years for civil
servants whose home department supports a right to return.
Working pattern and hours
Full time working for 37 hours (net) per week Monday-Friday including an unpaid lunch break of one hour.
Expected start date
May/June 2026subject to relevant clearances.
Location
Wilton Park is based in Wiston House, a 16th-century Grade 1 listed house in the heart of the South Downs. This is where the majority of our events are held, and will be your official place of work. Wiston House is not accessible via public transport, and is approximately 20 minutes by taxi from the nearest railway station (Shoreham-by-Sea). As Wiston House is the official place of work, Wilton Park is unable to reimburse travel costs to get there.
Wilton Park staff are also able to work from FCDO Headquarters in Whitehall, and one or two members of Policy Department are there most days. Most Policy Department staff also work from home 2-3 days per week. You will be expected to travel to Wiston House to attend the events you have worked on, as well as for staff and team days to connect with your colleagues.You may be able to stay the night at Wiston House during your event if you do not live locally.
About us
Wilton Park is dedicated to solving the most complex global challenges. A home of strategic thought, respectful dialogue, and discreet diplomacy, it is the place people go when they need answers to difficult questions. It is where people turn when they need a space to resolve differences. It is a belief that dialogue and expertise can make the world a better place. Partners work with and return to Wilton Park because of its unique ability to generate new ideas, help them find practical solutions, and support them in building networks of influence.
Wilton Park brings together government, business, civil society, and the expert community in a secure environment where they can challenge, understand, and learn from each other. For government, Wilton Park helps to inject external thinking, build networks, promote agreement, and harness expertise that improves policy and provides strategic foresight. For businesses, it provides unique insights, a platform to engage with policy discussions and the opportunity to understand governments and make themselves better understood. For civil society groups, Wilton Park supports their representation and coordination so that they can maximize their impacts.
As an Executive Agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Wilton Park is proud to support UK foreign policy development. It directly supports UK diplomatic objectives and plays a vital role in strengthening cooperation, dialogue, and multilateralism.
The role
To design and convene outcomes-orientated high-level policy retreats and exchanges to deliver impact, networks and solutions around issues of technology, artificial intelligence and international relations.
To establish, nurture and sustain relationships with a wide range of senior policy-makers and funding partners.
To provide other policy, strategic and corporate support to the Head of Policy, Chief Executive, other Programme Directors and Policy Officers, helping to plan and deliver a cohesive and strategic set of projects, sequenced evenly across the year.
To contribute to the effective running of Wilton Park, including communications, outreach and mentoring of junior staff.
**Key responsibilities **
- Develop relationships with governmental and non-governmental funding partners to generate support for 8 or more policy retreat/dialogues per year. Identify and pursue revenue generating and partnership opportunities.
- Identify, design, develop and deliver projects (in the UK and overseas as required) on issues of AI, technology and international relations, ensuring policy relevance and impact, and ensuring activities are fully and appropriately funded
- Co-create retreats/events with partners, whether in FCDO, other UK government departments, other governments or organisations, managing relationships to ensure partner input and objectives together with Wilton Park autonomy and agency
- Identify and thoughtfully engage with potential speakers and participants to ensure high-quality events to meet objectives, deliver outcomes for partners and reflect balanced participation of nationalities, disciplines and gender
- Convene and facilitate Wilton Park discussions and events in a neutral fashion to create a safe and trusting environment so that all participants and speakers have an opportunity to engage in meaningful, discreet and constructive dialogue using appropriate, relevant and outcome-focused facilitation techniques
- Edit and oversee the delivery of dialogue-related outputs including summary reports capturing key findings and policy recommendations/options, graphics and so on
- Represent the organisation at a senior level, making presentations and attending networking opportunities as required and relevant to field of work
- Deputise for the Head of Policy and members of the Senior Management Team when appropriate
- Work with Policy Officers, Project Managers (PMs) and the event Delivery Team to oversee effective and efficient management of project administration, including regular planning meetings
- Financial oversight for project budgets: work in collaboration with PMs to ensure the monitoring of income and expenditure throughout event life and accountability for financial outcomes
- Digital and social media communications: work with the communications department to plan, agree and assist with implementation of each project’s media strategy (in line with Wilton Park’s social media strategy)
- Monitoring and evaluation: understand and report transparently on outcomes to partners and sponsors to ensure aims and objectives are met within prescribed timelines. Apply lessons learned and outputs to inform future quality events
- Standard operating procedures and knowledge management: comply with Wilton Park’s database requirements and comply with local health and safety requirements
- Participate in central/corporate groups or tasks and carry out other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time
**
**
**For full details of this role, please refer to the job description. **
Person specification
**Essential skills **
- Substantial
experience in technology, artificial intelligence and international relations,
including informing foreign policy and liaising with government officials at a
senior level - Track
record in fundraising, partnership and business development - International
networks of relevant influential stakeholders - Experience
of designing, convening and facilitating, discussions, workshops and
conferences - Strategic
planning to meet business objectives - Ability to lead, inspire, develop and work with
diverse teams at different levels
Desirable skills
The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.
- Strong
inter-personal and communication skills - Ability
to balance a demanding and varied workload, meet targets, ensure constructive
collaboration with event teams, work to tight deadlines and manage time
effectively - Passion,
imagination and ambition - Experience
of at least one of the following - Multilateral
institutions and global governance - Global
economy and trade - Climate,
nature and the environment
Benefits
Flexible Working
Enhanced Family Pay
Annual Leave
Special Paid Leave
Learni...