Job overview
This role is open to current NHS employees only and is offered as a 12-month fixed-term contract or secondment opportunity.
Lead on race equity across the NHS in the North West.
We’re seeking a values-driven, strategic Programmes and Partnerships Manager to take a senior leadership role in the North West BAME Assembly. If you're passionate about anti-racism and experienced in leading complex programmes, this is your opportunity to shape system-wide change.
The Assembly challenges racism and health inequalities, amplifying the voices of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities. Our flagship Anti-racist Framework supports NHS organisations to embed anti-racist practice.
In this role, you’ll lead the delivery and growth of the Framework, advising NHS Trusts and ICBs, supporting assessment processes, and helping organisations achieve and progress through accreditation levels. You’ll also co-design new, evidence-based programmes, strengthen regional partnerships, and drive collaborative action on race equity.
You’ll oversee evaluation, reporting, and governance, ensuring transparency, impact, and sustainability. With excellent communication skills, subject expertise, and a people-centred approach, you’ll influence senior leaders and support others to lead change with integrity and purpose
Main duties of the job
As Programmes and Partnerships Manager for the North West BAME Assembly, you’ll lead our Anti-racist Framework, supporting NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards to achieve bronze, silver, and gold standards. You’ll coordinate the full assessment cycle, ensuring clear, consistent, and fair processes, while working with partners to embed anti-racist practice across leadership, workforce, and patient care.
This strategic role involves shaping new programmes, managing budgets, project management expertise, and evaluating impact. You’ll work closely with the Membership and Business Support Officer to improve member engagement and ensure that lived experience drives our work.
You’ll advise on race equity policy and practice, present data-driven insights, and lead co-production with stakeholders including staff networks, EDI leads, and regional partners. You’ll also build partnerships and drive income generation to support future sustainability.
With excellent communication, data analysis, and leadership skills, you’ll influence senior stakeholders while managing delivery across multiple programmes. This is your opportunity to lead bold, meaningful change across the North West health system and shape a more inclusive NHS.
Working for our organisation
We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.
If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:
* Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
* Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
* Access to Continued Professional Development
* Involvement in improvement and research activities
* Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
* Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See the attached job description and person specification for full details about the roles requirements.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Qualification in a relevant subject eg Social Policy, Human Resources, Health and Race Equality, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
* Short courses or experience to Master's level
* Evidence of Continued Professional Development
Desirable criteria
* Qualifications in project/ programme management
Work related circumstances
Essential criteria
* Ability to travel across multiple sites as necessary
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience of partnership development and relationship management with senior internal and external stakeholders.
* Experience of working in a matrix management structure/complex operating environment.
* Demonstrable experience of successful project and programme management and leading implementation of initiatives connected with Race equity, contributing to organisational change
* Substantial evidence of successfully designing, developing, delivering and evaluating the impact of EDI initiatives
Desirable criteria
* Experience of working in the NHS, Higher Education, public sector, VCSE or large complex organisations on transformative programmes.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Understanding of barriers to race equality and best practice/ policy in addressing equality, diversity and inclusion issues.
* Evidence of strong commitment to minimising barriers and advancing equality
* In-depth knowledge of Equality legislation relating to race • Application Form • Interview AFC 30/4/25 JME-076-25 Programme and Partnerships Manager BAME Assembly Band 8b discrimination, employment and public sector duties.
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
* Excellent verbal, presentation and written communication skills with the ability to convey complex information in a simple, clear, concise and persuasive manner
* Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships and work collaboratively and flexibility with staff at all levels of an organisation, including Board level.
* Demonstrates credibility to influence senior stakeholders and race equality related groups across the NHS and externally.
* Excellent organisational, time management, facilitation and communication skills.
* Capable of working with and presenting complex levels of data and measuring impact
* Experience of working successfully with Race Equality or other similar frameworks / Equality Charters
We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.
Sponsorship - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the
What happens after your application has been received?
You will be informed about the progress of your application following shortlisting via email. Only applicants who clearly demonstrate the criteria listed in the person specification will be shortlisted for interview. Interview invites will be sent out via email.
What happens if I am offered the position after interview?
The hiring manager will make contact with you to verbally offer you the position. The hiring manager will then inform Recruitment of the decision and provide relevant paperwork. You will be sent a formal conditional offer via email.
What pre-employment checks will I need to complete?
By conducting pre-employment checks, the recruitment team will verify that you meet the pre-conditions of the role you have been offered. Pre-employment checks will be carried out according to. The checks are:
* Identity verification
* Right to work check
* Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
* Professional registration and/or qualification check
* Occupational health assessment
* Employment history and reference validation
All applicants external to NHS will be required to provide to cover the most recent three years. This information will used to validate employment history and references as part of pre-employment checks.
If you are offer a position with is and you require sponsorship to support your right to work, we will review your eligibility in line with. If the role you have been offer is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not able to evidence your right to work, your conditional offer could be withdrawn.
What happens when pre-employment checks are complete?
Recruitment will liaise with you and the hiring manager to arrange a start date for your new position. You will then be booked on to a Trust Welcome Session and be sent your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.
Other important information
* We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and recognise the importance of ensuring our diverse service user population is reflected within our workforce. Unfortunately, we know that, at present, there is underrepresentation of our communities in our workforce. We welcome applications from people from diverse communities to help us grow, learn, be better and consider brilliant innovation diverse people bring.
* If you would like to be considered under the disability confident scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria on the person specification for the post.
* If you require reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process please phone us on 0161 716 3181 at the earliest opportunity. We will support you to complete your application.
* Unfortunately we are not able to guarantee the transfer of lease cars, or cover the costs of early termination charges.
* We have a strict policy on unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Please do not contact our hiring managers directly.
We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of applications have been received. To ensure you application is considered, please submit at the earliest opportunity.