Programme Executive

Reports to: Programme and Events Manager
Location: Manchester (Hybrid) - travel across Greater Manchester may be required
Salary: £33,000 - £35,000 depending on experience
Hours: Full time (5 days per week)
Contract: Permanent

About the Role

Manchester Digital is looking for a highly organised and motivated Programme Executive to support the delivery of our talent, skills and tech community engagement programmes. This is a hands-on role suited to someone with a couple of years’ experience in project or events delivery who’s ready to take on more responsibility and develop their business development and stakeholder engagement skills.

You’ll work across high-profile initiatives and events such as Digital Her, Grad Recharge, The Digital Skills Festival, and Future Tech Live and will support with both delivery and coordination. You’ll also carry out research and outreach to help grow our partner, sponsor, and speaker network, playing a key role in identifying new business opportunities, relationship-building, and ensuring the sustainability of our work.

This role combines planning, logistics, people engagement, delivery support, and the opportunity to build your profile in Greater Manchester’s tech ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Programme and Event Delivery

• Assist in the design, organisation and smooth delivery of events and programmes across schools, colleges, universities and the tech sector
  
  
• Lead or support on the planning and logistics for physical and online events, including but not limited to scheduling, venue booking, tech checks, managing guests and speakers, and being the on-the-day point of contact
  
  
• Provide wraparound support to participants before and during programme delivery, ensuring inclusion and safeguarding standards are upheld
  
  
• Prepare and maintain event collateral and materials, digital and print
  
  
• Gather feedback, photos, data, and other outputs to support impact evidence, evaluation, reporting and comms
  
  

Outreach, Prospecting and Business Development

• Conduct prospect research to identify potential sponsors, partners, employers, and contributors to events and programmes
  
  
• Build and maintain structured lists and records of potential prospects (e.g. CRM and trackers)
  
  
• Lead or support outreach and initial contact through email, LinkedIn and calls
  
  
• Coordinate follow-ups, prepare briefing notes, and contribute to pitch decks and proposals
  
  
• Attend external events where relevant to network, represent Manchester Digital, and support business development activity
  
  

Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Help maintain strong relationships with schools, colleges, universities, tech companies and other stakeholders
  
  
• Support the coordination and communication with volunteers, speakers, mentors and Digital Her role models
  
  
• Contribute to content creation, helping write or coordinate programme updates, participant stories and newsletter features
  
  

Administration and Operational Support

• Maintain clear and accurate records relating to programme planning and delivery
  
  
• Ensure safeguarding, risk management and GDPR/data handling processes are followed
  
  
• Support with logistics and delivery of Digital Her schools and colleges events, where an enhanced DBS check will be required
  
  

What We’re Looking For

Essential

Strong organisational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams effectively and efficiently. 

• Excellent professional written and verbal communication skills
  
  
• Experience in curating, coordinating or supporting events or projects, ideally in education, non-profit, or tech
  
  
• Comfortable using email, digital tools, spreadsheets and CRM systems
  
  
• Confident engaging with stakeholders at all levels, and willing to proactively reach out to new contacts
  
  
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage time effectively
  
  
• Alignment with Manchester Digital’s values and commitment to inclusion and diversity

Desirable

• Experience working with or engaging young people (e.g. in schools, college or university, mentoring, outreach, or workshop settings)
• An understanding of the tech sector in Greater Manchester, or an interest in learning more
• Experience using design tools (e.g. Canva) and social media scheduling platforms
• Experience working with sponsors and funding bodies 
• An understanding of safeguarding best practice (training provided)
  

Additional Information

• Part of this role involves working with children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required and will be undertaken by Manchester Digital during the recruitment process. You will be asked to declare anything that may affect this as part of the application process.
  
  
• This is a full-time role. The role is hybrid, with an expectation of 3 days per week in our Manchester office. During peak delivery periods (e.g. events season or supporting key delivery) this may rise to 5 days a week in-person.
  
  

Why Work with Us?

• Be part of an impactful, values-driven organisation championing digital skills, inclusion, and growth in the tech sector
  
  
• Gain exposure to a wide range of stakeholders including tech employers, educators, and local authorities
  
  
• Work in a small, ambitious, supportive team with opportunities for progression and development
  
  
• Access to training and mentoring to develop your business development, events and stakeholder engagement skills
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, plus office closure over the festive period
  
  

Manchester Digital is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from people underrepresented in the tech and digital sectors, including but not limited to people from ethnically marginalised backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people and those from lower-income or care-experienced backgrounds.

Apply

If you are excited by this role, we want to hear from you. Email a cover letter aligned to the role profile above (applications without this will not be considered) and a copy of your CV, tailored for this position to Emma Grant, Head of Programmes emma@manchesterdigital.com

We will close recruitment as soon as enough suitable applicants have been identified to shortlist.

The recruitment process will be:

• Shortlisting
• Initial short telephone or remote interview
• Full interview

Interviews will take place as soon as possible.

No recruiters please.