Head of Partnerships & Programmes role - 2026
Head of Partnerships & Programmes Role Description – Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN)
- Job Title: Head of Partnerships & Programmes
- Salary: £50,000-£55,000 per annum pro rata
- Hours: 21 hours per week (0.6 FTE based on 35-hour full-time week)
- Contract: Permanent
- Location: Remote (UK-based) with some national/international travel
- Reports to: Chief Executive
- Applications Open: 1st May 2026
- Applications Close Date: Sunday, 31st May 2026
- Interview Dates: Thursday, 18th June 2026 (first interview) and Wednesday, 1st July (second in-person interview).
- Start date: As soon as possible subject to notice period
The Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN) is a UK-based charity dedicated to improving mental health outcomes through better design.
Since 2006, DiMHN has convened a cross-sector community spanning mental healthcare, design, research, industry, and people with lived experience. Together, this community works to shape safer, more therapeutic environments that support better mental health outcomes.
Our purpose is to improve mental health through better design.
We achieve this by sharing best practices, promoting inclusive approaches, and disseminating evidence-based research to inform the design of mental health environments. Rooted in lived experience and real-world evidence, our work raises awareness of how good design can improve mental wellbeing.
We are looking for a strategic and entrepreneurial Head of Partnerships & Programmes to lead the development and delivery of DiMHN’s programmes, partnerships, membership growth, and income generation.
This is a senior role at the intersection of mental health, design, research, and industry. It requires someone who can build trusted relationships across sectors, develop and secure sustainable income, and turn strategic opportunities into high-quality programmes and measurable impact.
The postholder will:
- Develop, lead and manage commercial and strategic partnerships
- Lead the strategic development, delivery, implementation, and evaluation of all programmes of work
- Drive membership growth and engagement across both commercial and sector stakeholders
- Embed robust monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems
- Drive sustainable income generation through a mix of commercial partnerships, membership growth, and charitable funding
Design & Delivery
- Lead the strategic design, delivery, and evaluation of programmes across research/education, partnerships, membership, and events.
- Identify and secure opportunities for programmes and workstream growth, including expansion into new geographic or thematic areas.
- Develop robust business cases for new initiatives, including financial modelling, risk assessment, and resource planning.
- Oversee programme budgets, ensuring effective financial management, value for money, and alignment with organisational priorities.
- Design and implement proportionate monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks to measure impact and inform continuous improvement.
Strategic & Commercial Partnerships
- Identify, evaluate, and pursue new commercial and strategic partnership opportunities aligned with DiMHN’s purpose and income targets.
- Develop and implement a partnership approach that supports income growth, sector influence, and member value.
- Draft and oversee partnership agreements, contributing to business case development and financial modelling where required.
- Assess and shape appropriate partnership models, balancing commercial opportunity with governance, ethical, and reputational considerations.
- Represent DiMHN at high-level meetings, negotiations, and sector events.
- Monitor partnership performance, KPIs, and contractual delivery, reporting regularly to the CEO and Board.
Membership Growth & Engagement
- Develop and execute strategies to attract new members across NHS/HSE independent providers, industry academia, design, and lived experience communities.
- Enhance the value of membership by delivering clear benefits, structured engagement opportunities, and a high-quality member experience.
- Work closely with marketing and conference delivery to align membership growth with wider sector engagement activity.
- Use data and insight to continuously refine and strengthen the membership offer and demonstrate value.
Impact, Performance & Learning
- Develop and embed operational policies, systems, and processes that strengthen delivery and organisational resilience.
- Establish and maintain clear performance reporting and impact measurement frameworks across programmes, partnerships, and membership.
- Identify and implement appropriate AI-enabled approaches to enhance delivery, operational efficiency, and performance insight, ensuring responsible use.
- Embed lived experience learning across programmes of work.
- Strategically develop and maximise the contribution of DiMHN’s volunteer, lived experience community and associates, leveraging their expertise and networks through regular engagement, and roles across delivery.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential – Candidates should demonstrate clear, specific evidence of the following from previous roles or projects:
- Demonstrable experience developing and securing income through partnerships, sponsorship, membership, and a range of charitable funding.
- Experience designing, developing, and delivering programmes or initiatives involving multiple sectors and geographical stakeholders.
- Experience developing and managing commercial partnerships, including identifying opportunities, negotiating agreements, and maintaining long-term relationships.
- Proven ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders across sectors, including industry, research, public sector, and community partners.
- Experience working in multi-sector stakeholder environments such as health, design, research, industry, or membership organisations.
- Experience implementing monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches to demonstrate impact and improve delivery.
- Experience developing business cases or new initiatives, including assessing opportunities, risks, and resource requirements.
- Experience overseeing programme budgets, financial performance, and reporting against organisational objectives or KPIs.
- Strong organisational and programme management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work to deadlines.
Desirable
- Experience growing and engaging professional networks, memberships, or cross-sector communities.
- Interest in how digital tools and emerging technologies, including AI, can support programme delivery and organisational effectiveness.
- Knowledge of the mental health, healthcare, design, or built environment sectors.
We believe good design starts with empathy, and we value evidence-led, impact-driven approaches rooted in real-world experience.
We care deeply about bringing together different voices, perspectives, and expertise, including those of our members, associates, and people with lived experience. We are collaborative and creative, always pushing boundaries to create better mental health environments.
What you’ll get in return
As part of the team, you will benefit from:
- Annual leave – 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
- Work from home – though in-person meetings with partners and members will be expected in order to build strong working relationships
- Flexible working – flexibility in how the 21 hours are worked across the week (to be agreed during offer discussions)
We're looking for people who embody our values:
At DiMHN, our work is grounded in our core values. We’re looking for Trustees who reflect these values through both mindset and action:
Be Courageous
– You’re willing to ask challenging questions, confront assumptions, and help push boundaries to make mental health spaces more inclusive and compassionate.
Evidence-Led, Impact-Driven
– You’re curious, reflective, and motivated by real-world change. You use evidence to guide decisions and are focused on outcomes that make a difference.
Empathy in Design
– You understand that good design starts with empathy. Whether through lived experience or professional perspective, you value collaboration and co-production with those who access mental health care and support.
Improve Together
– You believe in learning together. You’re generous with your skills and committed to helping the DiMHN and the wider sector grow stronger through collective action.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The Design in Mental Health Network is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in both our organisation and our work. We believe that a wider range of backgrounds, perspectives and lived experiences strengthens decision-making, deepens insight and improves impact. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented and minoritised groups, including people with lived experience relevant to our purpose.
Upon submitting an application, you will be sent our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. Completing this form is voluntary. This information is collected anonymously, stored separately from your application, and is used solely to help us monitor and improve the inclusivity of our recruitment processes.
How to Apply
To apply for this role, please submit the following:
- Your CV, setting out your career history, qualifications, and relevant experience/skills to the role in relation to this job description and person specification outlined in the candidate pack.
- A covering letter that includes:
- Responses to the three questions below
- The contact details of two referees, one of whom should be your most recent employer, where applicable.
Applications should be sent by email to workwithus@dimhn.org with the subject line: “Application – Head of Partnerships & Programmes.”
- Closing date: Sunday, 31st May
- The interview process for successful applicants will be as follows:
- First interview: Thursday, 18th June, a Teams interview with the CEO and board members
- Second interview: Wednesday, 1st July, in-person interview in Bristol with the CEO and Chair of the Board
Covering letter questions
Please label each answer clearly.
Each answer should be no more than 300 words.
We are particularly interested in evidence of your personal contribution, decision-making, and measurable outcomes.
1.What is motivating you to apply for the role of Head of Partnerships & Programmes at the Design in Mental Health Network?
Please tell us why this role, why DiMHN, and why now.
2. Please describe your experience developing and managing commercial and strategic partnerships.
Explain your role, the practical steps you took (for example: opportunity identification, negotiation, contracting, governance and performance monitoring), and the concrete outcomes achieved, including any income generated and impact delivered.
3. Please describe a programme that you led involving multiple sectors, disciplines or geographies.
Explain how you approached the design and delivery of the work, how you managed complexity and competing priorities, how you measured progress and impact, and what outcomes were achieved.
Use of AI in Applications & Cover Letters
We recognise that candidates may use AI tools when preparing their application. We are interested in your own experience and judgement, so please ensure that any use of AI still results in answers that clearly reflect your personal contribution, decision-making and outcomes.