Founders Forum Group
Programme Manager - Global Talent Visa
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Technical Programme Manager – Global Talent Visa Tech Nation
Tech Nation is at the heart of the UK’s effort to attract and retain the world’s most exceptional tech talent. In this hands-on, high-ownership Programme Manager role for the Global Talent Visa, you will champion one of the UK’s most crucial programmes for shaping who builds the country’s future.
As Programme Manager, you are responsible for fostering and maintaining high-standard decision-making processes and proprietary systems, while ensuring the Global Talent Visa programme operates smoothly and consistently.
About the Role
This is a rare leadership opportunity for someone with proven programme, operations and quality assurance expertise—demonstrable skills in increasing and sustaining delivery standards together with increased team leadership in a high-caliber but small working group.
We’re looking for someone who prides themselves on getting things right, by design, not just deadline. A holder of responsibility who cares about the quality of decisions that shape people’s professional futures. This role is fully at the intersection between people, strategy, and operations.
While this is primarily a full-time role, we are open to considering part-time applicants who can work at least three days per week.
The team office is located in London. While we will consider hybrid or fully remote applicants, we may still require occasional national travel as well as ad-hoc visits to the London office.
You’ll Be Own Responsible for:
Assessor Management & Quality Assurance (Core Responsibilities)
- Own and drive the relationships with our assessor group (recruiting, onboarding and on-going engagement)
- Lead quality assurance of assessor outputs—including flagging inconsistencies, collating patterns, and translating insights into actionable guidance or training
- Set internal codes of practice and act as the leading policy owner
- Steward the managerial relationship with our governance group to maintain critically important professional standards
- Chair assessor meetings, workshops and calls, create agendas and drive constructive action taking
- Supplement with daily support from the Programme Administrator
Operations & Systems
- Ensure the smooth delivery of the visa application and endorsement products in collaboration with the Programme Administrator and other teams
- Maintain and improve cross-functional documentation and manual systems as well as ensuring external assessor-facing guidance is updated accurately
- Assist the Programme Lead in providing operational oversight and key financial performance (budget and cash flow)
- Manage escalation and support for TN visa inbox to fill anticipated gaps within the admin team
Alumni Network
- Own the development and best practice standards of the alumni programme
- Work with the Programme Administrator and Programme Lead to engage with and grow group’s connections and workshops nationally
- Champion the long-term strategic development of the network alongside the Programme Lead
Insight, Data & Reporting (Collaborative Focus)
- Support the strict monitoring and analysis of the programme, reviewing decision patterns and translating these with meaningful improvements
- Define and put in place KPIs for internal and external reporting and build analysis dashboards
- Prepare reports, briefings and presentations for a wide range of stakeholders and audiences
- Support ** communs** (internal and/or external) and any news items/features related to the Visa for the Future programme
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Relationships
Internal Relations
- Line manage the Visa Programme Administrator: Their growth is part of our direct accountability
- Personal accountability for working directly with the Programme Lead (summarise the assessor group and key priorities in relation to the TN visa portfolio)
- Work in close tandem with the Data & Insights team and wider Tech Nation leadership
- Be the primary escalation point for operational queries requiring Procurement, Finance, Products or internal Home Office comms— including drafting, reviewing and escalating as needed
Key External Connections
- Leads relationships with assessors while maintaining continued dialogue with the UK Government diplomatic networks and international migration teams
- Regular talks and workshops with external stakeholders, potential applicants and the UK tech ecosystem
Expect Successful Delivery If..
- The assessor group is well-managed and thriving, producing higher-quality feedback through thoughtful and consistent approach
- We see patterns in decisions that have evolved into actions that improve the programme
- The rules and systems governing visa action are properly documented with case examples to communicate effectively and leveraging key learnings
- Developments for the alumni network are explicitly noted with regularly refreshed member communications
- Aligned with external stakeholders through exhibitions, events and marketing to show we’re a credible voice for UK Tech
The Qualities we Need
Fit for This Programme Manager Role
- Someone who is precisely analytical and methodical; always seeing contradictions or gaps in information and can identify the best solution for the situation at hand
- Strong spotter of trends and explains why things are done and how change may best happen
- Self-organising yet committed to being proactive rather than reactive; meticulous in effort to drive towards process improvements, academic or professional excellence
- The best project managers take an interest of the final outcome — whether any meeting, which the own deliverables is robust and useful, so pleasing decisions can be based on factual and analysis-driven lines
- Excellent communicator: able to distil complex information and educate stakeholders concisely, through conversations, meetings, reports, presentations, and written feedback
- Tolerates recurring high stakes and ambiguity as well as relationships with senior stakeholders or in internal policy settings
- Hold curiosity within the UK tech community and how its members can maximise support of large scale associated policy changes
Experience
| Category | Essential Requirements | Desirable Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Programme Mgmt | Experience in programme or operations management, preferably involving quality assurance, policy application or evidence-based decision-making. | Experience in coordinating digital technology projects or programmes within governmental or public sector |
| Detail & Rigour | Meticulous adequate in assessing qualitative content and adhering to strict frameworks | Experience in reviewing or upskilling PDF management systems for sensitive/secure standards policies |
| Episodes Analysis | Strong data analysis and insight generation skills, clear ability to make top-level recommendations based on firm evidence or gaps/risk. | Strong project management tools/systems usage (e.g., Jira, Slack, Notion, etc.) |
| Communication | Rest assured aim clear written and oral command in guidance, feedback and documentation or correspondence | A extended history of external speaking or media communication, building industry networks |
| Process Development | Comprehensive skills in MLN reporting at various team levels | Hands-on experience managing budgets and financial control systems in high-performance environments. |
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Benefits
- 25 days of holiday, plus an extra day off for your birthday and an additional 2 days after 2 years
- 3 weeks working remotely annually (dedicated weeks for Easter and July/August)
- AXA Health Insurance (with optional dependent additions)
- Life Insurance for you and eligible dependents
- Medicash health cash plan
- Discretionary bonus with potential policies
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free pension plan (preselect profile of company or employee negotiated)
- Perkbox membership including health & travel allowances or similar benefits
- Ongoing learning & development with a direct component towards CPD accreditations
- Celebrate’ll ideas: functional and collaborative team lunches, snacks and regular social events (main office/live Social in London)
- Quarterly team activites and cotinuing related, Gelato meetings during year
- Teacher Free and Care setting up/expand workspace with business-resilient tech facilities
- World wide tech network: access to the Founders Forum Group and tech ecosystem partners for cross-learning
Tech Nation is committed to supporting diversified work & leadership culture. We celebrate individual differences and acknowledge gender equality and support claims at all levels. Other relevant benefit visits are addressed directly with recruitment informational inquiries.
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