Project Manager, Centre for Early Childhood

Location: Our team have the option to work 60% of the time on-site, 40% at home. Our office is based in Central London (WC1B).

Contract type: Permanent.

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week) Monday to Friday.

Deadline for applications: 20th September 2026

Role Purpose:

We are seeking a Project Manager to join our Centre for Early Childhood team. In this role, you will focus on the Centre’s business and international workstreams, helping to manage projects that engage a diverse range of stakeholders including corporations, employers, global experts, partners and cross-sector leaders in the early childhood sector.

The role will include coordinating activity that strengthens the economic, social and organisational case for investing in the early years, supports international knowledge exchange and helps position early childhood as a shared priority for business, policy and society.

The Project Manager will take ownership of allocated projects across the full project lifecycle and report into the Associate Director while working closely with colleagues across the Centre, The Royal Foundation and external delivery partners. This position is ideal for someone with experience directly managing substantive projects through the project lifecycle, experience managing complex projects with internal and external stakeholders and experience in budget management.

Core Responsibilities:

• Plan and manage allocated projects from inception to closeout, including scope, milestones, deliverables, resources and delivery routes.

• Define clear success criteria, benefits and impact measures aligned to the Centre’s mission and strategic priorities.

• Maintain proportionate project controls, including risk, issue, dependency, decision and action logs, escalating matters through agreed governance routes.

• Coordinate delivery across internal teams, advisers, partners and stakeholders, ensuring roles, responsibilities and communications are clear.

• Manage budgets, procurement inputs and resource plans, ensuring strong financial discipline and transparent reporting.

• Prepare concise reports, briefings, agendas, papers and minutes that communicate progress, risks, decisions and impact clearly.

• Support change control by assessing proposed changes to scope, timing, budget, risk or benefits, and capturing decisions appropriately.

• Build in quality assurance so outputs meet organisational standards, safeguarding expectations, reputational considerations and project objectives.

• Support evaluation, learning and benefits realisation, including lessons learned and transition into ongoing ownership where needed.

• Promote collaborative, inclusive and values-led ways of working across the Centre, The Royal Foundation and its partner ecosystem.

• Undertake other duties compatible with the nature and level of the post.

Relevant Knowledge, Experience and Personal Qualities:

Knowledge & Experience:

• Proven experience directly managing substantive projects through the project lifecycle, ideally in a charity, non-profit, research, policy, public sector, campaigning or social impact environment (essential)

• Strong understanding of structured project management practice, including planning, governance, risk and issue management, stakeholder engagement, change control, reporting, quality assurance and benefits realisation (essential)

• Experience managing complex projects with multiple internal and external stakeholders, competing priorities and sensitive reputational considerations (essential)

• Experience of budget management, resource coordination and financial reporting, including the ability to work within restricted funding, grant, donor or partner reporting requirements where relevant (essential)

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear updates, briefings and reports for stakeholders of different levels, both internal and external (essential)

• Confident user of Microsoft Suite (essential)

• Knowledge and passion for early childhood, social and emotional development, public health, research translation, policy, campaigning or systems change (preferred), and an appetite to learn (essential)

• 5 years of project management experience is (preferred)

• APM Project Management Qualification, Project DPro, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent professional project management qualification (preferred)

• Experience of project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Monday.com, Trello, Asana or equivalent (preferred)

Personal qualities

• Excellent communicator, both in writing and orally, able to tailor your deliver based on the audience.

• Collaborative and confident relationship builder, able to influence without direct authority and bring people together around shared outcomes.

• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and the ability to balance multiple workstreams and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Impact-focused and evidence-minded, with an interest in using research, data and lived experience to support meaningful social change.

• Calm and agile under pressure, able to respond positively to changing contexts while maintaining strong project controls.

• Discreet, professional and values-led, with good judgement when handling sensitive information, high-profile stakeholders and reputational risk.

• Creative and solutions-focused, willing to offer ideas, constructive challenge and practical improvements beyond immediate tasks.

• An optimistic and energetic outlook, keen to maximise the positive change you and the team can deliver

The Royal Foundation is a high-profile organisation, and the successful candidate will appreciate the importance of discretion and confidentiality and have a mature and professional approach.

Our Vision, Mission and Values:

The Prince and Princess of Wales and The Royal Foundation lead with the belief that change is always possible and are committed to building innovative, collaborative and optimistic solutions that deliver positive impact where it matters most.

Together, Their Royal Highnesses and The Royal Foundation have an unparalleled ability to take a long-term view and unite people, ideas and resources; inspiring action to deliver meaningful change for a better future for individuals, communities, society and our planet.

We unite people and purpose to create a better future – for individuals, communities, society and the planet.

We spark progress by connecting people, ideas and ambition.

The Royal Foundation brings together experts, communities and organisations to pilot and scale solutions – including building coalitions to tackle homelessness, laying societal foundations through our early childhood work, advancing mental health support and championing conservation. By turning insight into action, we help create stronger communities and a healthier future for people and the planet.

Their Royal Highnesses and The Royal Foundation bring together voices from every corner of society – forging powerful partnerships and taking a long-term view to create space for fresh thinking and shared ambition.

We believe that when people connect with purpose and empathy, real and lasting change is possible which is what The Royal Foundation’s values reflect:

• Uniquely ambitious – We think big; we are curious; and we strive for excellence to drive progress for people and planet.
• Respectfully honest – We communicate clearly, transparently, and candidly; we give and receive feedback with honesty; and we celebrate successes openly and own our setbacks embracing the opportunity for growth.
• Collectively impactful – We are agile; we seek out, celebrate, and respect diverse perspectives; and we support one another to find balance and achieve more together.

Employee benefits:

As an employee of The Royal Foundation, you will be entitled to:

• 25 days of holiday per year, plus UK bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time employees).

• Your birthday off to celebrate.

• Two volunteering days per year.

• An 8% employer pension contribution, with the option to contribute to this yourself too.
• Life Assurance.
• Access to wellbeing support via our Employee Assistance Programme and online platform.

• Private medical insurance (available after probation).
• Healthcare cash plan (available after probation).

If you have the relevant skills and enthusiasm for this role, then we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your application using the form provided.