Head of Programmes

**ABOUT EQUAL**

Founded in 2015, EQUAL (an IPC charity) strives to transform lives through Animal-Assisted Services. EQUAL partners with animals to provide experiential and educational programmes that help empower vulnerable persons such as children, youths, persons with special needs, families, and seniors by enhancing their social and emotional well-being and supporting social integration in a safe environment - building resilience and inclusive communities.

Animal-Assisted Learning (AAL) is an experiential programme facilitated by instructors partnering animals, where participants develop vita social-emotional and relationship skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Each year, we proudly serve hundreds of clients from various institutions, including schools, children’s homes, nursing homes, and other social service organisations.

**ROLE SUMMARY**

As the **Head of Programmes & Services**, you will lead the strategic direction, operational delivery, and continuous improvement of EQUAL’s Programmes and Services Division, ensuring meaningful, measurable outcomes for beneficiaries while upholding animal welfare and operational excellence.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Strategic Leadership & Planning**
- Lead the strategic planning, development, and execution of EQUAL’s Programmes and Services Division in alignment with the organisation’s mission, values, and long-term goals.
- Conduct regular internal and external environmental scans, trend analyses, and needs assessments to identify emerging service gaps and sector opportunities.
- Stay abreast of relevant research, best practices, and innovations, particularly in human-animal interactions, trauma-informed care, and experiential learning frameworks.

**Programme Development & Management**
- Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of all Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) programmes to ensure service quality, relevance, timely delivery, and positive beneficiary outcomes.
- Work closely with the Animal Welfare team to co-develop and evolve programmes that balance beneficiary needs with animal welfare considerations.
- Monitor programme performance, quality assurance, and beneficiary outcomes through robust data collection, analysis, reporting, and continuous feedback mechanisms.
- Maintain budget compliance and manage programme-related procurement, including preparing for Invitation to Quote in Gebiz portal for programme contracts.

**People Leadership & Team Development**
- Provide leadership, supervision, and mentorship to a team of 10 (Programme Instructors, and Programme Executive), fostering a high-performance, values-driven, and collaborative team culture.
- Oversee manpower planning, recruitment, onboarding, training and performance management within the Division in partnership with the HR Department.
- Uphold and champion a strong Code of Conduct, safety protocols, and organisational values within programme operations.

**Operational & Resource Management**
- Prepare programme cost quotations, in consult with Partnership & Philanthropy Division (for certain programmes) and review service contracts.
- Ensure effective resource planning by coordinating scheduling, manpower allocation, and adherence to budgetary constraints and control processes, in order to support programme operations and meet client requirements."
- .Work with the Volunteer Management team to optimise volunteer resource allocation for programme support activities.

**Partnerships, Grants & Stakeholder Engagement**
- Cultivate and maintain partnerships with referral agencies, funders, schools, healthcare providers, and social service agencies to expand EQUAL’s outreach and impact.
- Lead discussions with partners and stakeholders to conceptualise, co-create, and adapt programmes that meet evolving client and sector needs.
- Represent EQUAL in sector forums, workgroups, and inter-agency collaborations to strengthen the organisation’s presence and thought leadership.

**Leadership Team Contribution & Organisational Development**
- Serve as a core member of EQUAL’s Leadership Team, actively contributing to organisation-wide strategic planning, business continuity, risk management, and policy development.
- Support the CEO and Board of Directors and Committee members in strategic reviews, reporting, and special projects as assigned.
- Play a key role in fostering a positive, inclusive, and values-based workplace culture, championing staff engagement and well-being initiatives.

**REPORTING TO**

Chief Executive Officer

**KEY REQUIREMENTS**

**Professional Experience**
- Minimum 8-10 years of relevant work experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership or senior management role overseeing programmes, services, or operations in the social service, healthcare, education, community development, or non-profit sectors.
- Proven track record in designing, delivering, and scaling social service programmes, preferably with exposure to experiential learning, therapeutic services,