Careers

About Us

For over 55 years, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has support over 25,000 disabled children and adults through activities including riding, carriage driving, and equine assisted programmes such as Quiet Corners and Tea with a Pony. This is all made possible by over 13,700 volunteers, 1,700 qualified coaches, 2,800 equines, and more than 450 RDA centres. With activities such as riding, carriage driving and vaulting, we provide therapy, fitness, skills development and fun, allowing us to deliver a measurable impact in life enhancing areas such as physical ability, mental health, communication and relationship building. We welcome people of all ages and abilities, including those with physical and learning disabilities, sensory impairments, long-term health conditions, and neurodiversity.

About The Role

This role’s primary purpose is to identify the needs of RDA participants, leading the implementation of innovative and relevant participation-centred programmes resulting in increased and sustained participation.

The National Programme Manager will identify, develop and bring to market good practice from across the RDA network, developing, launching and monitoring programmes.

They will enable participation programmes to be activated within multiple environments including RDA Groups and RDA Approved Centres working collaboratively across RDA Teams and British Equestrian (BEF) Member Bodies.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Development and Impact

• Bring the RDA vision to life by creating programmes that have real, measurable impact and sustained outcomes for participants.
• Lead the activation of programmes ensuring every intervention is shaped by lived experience and insight, and genuinely relevant to the people it is intended to serve.
• Embed an outstanding and inclusive customer experience in every programme ensuring all participants, feel welcomed, supported, and empowered.
• Design and deliver RDA programmes that improve educational outcomes, are tuned into the education system across the home nation, and use best practices that reflect diverse needs and promote inclusive learning environments.
• Manage programme budgets carefully, ensuring RDA achieves value for every pound spent.
• Further development of RDA’s successful programmes (for example ‘Tea with a Pony’ and RDA Accredited Centres), prioritising reach and impact.
• Find creative and innovative ways to take RDA programmes to new audiences, removing barriers to access and opening up opportunities for more people to get involved.
• Ensure efficiency across all aspects of programme delivery, leading a consistent and methodical approach to programme development.

Collaboration and Expertise

• Act as the subject matter expert for all things related to participation programmes, keeping knowledge fresh and relevant, with inclusion and accessibility front of mind.
• Work in collaboration with the coaching team to ensure we develop coaching programmes and materials that underpin the delivery of participant programmes.
• Support the Fundraising Team at events (e.g. Badminton Horse Trials, London International Horse Show) to ensure the visibility and impact of our participation programmes.
• Ensure awareness of trends and shifts in the wider landscape, using data and insight to adapt programmes so they continue to meet the needs of all communities we serve.
• Be an active and positive member of the Participation Team—collaborating, connecting, and contributing to high team performance and inclusive working practices.
• Work with Communications and EDI colleagues to ensure programmes are visible, inclusive, and accessible at every stage.
• Support the Communications and Fundraising Teams to convey how RDA programmes improve lives, highlighting their power to deliver social, physical, and personal development outcomes for all participants.
• Provide support, knowledge and education for the RDA network to establish relations with schools, local authorities and other community partners.

Person Specification
Essential

• Experience of working with Education, Health and Care Plans (ECHP’s).
• Experience of working in an educational environment that specifically supports disabled children and adults.
• Curriculum, scheme of work and/or lesson plan development experience.
• Demonstrable end-to-end experience of project and/or programme development.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects at different stages.
• Experience of partnership working and consultation with both internal stakeholders (beneficiaries, volunteers and staff) and external stakeholders (partners).
• Excellent planning, monitoring and review skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Equine Programmes.
• Experience in the Development of Equine Assisted Learning Programmes.
• Experience of working for or with alternative education provision.
• Experience working for a national body.

Further Information

Reports to: Head of Participation and Programmes
Based at: RDA National Office – Hybrid working is available
Hours: Part-time 4 days a week/ 30 hours
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £27,324 per annum

Applications close on July 4th.

Applications can be sent to HR@rda.org.uk

Apply for role

Closing date: 4th July 2025