Community leader jobs in manchester

People Manager – Permanent, Remote

Full-time (35 hrs) – Open to part-time

Are you ready to take the lead on shaping people strategy and culture in a mission-driven organisation? MLC Partners are recruiting for an experienced People Manager to play a central role in modernising HR systems, embedding best practice, and creating a workplace where people feel supported, included, and able to thrive.

The opportunity

This is a pivotal role, reporting directly to the Head of People and Governance. You’ll be responsible for managing a small HR team while also influencing senior stakeholders and working closely with staff representatives. The role will combine strategic input with hands-on delivery, ensuring the organisation not only meets its legal obligations but develops as an innovative and inclusive workplace.

Key responsibilities:

• HR leadership: Oversee recruitment, retention, payroll, benefits and workforce planning, ensuring the organisation is effectively resourced.
• Modernising policies: Lead the review and update of policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with employment law and alignment with organisational values.
• Employee relations: Act as a trusted advisor to managers, supporting them to handle disciplinary, grievance, performance, and capability issues with confidence and fairness.
• Change and culture: Partner with managers, unions and staff to deliver organisational change, embedding inclusive and people-focused practices at every level.
• Data and reporting: Use analytics to identify workforce trends and provide insights that shape decision-making.
• Learning and development: Drive the implementation of performance management frameworks, development plans, and training initiatives.
• Team management: Line manage two senior HR professionals as well as providing oversight to a small staff team, fostering collaboration and high performance.

About you:

We’re looking for someone with the confidence and credibility to lead a people function in a complex, unionised environment. You’ll need to be:

• Qualified: CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent) with significant HR management experience.
• Experienced: Skilled in employee relations, organisational change, and managing union negotiations. Background in the not-for-profit, public sector, or membership organisations is highly valued.
• Knowledgeable: Up to date with UK employment law, HR systems, and best practice in people management.
• Influential: Strong communicator and relationship-builder, able to engage and influence at all levels.
• Values-driven: Committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement in people practices.

Why join?

This is an exciting chance to step into a role where you can make a visible and lasting impact. You’ll have the scope to reshape policies, implement new systems, and guide leaders through meaningful organisational change. If you’re motivated by modernising HR, supporting people to succeed, and working in a collaborative and purpose-led environment, please apply now.

We welcome applications from underrepresented communities, including Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups, disabled people, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Applicants are under constant review, and the role may be filled prior to the ad closing. For a further confidential discussion about this role and to discuss your career search, please reach out to Annabelle Stuart at MLC Partners.

Significant opportunity

We have a significant opportunity to put the tools into the hands of those working with Children, Young People and Families that will better equip them to see young lives transformed. 

Scripture Union are looking to appoint two Content Creators: One specialising in under 11s & families and one specialising in Young People.  You will see that our current portfolio is extensive, but we would like to ensure that we add to it with focused material (whether digital or physical, whether free or paid for).  You will both be involved in the creation of new content and in contracting other specialists who have skills in communicating to children and young people that we would like to develop.  Also, promoting those resources at various conferences and festivals to complement the work of our marketing team. 

Working Patterns

The role is remote with some travel to our Head Office at Trinity House Milton Keynes to collaborate face to face with the rest of the team. 

Part Time options can also be considered, but we will give priority to those who can work at least three days a week and a commitment for a physical presence in Milton Keynes as the role requires but no more than once weekly.   

Also, flexible working may be necessary when promoting resources.

Why Scripture Union?  

• Remote working
• 23 days holiday + bank holidays + 5 volunteering days 
• Up to 12% pension contribution 
• Life insurance 
• Enhanced family leave.  
• Free Bible Reading Guide 
• A supportive, faith-filled environment where your work has eternal impact  

Important things to note before you apply

• We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from people, regardless of their background.   

• The Movement takes Safeguarding seriously. This role will require a Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service and has an occupational requirement to be filled by a committed Christian, active in church life. Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9 applies.   

• Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship arrangements so applicants will need to have the right to live and be employed in a permanent job in the UK. 

How to Apply   

If this describes you, and you are in agreement with the aims and beliefs of Scripture Union, then we would like to hear from you. To apply for this role, download a copy of the job profile. You will need to upload your CV (2 A4 pages max) and a covering letter (2 A4 pages max) detailing how your skills and experience reflect the person specification via Charity Jobs. All screening questions provided as part of your application, must be answered.   

Closing Date: 8th October 2025

Interview Date: 21st October

Interview Location: Milton Keynes

Key information

Location: Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, or London

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)

Start date: ASAP (we are happy to work with notice periods)

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £36,340 - £41,065 per annum if based in London. £33,690 - £38,410 per annum if based in Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle or Nottingham, plus a £312 yearly tax-free work from home allowance.

Application deadline: Wednesday 17th September at noon.

About upReach 

Do you think that your socio-economic background should determine your career prospects?

upReach’s vision is of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential. Our work is important because right now a student from disadvantaged background who gains a first-class degree from a top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2. 

We are an award-winning charity employer working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. We help undergraduates from lower socioeconomic backgrounds achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment. 

To find out more about how we support our students, visit our website and read our Annual Report, and Impact Report. 

Role overview 

We are looking to fill a Programme Manager role.

This would be working on our Rise programme, managing multiple relationships with university partners and leading and supporting a delivery team of Programme Coordinators (PCs) and Programme Leaders (PLs) to attract, onboard and provide high-quality support to Associates (the undergraduates we support).

Experience 

To be successful, it is anticipated that you would have prior experience in the delivery of programmes and projects and in managing/leading a team.

Essential experience:

• Experience in programme delivery from end to end, from design to reporting and evaluation.

• Knowledge of UK university and widening participation landscape.

• Experience working directly with key stakeholders to manage and grow a relationship and/or partnership.

• Line management or team leadership experience.

• Experience designing and delivering training or learning & development content.

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and working independently to find solutions to problems.

• Ability to engage and flex communication style confidently with a variety of stakeholders, such as beneficiaries, upReach partners and all levels of employees across the organisation.

• Strong collaboration skills when working in both small and large teams of varied team members.

• Self-motivation and an ability to work in a small team as well as independently, with a creative and a proactive attitude.

• Excellent influencing, facilitation and communication skills (both oral and written) and comfortable preparing and presenting reports and proposals to senior management and external stakeholders.

• University degree in any discipline, or equivalent experience.

Desirable experience:

• Knowledge of graduate recruitment market.

• Familiarity with G Suite and Zoom video conferencing software.

• Project management or programme management qualification.

Responsibilities

This role will have a wide impact across your programmes and the charity as a whole, as well as maintaining high-quality personalised support for your own Associates. 

1) PROGRAMME DESIGN AND DELIVERY

• Make decisions concerning the design and delivery of your programmes, creating a 12-month plan in advance of the start of each recruitment cycle. 

• Plan student recruitment activities and onboarding in collaboration with university partners. This will include working with the Pipeline and Marketing teams to efficiently meet onboarding targets.

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your programmes with overarching responsibility for meeting internal engagement and application success OKRs, which you will utilise throughout the year to set priority areas for your team.

• Contribute to weekly Programme Manager meetings, sharing your insight and experience to generate ideas and practical solutions that support the overall improvement of upReach’s programme design and delivery. 

• Lead on parts of the weekly Delivery Meeting with the wider team, to ensure weekly focus areas and key team messages are communicated clearly to all PCs and PLs.

2) TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Manage a team of Programme Coordinators/Leaders/Junior Managers in a variety of locations, both virtually and in person - providing ongoing personal and professional development support through weekly 1-to-1 calls or meetings, written feedback on documents, or day-to-day guidance via Slack. 

• Assist Programme Coordinators / Programme Leaders/Junior Managers to provide high quality personalised support to their Associates, which includes helping them to document all interactions with Associates and application progress.

• Use relevant impact dashboards and data to set priorities for your team and support with competing workload demands and time management, to ensure that OKRs and stakeholder KPIs are achieved across all areas.

• Manage the performance and development of your team - including setting professional development goals and utilising a range of resources and tools where necessary to help your team perform successfully in their roles. You will have regular, open and supportive discussions with your team members, giving feedback in your weekly 1-to-1s and your mid- and end-of-year appraisals.

• Engage your direct reports through completing a Leadership and Management apprenticeship, if this is something your direct reports choose to do after 18 months on the FCLP.

• Be part of the upReach Leadership Team and contribute to forming the strategy and direction of the charity. This also includes passing on team feedback to your manager and the leadership team and proposing practical solutions. 

3) PARTNERSHIPS & EVENTS

• Maintain strong relationships with university partners, including managing quarterly/annual reporting requirements on programme aims and collaborating on shared objectives.

• Help your team to manage day-to-day partnership responsibilities, and coach them in relationship management. This will also involve supporting PCs/PLs where necessary to set boundaries with partners.

• Coordinate events with university partners, working with the Programmes team to effectively deliver skills-based sessions for Associates.

• Assist Programme Coordinators/Leaders/Junior Managers in smoothly running events and onboarding processes, both in your team and within the wider team where necessary. 

• Work with the partnerships team to make strategic decisions regarding how to grow upReach's existing and new partnerships.

4) OVERSEE A DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY AREA, ROTATION OR PROJECT

• Manage a Delivery Responsibility area, rotation or project. This will involve meeting with the relevant team regularly (often weekly or bi-weekly depending on the time of year/focus area), and guiding those working on this area with you.

• Work with your team to achieve the objectives outlined for your area, setting clear actions and deadlines. Coach and provide guidance where needed.

• Provide regular feedback to the Programme Management team and where necessary present key findings and updates to the wider team. This may also involve supporting your team to present during the Delivery Meeting and/or Team Meeting.

5) ASSOCIATE ENGAGEMENT

• Support a group of your own Associates, engaging them with the upReach programme in line with OKRs.

• Act as a role model for PCs, PLs & JPMs, ensuring Associate facing tasks are completed to a high quality.

• Proactively use impact to monitor Associate engagement across your programme(s), identifying any areas of concern throughout the year and setting focus areas/action steps for your team to address these.

Team Culture & Benefits: 

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working.

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days and bank holidays. This increases to 2 additional days after 2.5 years and then to 3 additional days after 5 years of working with us. 

• Birthday leave and Voluntary leave

• Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members. 

• 3% Pension Contribution, which increased to 5% after 5 years of working with us. 

• Cycle-to-work scheme.

• Monthly socials and annual wellbeing days

• Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aid Training. 

• Personal Development Budget, activated after 6 months in the role.

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Diverse Roots Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

  • Parents and Carers Network 

Ready to apply?

We are committed to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. 

Applications close on Wednesday, 17th September at 12:00 pm.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

At upReach, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Diversity in the workplace creates dynamic and effective organisations and we are actively working to build a more inclusive workforce by continuously improving our recruitment, retention, and development practices. We  encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities , those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+.

ABOUT US 

The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity and is dedicated to creating a world where trees and woods thrive for both people and nature. Our mission involves engaging and inspiring individuals to contribute toward tackling the nature and climate crisis through the protection, restoration, and creation of essential woodland habitats. 

Join our Online Information Session! We are hosting an Online Information Session with the CEO and interim Director of Fundraising to give candidates an opportunity to learn more about the role and to ask any questions.

The session will last no longer than 45 minutes and will be held at 14:00 on Friday 5 September.
Please register your interest by emailing Charlotte Hines (full details available via our website). 

THE ROLE 

 Due to the retirement of a long-standing executive team member, this newly repurposed Executive Leadership role has a clear focus on our long-term financial sustainability and mission impact. As Executive Director of Fundraising Development, you will lead our strategic partnerships, philanthropy, and major income generation programmes. 

 You’ll be responsible for inspiring significant financial support through trusts, major donors, corporates, legacies, and philanthropic networks. Working closely with the CEO and fellow Executive Directors, you’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering our Strategy to 2030 - ensuring we have the income, influence, and innovation to match our ambition. 

 Protecting and restoring woodlands that have stood for centuries - the crown jewels of the natural world in the UK - and creating the woods of the future, means this role will leave a legacy which will last for generations.  It’s an opportunity to lead with purpose, engage with powerful networks, and literally change the nature of the UK landscape for the better. 

THE CANDIDATE 

We’re looking for a proven senior leader with extensive experience in fundraising, income generation or strategic partnerships - ideally within the not-for-profit sector. 

You’ll bring: 

• Strategic fundraising expertise across major giving, trusts, foundations, corporate partnerships, and philanthropy. 

• Inspiring leadership - able to guide, develop and motivate high-performing teams. 

• Strong external profile - with a track record of building and leveraging influential networks. 

• Collaborative mindset - experienced in working at Executive level, shaping cross-organisational strategy. 

• A personal commitment to nature recovery, equity of access, and environmental impact. 

Most importantly, you’ll be values-led - excited by the potential of this pivotal role to shape lasting change. 

Our Organisational Nature enables us to better understand what it means to be part of the Woodland Trust, empowering us to make an impact, every day. We want you to be able to role model our values; ‘Grow Together’, ‘Focus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Make it Count’ to ensure each of us plays our part in helping to protect, restore and create our woods and trees. 

Benefits & Wellbeing: Joining our team means you'll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer: 

• Enhanced Employer Pension 

• Life Assurance 

• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options 

• Generous Annual Leave (25 days + bank holidays) 

• Annual leave buy and sell 

• Enhanced Parental Pay 

• Employee Assistance Programme 

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: The Woodland Trust embraces diversity and inclusion. We want our team to reflect the UK's diverse community. We support people from all backgrounds to apply, especially those who are under-represented. 

Application Advice: Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply. Your enthusiasm for the environment and our core values-Grow Together, Explore, Focus and Make it Count-are what matter most.

To maintain fairness and reduce bias during shortlisting, we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from hiring managers, please help us to maintain your anonymity by removing personal details from your CV prior to submission. 

Apply Now: If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact on our planet. 

1st Interviews will be held via Teams on Friday 3 October 2025 
2nd Stage Interviews will be held in-person at our Grantham Office on Monday 13 October 2025 

Details of both events will be shared with shortlisted candidates prior to each stage. 

The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Chief Operating Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team.

Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £85,000 per annum
Remote: This role is homebased (within the UK) with occasional to meetings, events and conferences.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work

About the Role

Responsibilities will include:

• The COO leads the day-to-day functioning of the organisation to ensure smooth, efficient, and effective delivery of services. This is vital for maintaining operational stability and achieving strategic outcomes.
• They design and execute strategies that align with the organisation’s mission and long-term goals ensuring resources are used effectively and priorities are clear.
• They promote a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement through supporting employee engagement, productivity, and organisational success.
• The COO collaborates closely with the CEO/CFO and other senior leaders to drive strategic initiatives and business growth, ensuring unified leadership and coherent decision-making.
• They partner with the CFO to manage budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation. Financial oversight ensures sustainability and supports informed investment in strategic priorities.
• Strengthen governance and risk management frameworks, aligned to regulatory expectations and best practice while proactively managing reputational and operational risks.
• The COO cultivates strong relationships with partners, clients, and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and reputation. These relationships are key to influence, collaboration, and impact.
• They lead efforts to improve processes and adopt best practices across the charity to enhance efficiency and keeps the organisation competitive and responsive.
• They ensure that daily activities support the charities long-term objectives.
• The COO mentors other directors and departmental heads and fosters leadership capabilities across teams.
• They establish and track KPIs to identify inefficiencies and guide improvements through data-driven decision-making to enhance accountability and results.
• They evaluate and refine workflows to boost productivity developing efficient processes to reduce waste and improve service quality.
• They act as a bridge between departments and the CEO to ensure cohesive execution of strategic plans preventing silos and promoting organisational synergy.
• The COO serves as a senior figure in national and cross-sector forums, conferences, and strategic partnerships to strengthens the organisation’s voice and influence.
• They demonstrate commitment to Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in both internal culture and external programmes to foster a fair and inclusive organisation.
• They work with the CEO, CFO and Director of Growth to identify and pursue new revenue streams and strategic partnerships. This expands the organisation’s reach and sustainability.
• They engage in public speaking, media interactions, and external representation demonstrating clear communication, credibility, and stakeholder engagement.
• They develop and embed evaluation frameworks to assess progress against strategic goals. The measuring of our impact ensures accountability and informs future planning.
• They promote the organisation’s brand at events and through networking.

The COO takes on other responsibilities as needed to support the organisation’s mission.

About You

Essential competencies of the Chief Operating Officer:

• Extensive experience in senior leadership with a proven track record in operations, financial and risk management, and delivering high-performing teams, ideally in the charity sector.
• Strong understanding of business functions such as HR, Finance, Marketing, etc.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to think strategically and execute effectively.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Commercially astute, process-driven, and highly pragmatic in approach.
• Experience in driving performance and fostering a collaborative culture.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; MBA preferred

Why Work for NYA?

• NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 29th September 2025:

A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
A covering letter highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the About You section.
We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

Please note: The covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 80% AI generated content will be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Youth Work changes lives

Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it.As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.

We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.

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