Education engagement manager jobs in Belfast

In 30 years we've helped transform over 10,000 children's lives around the world, giving them the chance of a brighter future. We're feel we are just getting started and are looking for a confident, relational communicator with a heart for transforming children's lives to join our team. 

We're looking for someone who loves fundraising and will thrive in an outward facing role which blends strategy, storytelling and relationship-building. You’ll be as comfortable speaking from a church platform as you are meeting one-to-one with a key donor.

Please read the job description and if you feel this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you. 

Job Title: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Organisation: The Skill Mill
Location: Remote, with expectations to travel to Gateshead and occasional travel to other UK locations
Salary: £45,000 pa 
Contract Type: 2 years fixed term contract, Full-Time
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Job Purpose:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will play a pivotal role in driving the operational success of The Skill Mill. Working closely with the CEO, the COO will oversee day-to-day operations through line-management of the 3 regional Operations Managers, will ensure the delivery of exceptional services, and will support the growth of our social enterprise model across the UK and beyond. This is a strategic leadership position, requiring a dynamic individual with a passion for social impact, operational excellence, and business development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operational Leadership: Oversee all operational functions, including service delivery, project management, and workforce coordination, ensuring high standards and client satisfaction.

• Strategic Growth: Collaborate with the CEO to develop and implement expansion plans, identifying new partnerships, contracts, and opportunities to scale The Skill Mill’s impact, ensuring operational readiness and quality as the organisation scales.

• Team Management: Lead, motivate, and develop The Skill Mill’s operational delivery teams (see attached structure chart), including the Operations Managers, the Pathway Advisors, and the Supervisors, fostering a culture of inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement. Lead workforce planning, staff development and wellbeing to ensure a sustainable, motivated and resilient workforce.

• Financial Oversight: Work with the finance team to manage budgets, monitor performance against targets, and ensure cost-effective operations while maintaining quality.

• Governance: Supporting organisation and partnership governance by contributing to papers, risk registers and performance reports, engaging in solution-focused discussion at relevant forums, and ensuring feedback loops with operational delivery teams.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, commercial clients, criminal justice partners, and community organisations.

• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure all activities comply with legal, regulatory, and health and safety standards, mitigating risks effectively and escalating through appropriate organisational and legal pathways where necessary.

• Safeguarding: Act as senior lead and an initial escalation point for safeguarding, ensuring robust policies, training, reporting and continuous improvement.

• Impact:

         - Measurement: Monitor and report on social and environmental outcomes, ensuring alignment with The Skill Mill’s mission and funding requirements.

         - Performance: Work alongside partners, including Social Outcomes, evaluation and funding partners to drive performance in line with key success milestones, and engage in collaborative problem-solving to improve the offer and overcome challenges.

         - Quality Assurance: Contribute to organisational quality assurance processes by providing operational insight to support effective monitoring and review. Facilitate and support quality assurance audits, reviews and continuous improvement practices across operational delivery, working closely with operational delivery teams and relevant partners to ensure learning is embedded and service standards are consistently met.

• Innovation: Drive operational efficiencies and explore innovative approaches to service delivery and trainee support.
   

Person Specification:
Experience:

• An understanding of, and sensitivity to, working with vulnerable or disadvantaged groups.

Skills and Abilities:

• A values-led approach to strategy, with the ability to balance social impact, quality, and financial sustainability in strategic and operational decision-making.

• Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with a collaborative and empowering approach.

• Confident in using insights from performance data and information to drive continuous improvement

• A clear, confident and inclusive communication style, with the ability to engage, motivate and align within the organisation and externally

• A collaborative approach to partnership working, with the ability to navigate differing priorities and build trusted relationships across sectors/ stakeholders.

• Proficiency in working with digital tools that support operational efficiency (e.g., CRMs, project management software, Microsoft Office/Google Suite)

• Ability to translate organisational strategy into actionable operational plans
  ​

Personal Attributes:​

• Passionate about social justice, youth development, and environmental sustainability

• Resilient, adaptable, and solution-focused, with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.

• Commitment to The Skill Mill’s values of opportunity, integrity, and excellence.
  ​

What We Offer:​

• The chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of young people and the environment.

• A supportive and purpose-driven work environment.

• Opportunities for professional growth as part of a growing social enterprise.
   

Essential Requirements:

Experience:

• Proven senior leadership experience in managing operations, ideally within criminal justice or a social enterprise, charity, or environmental services sector.

• Demonstrable ability to lead and manage complex operational delivery in multiple geographical areas, ensuring quality and consistency across teams.

• Demonstrable success in growing an organisation or enhancing service delivery, including securing contracts and partnerships.

• Experience managing diverse teams in a hybrid work environment

• Experience of working effectively with external partners, including commissioners, criminal justice agencies and/or commercial organisations.
   

Skills and Abilities:

• Analytical mindset with experience in budgeting, performance monitoring, and process improvement.
   

Qualifications and Certifications:

• A relevant degree or equivalent professional qualification (e.g., business management, operations, or social enterprise leadership) is preferred but not essential.

• Enhanced DBS check is required.

About The Skill Mill:

The Skill Mill is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background.

The Skill Mill is an innovative social enterprise dedicated to transforming lives and communities. We provide employment opportunities for young people with criminal convictions, equipping them with skills and experience through delivering high-quality environmental services, such as grounds maintenance, horticulture, and flood prevention. Our mission is to reduce reoffending, enhance employability, and create sustainable social and environmental impact.

At UK SMART Recovery, we are passionate about supporting people to successfully manage any type of addictive behaviour, using our evidence-based 4-Point Programme. We value choice, empowerment, and collaboration, and we believe in supporting volunteers and partner organisations to deliver accessible addiction recovery meetings across the UK.

About the Role

UK SMART Recovery is seeking a highly motivated Community Coordinator to join our small, passionate team. In this role, you will:

• Onboard, support and mentor our amazing SMART Recovery facilitators across The Midlands and London.

• Work closely with our highly valued partner organisations running SMART meetings within their services.

• Deliver training, guidance, and workshops for our peer and partner facilitators.

• Contribute to projects and service development to help grow UK SMART Recovery even further.

• Help ensure SMART meetings are high-quality, accessible, and safe for participants.

• Foster an inclusive, empowering environment for facilitators and participants alike. 

Regions covered:

• West Midlands: Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, Solihull; Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire

• East Midlands: Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham; Derbyshire, Leicestershire, South Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland

• London: City of London

Applicants must be based in the Midlands. Regular travel across the regions is essential.

For full JD/person specification with additional responsibilities, please see the attached document.

About You

To succeed as a Community Coordinator, you will have:

• Experience facilitating groups or meetings, ideally in recovery, peer-support, mental health, or behaviour-change settings.

• Ability to support, mentor, and develop volunteer facilitators.

• Strong presentation and communication skills, online and in-person.

• Self-motivation, organisation, and ability to manage workload and regional travel independently.

• Emotional intelligence and groundedness, with experience supporting people who have faced adversity.

• A valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Desirable:

• Qualified SMART Recovery facilitator or previous participant.

• Lived experience of recovery (personal or close to someone else).

• Experience in peer mentoring, volunteer support, or community development.

Why Work With Us

• Join a small, dynamic team making a big difference in addiction recovery across the UK.

• Opportunity to work closely with facilitators and partner organisations to grow our network of peer-led recovery meetings.

• Flexible home-based working with equipment provided.

• Generous annual leave, pension, and wellbeing support.

• Be part of a charity with values of empowerment, choice, compassion, and collaboration at its heart.

This role covers postcodes KT, GU, SO, PO, BH.

Applicants must live in the region or a short commutable distance to cover the region. 

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.

We are looking for a Regional Development Officer for South Coast, London. In this role, covering postcodes KT, GU, SO, PO, BH, you will be a warm, visible ambassador for Mary’s Meals – igniting enthusiasm, inspiring action, and helping people across your region join our mission and help feed more children.

By building genuine, values‑driven relationships and using insight to guide your priorities, you’ll nurture local networks, identify high‑potential opportunities, and confidently grow income, participation, and supporter engagement. Through strategic, outward‑facing work, you’ll turn first conversations into committed, long‑term support that strengthens our movement and fuels our mission.

Working closely with the London and South East Lead, you will co-create and deliver a tailored local growth plan that reflects your region's communities and opportunities. You will represent Mary’s Meals across schools, churches, corporates and community partners and play a pivotal role in activating supporters, mobilising volunteers, and sharing compelling local stories.​

Operating with high autonomy, you will use insights and data to focus on high potential and growth areas, and collaborate closely with our Philanthropy & Partnerships, Supporter Experience and Communications teams to deliver seamless supporter journeys and strong storytelling. Everything you do will reflect Mary’s Meals’ warmth and dignity, helping us reach more children through relationship-led growth.

Key responsibilities include

• Work with the London and South East Lead to design and deliver a clear, insight‑driven local growth plan with defined priorities, income drivers, volunteer mobilisation efforts, and visibility activities.​

• Use data, local insight, and regional understanding to focus your time where growth potential is strongest.​​

• Balance relationship‑building with a proactive, opportunity-led approach, identifying new supporters, networks, and partnerships and developing them from prospective supporters into committed donors.

• To create the conditions for a volunteer Deputy and a motivated volunteer network to confidently lead talks, events, introductions and other activities that broaden our reach.​

• Empower volunteers through clear delegation, coaching, and recognition, ensuring they feel confident and aligned with Mary’s Meals’ mission and values.​

• Inspire and back volunteers to own the mission. Spot people with energy and networks, invite their ideas, give light-touch support and tools, and celebrate their impact so they bring others into our movement.

• Represent Mary’s Meals throughout your region with confidence and authenticity, engaging schools, parishes, community groups, businesses, and local networks.​

• Deliver talks, small events, parish visits, school assemblies, partner meetings, local networking engagements, and other targeted activities that grow income, participation, and visibility.​

• Make confident, values-led asks that move supporters from interest to action across giving, volunteering, and awareness raising.​

• Actively network across your region to identify new prospects, initiate first meetings, and follow up quickly and purposefully.​

• Collaborate closely with the Philanthropy & Partnerships team on key opportunities and ensuring the donor is at the heart of each stewardship decision.​

• Build a diverse pipeline of leads, opportunities, and partnerships reflective of your regions communities and faith landscape.

• Work closely across the organisation to ensure your regional activity feels seamless and aligned, collaborating with Supporter Experience so that journeys, thanking and stewardship feel warm and timely; with Creative Communications to deliver compelling local storytelling; with Philanthropy & Partnerships to coordinate opportunities for major donors and corporates; and with the Volunteer Manager to strengthen mobilisation and development across your region.

• Proactively translate and tailor national messages and campaigns for regional audiences using templates, supporter stories, and local successes.​

• Spot and share regional stories, images, results, and moments of advocacy to enhance national storytelling.​

• Strengthen local visibility by cultivating community connectors and being confident in supporting and delivering appropriate local media engagement in coordination with Comms colleagues.

To apply for the role of Regional Development Officer based at Mary’s Meals UK, please follow instructions on the Charity Job website.

Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK and be based in or within short commutable distance of the region covered in the role. ​

We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.

Closing date for application is Thursday, 26 March at 5pm.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.​ Interviews will commence week beginning 30 March. 

Please note: If you have any special requirements or adjustments before an interview, please let us know. 

This is a Remote Role however candidates must be based in Scotland.

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.

We’re looking for a Head of Scotland to become a senior ambassador and strategic leader for Mary’s Meals across the nation. As Head of Scotland, you will combine a deep understanding of fundraising in local communities – including the faith landscape, education system, and community networks – with strong strategic leadership. By building trusting, long‑term relationships, you will champion the charity’s vision and inspire people, churches, schools, businesses, and local partners to join us in feeding the next hungry child.

You will lead a small team, foster volunteer leadership, and collaborate with colleagues across MMUK so that national campaigns, storytelling, and supporter journeys land meaningfully within the local context.

You will be a highly visible presence across Scotland, spending considerable time externally to open doors, build alliances, and make confident, values‑led asks. You will guide how Mary’s Meals is seen, understood, and felt in Scotland – shaping our public profile, driving sustained income growth, and building the partnerships and grassroots energy needed to grow our movement.

Key responsibilities include

• Working cross-directorate to create and deliver a fundraising growth strategy for Scotland, rooted in regional insight, cultural understanding, and community needs, and aligned with the global and national strategy.
• Working with the Communications team, shape a clear and compelling narrative, respecting the nation’s strong identity, and acknowledging our brand is most recognised in Scotland.
• Identify emerging opportunities across Scotland, including diocesan networks, local relationships, high-growth business sectors, and regional giving patterns, adjusting plans quickly to drive maximum impact.
• Serve as the senior MMUK representative in Scotland, ensuring activity aligns with the national organisational strategy.
• Act as the leading spokesperson for Mary’s Meals in Scotland, representing the charity to churches, schools, local authorities, individuals, universities, and civic or business networks.
• Spend focused time externally; networking, nurturing partnerships and driving growth through representing the charity at events, meetings, faith gatherings, conferences, and civic forums.
• Build alliances with leaders across churches, schools, businesses and community groups.
• Confidently deliver values‑led presentations and public speaking engagements that inspire trust, generosity, and long‑term commitment.
• Lead by example and work closely across the organisation to ensure that all Scottish activity is fully aligned with Supporter Experience, so that journeys, thanking and stewardship feel warm and seamless, with Communications to deliver compelling campaigns and storytelling, with Philanthropy & Partnerships to coordinate major donor and corporate engagement, and with the Volunteer Manager to strengthen volunteer mobilisation and development.
• Play an active role as a member of the Extended Leadership Team (ELT), contributing to organisational strategy and direction, playing an important role in the wider leadership of the organisation.
• Proactively cultivate, pursue, and develop fundraising opportunities via networking and outreach with the aim of securing support for our school feeding programme.
• Develop and maintain a robust national growth pipeline, ensuring proactive identification, cultivation, conversion, and stewardship of opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with Philanthropy and Partnerships, co‑owning major donor and corporate pipelines with clear roles and handovers.
• Make bold, relationship‑led asks, tailored to supporters’ motivations and capacity.
• Ensure that all donor journeys, from first engagement to long‑term stewardship, are warm, timely, and mission‑driven.
• Serve as a trusted media spokesperson for press, broadcast, and faith media when required.
• Work closely with the Communications team to provide compelling Scottish supporter stories, impactful moments, and local activity to showcase.
• Shape national‑to‑local messaging so that campaigns resonate with Scottish audiences.
• Work with your regional team and support appropriate local media coverage to raise profile and strengthen regional engagement.

To apply for the role of Head of Scotland based at Mary’s Meals UK, please follow instructions on Charity Job.

Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK and be based in Scotland.

We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.

Closing date for applications is Friday, 3 April 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

This role is remote however we require someone to be based in or a short commutable distance to cover the region.

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Regional Development Officer for North East Scotland. A recent reshaping of our Regional teams means this role will sit under our newly appointed Head of Scotland and be part of an exciting new chapter in Mary's Meal UK's fundraising vision.

You will be a warm, visible ambassador for Mary’s Meals – igniting enthusiasm, inspiring action, and helping people across your region join our mission and help feed more children. By building genuine, values‑driven relationships and using insight to guide your priorities, you’ll nurture local networks, identify high‑potential opportunities, and confidently grow income, participation, and supporter engagement. Through strategic, outward‑facing work, you’ll turn first conversations into committed, long‑term support that strengthens our movement and fuels our mission.​

Working closely with the Head of Scotland, you will co-create and deliver a tailored local growth plan that reflects your region's communities and opportunities. You will represent Mary’s Meals across schools, churches, corporates and community partners and play a pivotal role in activating supporters, mobilising volunteers, and sharing compelling local stories.​

Operating with high autonomy, you will use insights and data to focus on high potential and growth areas, and collaborate closely with our Philanthropy & Partnerships, Supporter Experience and Communications teams to deliver seamless supporter journeys and strong storytelling. Everything you do will reflect Mary’s Meals’ warmth and dignity, helping us reach more children through relationship-led growth.

Key responsibilities include

• Work with the Head of Scotland to design and deliver a clear, insight‑driven local growth plan with defined priorities, income drivers, volunteer mobilisation efforts, and visibility activities.​

• Use data, local insight, and (Region-specific) understanding to focus your time where growth potential is strongest.​

• Balance relationship‑building with a proactive, opportunity-led approach, identifying new supporters, networks, and partnerships and developing them from prospective supporters into committed donors.

• To create the conditions for a volunteer Deputy and a motivated volunteer network to confidently lead talks, events, introductions and other activities that broaden our reach​

• Empower volunteers through clear delegation, coaching, and recognition, ensuring they feel confident and aligned with Mary’s Meals’ mission and values.​​

• Inspire and back volunteers to own the mission. Spot people with energy and networks, invite their ideas, give light-touch support and tools, and celebrate their impact so they bring others into our movement.

• Represent Mary’s Meals throughout your region with confidence and authenticity, engaging schools, parishes, community groups, businesses, and local networks.​

• Deliver talks, small events, parish visits, school assemblies, partner meetings, local networking engagements, and other targeted activities that grow income, participation, and visibility.​​

• Make confident, values-led asks that move supporters from interest to action across giving, volunteering, and awareness raising.​

• Actively network across your region to identify new prospects, initiate first meetings, and follow up quickly and purposefully.​​

• Collaborate closely with the Philanthropy & Partnerships team on key opportunities and ensuring the donor is at the heart of each stewardship decision.​​

• Build a diverse pipeline of leads, opportunities, and partnerships reflective of your regions communities and faith landscape.

• Work closely across the organisation to ensure your regional activity feels seamless and aligned, collaborating with Supporter Experience so that journeys, thanking and stewardship feel warm and timely; with Creative Communications to deliver compelling local storytelling; with Philanthropy & Partnerships to coordinate opportunities for major donors and corporates; and with the Volunteer Manager to strengthen mobilisation and development across your region.

To apply for the role of Regional Development Officer (0.6 FTE) based at Mary’s Meals UK, please follow instructions on the Charity Job website.

Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK and be based in the North East of Scotland.​

We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

Interviews will commence week of 30 March. If you have any special requirements or adjustments before an interview, please let us know. 

Organisational Vision & Context:

As we journey towards our vision to bring fulness of life for every child, no matter what struggles they face, we’re looking for a motivated and mission-driven individual to join our team as a Church Relationship Lead for our Make Lunch programme. 

While our programmes vary, they share one common thread: an unwavering resolve to see lives transformed for good. Mobilising over 200 churches and 1,500 volunteers, TLG’s volunteer programmes – Early Intervention and Make Lunch – currently support around 5,000 children and their families each year. However, our vision goes further: we aim to see many more churches partner with us to transform lives in their communities.

This Role’s Impact:

We are seeking an experienced, relational, and highly organised leader with a strong passion for the issues of mental health, poverty, and social justice that underpin Make Lunch. Working alongside other Church Relationship Leads, this role will train, support, and develop church-based volunteer Make Lunch teams, ensuring they provide effective support and meaningful connection to children, young people, and families in their communities.

With excellent people, communication and training skills, the postholder will nurture positive, growing relationships with volunteer Make Lunch Coordinators, enabling excellent programme leadership at a local level. Operationally astute and confident in bringing constructive challenge, they will ensure all Make Lunch activities are safe and fully compliant. Driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, they will foster a growth mindset among those they support, maximising the impact of Make Lunch both locally and nationally.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Hours: Part time (22.5 hours per week, 0.6 FTE), including Tuesdays

Closing Date: Sunday 29th March

Initial Interviews: Monday 13th April – Online

Final Interviews: Tuesday 21st April – at our National Support Centre in West Yorkshire