Graduate programme recruitment manager jobs

About Spear Norwich

Spear Norwich is a partnership between Spear and East Church Norwich!

East Church Norwich

Their vision is to play their part in sharing and reaching the East of England with the good news of Jesus. They are a large and growing church, one church, yet formed of multiple parishes across the city of Norwich. They are a family, journeying through life together, seeking to love God, to love each other, and to love those around us, as we gather and scatter. They gather on Sundays, as groups, communities, teams, and as family to worship, pray, and to open God's word, and to be filled over and over again with the Holy Spirit. They gather to connect with one another, to have fun, and to encourage each other along the way. They then scatter, to play their part in the mission that God calls us to, empowered by his Spirit to live everyday, supernatural lives for him.
 

Spear is at the very forefront of their mission to bring life through Jesus to all. They believe that every person, whether young or old, has a unique call on their life, and they want to see each person find the purpose for which they have been created. Find out more on their website.

You would be employed by East Church with Spear Norwich as a key missional activity. Prayer and worship are embedded into daily working practices, so there is an Occupational Requirement for applicants to be practicing Christians. You are welcome to reach out to the Spear recruitment team to discuss further before applying, although Spear will also provide an informal conversation to discuss East Church's theology early on in the application process.

Key Information:

• Salary: from £28,000 - £32,000 FTE
• Part-time, 4 days a week - Monday to Thursday
• 25 days annual leave pro rata, including bank holidays
• A DBS check will be requested in the event of a job offer
• The Spear Programme offers a rewarding opportunity to work with young people, but it requires a dedicated commitment. Due to the term-based nature of the programme (i.e. two consecutive 4-week programmes in autumn, spring and summer), we expect annual leave to be taken between, rather than during terms

Recruitment Process

Application Deadline: Monday 13th April, 5pm

Informal Call

Short Administration Task

Assessment and Interview Day: Friday 20th April

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process please let us know.

Person Specification

• An active Christian, dedicated to representing the values and ethos of Spear and East Church. A commitment to grow and learn spiritually and as a Christian leader.
• Passion for social justice, especially supporting young people in employment or education
• A dynamic and engaging individual with an enthusiasm for and experience of group and 1-1 coaching and training.
• An entrepreneurial and ambitious individual who enjoys starting new projects, works well under pressure and can translate ideas into practice with creativity.
• Self-motivated with strong leadership, management and organisational skills with the ability to exercise initiative and prioritise workload.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, high emotional intelligence, and a sense of fun!

We are looking for a College Alumni Relations Manager to join our team to refine and expand a bold and innovative alumni volunteering programme to support both the priorities of the College of Medicine and Health and DARO. As a DARO business partner for the College, you will be based both within DARO and the College itself. You will join nine other volunteering professionals as part of the wider team and will be responsible for developing a range of volunteering opportunities for alumni, which support the College’s key priorities, and Birmingham 2030 targets, across a diversified curriculum, the student experience, graduate employability, student recruitment, research and influence. You will be responsible for growing the number of alumni volunteers for the College, reporting on the impact of your work internally and the relationship management of a number of key alumni contacts, with a clear focus on supporting international recruitment for the College. You will work with colleagues across DARO to bring alumni closer to the University to support Philanthropic giving.

The College of Medicine and Health

At the College of Medicine and Health we are shaping the future of health and medicine through the provision of innovative education and exceptional research, delivered by world-leading academics and supported by a diverse range of committed and high-performing Professional Services staff.

Development and Alumni Relations Office

The Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) exists to support this academic and student community by engaging, inspiring, and celebrating alumni, individuals, and charitable funders who give their money, time, and networks to support the University’s strategic priorities. The Office, which comprises over 50 staff across four teams, is focused on fundraising and volunteering from alumni and individuals who are passionate about changing lives, through funding various research initiatives, supporting student scholarships, mentoring students, and providing internships. The recent launch of the hugely ambitious Birmingham In Action campaign frames these efforts, as we seek to secure one million volunteering hours from our students, staff and alumni and raise £400 million in support of institutional priorities.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy.

In Cardiff, Spear is partnering with Citizen Church, which is part of the HTB Network of churches. In joining the Spear South Wales team, you will be part of the social outreach programme at Citizen Church.

Spear is a dynamic, growing youth employment charity that coaches young people to overcome barriers and thrive in work and life. We do this through the Spear Programme. 

While the Spear programme will maintain a close connection with Citizen Church and coaches will be expected to get to know the team and congregation to enable them to support the Spear programme, the Spear Coach is not required to join the church if they are already involved in another local church.

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The important stuff 

Salary: from £24,000 FTE

Hours: 9.30am – 5.30pm, Tuesday – Thursday, Part-time, with some flexibility and occasional evening or weekend work for events such as Spear Celebrations

Location: Citizen Church, Cardiff

Closing date: Wednesday 1st April (We are interviewing on a rolling basis and might close the application early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process please let us know.

Person Specification

• An active Christian, able to personally represent the values of Spear and Citizen Church, and a commitment to grow and learn spiritually and as a Christian leader.
• A confidence in group facilitation, and a desire to learn and understand coaching techniques.
• Passion for social justice and for working as part of the church to transform communities, especially supporting young people in employment or education.
• An ambitious and self-motivated individual with the ability to exercise initiative, prioritise workload and work well under pressure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• High emotional intelligence, and a sense of humour and fun!

Our working hours are 9:30am - 5:30pm, with occasional evening work for events such as our Spear Celebrations. We value a culture of excellence, authenticity, and fun.

We are an office-based organisation, working face-to-face with the trainees and value the collaboration and opportunities to work creatively and build community that this offers us.

About Spear Norwich

Spear Norwich is a partnership between Spear and East Church Norwich!

East Church Norwich

Their vision is to play their part in sharing and reaching the East of England with the good news of Jesus. They are a large and growing church, one church, yet formed of multiple parishes across the city of Norwich. They are a family, journeying through life together, seeking to love God, to love each other, and to love those around us, as we gather and scatter. They gather on Sundays, as groups, communities, teams, and as family to worship, pray, and to open God's word, and to be filled over and over again with the Holy Spirit. They gather to connect with one another, to have fun, and to encourage each other along the way. They then scatter, to play their part in the mission that God calls us to, empowered by his Spirit to live everyday, supernatural lives for him.

Spear is at the very forefront of their mission to bring life through Jesus to all. They believe that every person, whether young or old, has a unique call on their life, and they want to see each person find the purpose for which they have been created. Find out more on their website.

You would be employed by East Church with Spear Norwich as a key missional activity. Prayer and worship are embedded into daily working practices, so there is an Occupational Requirement for applicants to be practicing Christians. You are welcome to reach out to the Spear recruitment team to discuss further before applying, although Spear will also provide an informal conversation to discuss East Church's theology early on in the application process.

Key Information:

• Salary: from £22,400 - £25,600 FTE
• Part-time, 3 days a week – Tuesday to Thursday
• 25 days annual leave pro rata, including bank holidays
• A DBS check will be requested in the event of a job offer
• The Spear Programme offers a rewarding opportunity to work with young people, but it requires a dedicated commitment. Due to the term-based nature of the programme (i.e. two consecutive 6-week programmes in autumn, spring and summer), we expect annual leave to be taken between, rather than during terms

Recruitment Process

Application Deadline: Monday 13th April, 5pm

Informal Call

Short Administration Task

Assessment and Interview Day: Friday 20th April

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process please let us know.

Person Specification

• An active Christian, dedicated to representing the values and ethos of Spear and East Church.
• A commitment to grow and learn spiritually and as a Christian leader, and a desire to learn and understand coaching techniques.
• Passion for social justice, especially supporting young people in employment or education
• Confident communication and interpersonal skills, both over telephone and face to face, particularly in group facilitation.
• An ambitious and self-motivated individual with the ability to prioritise workload, exercise initiative and work well under pressure.
• High emotional intelligence, a sense of humour and fun!

Do you have a track record of delivering outstanding fundraising results? Do you have the drive, passion and commitment to develop and lead fundraising campaigns that ultimately help young people succeed? We are looking for a fundraising professional to lead the alumni and fundraising activities at the BRGS Fundraising Trust, a charity connected to Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.

About Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School is a mixed secondary grammar school and sixth form for 11 to 18 year olds in Waterfoot, Lancashire. We joined Star Academies in 2023 and, like all Star schools, we have a leadership specialism.

We provide a knowledge-based academic curriculum alongside a rich and diverse leadership programme that grows character and inspires charitable and social action. Our pursuit of educational excellence is based upon our fundamental belief that every pupil has the capacity to become a successful and inspirational leader.

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School has a charitable foundation, the BRGS Fundraising Trust, that raises and distributes funding to support Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School pupils. It exists to expand opportunities and improve outcomes for all pupils at the school, with a particular focus on supporting those with additional barriers to success, such as pupils from lower‑income families.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for a talented individual to lead the development of fundraising and alumni engagement for the BRGS Fundraising Trust. Your expertise will secure the support of our community to continue to provide an outstanding learning environment for our young people.

The successful candidate will be a proactive leader with strong fundraising knowledge and skills. You will have extensive experience of delivering fundraising projects and campaigns, preferably in education contexts, with proven ability to develop relationships with alumni, parents and other donors.

The successful candidate will be employed by Star Academies and will deliver the fundraising strategy for the school and charity.

You will have:

• A degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in fundraising through individual giving and major donors.
• Experience cultivating and stewarding major donors and senior stakeholders.
• Understanding of effective fundraising practice and donor stewardship.
• Knowledge of alumni relations and community engagement strategies.

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Find out more

This role is full time, however we are open to requests for part-time working, with a minimum of 3 days a week.

At least 50% of the role will be on site at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, with the remaining proportion undertaken remotely if preferred by the postholder.

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact the school.

Key Dates

Closing Date: Sunday, 12 April 2026 at midnight.

Interview Date: Thursday, 30 April 2026.

Proposed Start Date: Monday, 1 June 2026.

Application Process

To apply for this vacancy please use the 'Apply for job' link below. You should ensure your application form and supporting statement address all elements of the person specification. We will only consider candidates who meet the vast majority of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.

At TLG, we’re passionate about building an exceptional staff team that’s committed to making a real difference in the lives of struggling children across the UK. We’re always on the lookout for great people to journey with us towards our vision, and we’re excited to offer a unique opportunity for a motivated and mission-driven individual to join our Graduate Programme.

An opportunity...

This programme offers an exciting opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in the non‑profit sector, develop essential professional skills, and play a meaningful part in transforming the lives of children and young people.

What sets our graduate programme apart is the real responsibility and purposeful work we release our graduates into - our relational culture and approach to leadership brings significant opportunities for influence. You’ll build on your passions, strengths and interests as you get involved in key areas of TLG’s work, contributing to impact that truly matters.

You’ll be based primarily within one TLG team, giving you the space to grow specialist skills and make a real difference. Your placement will be matched to your unique strengths and interests. Alongside this, you’ll gain wider experience through inter‑departmental projects, enabling you to develop a broad understanding of the charity sector and how different teams work together.

Examples of teams your role could sit within include Fundraising & Supporter Engagement, Marketing, Communications & Advocacy, Programmes, Executive Support & Operations, Digital/IT.

There will be a wealth of development opportunities at you fingertips as part of the programme, designed to accelerate your growth and equip you for a successful career in the charity sector.

You’ll be the driving force in drawing together your own unique mix of diverse experiences to maximise your career development and enhance your impact. Some of what’s on offer includes:

· Potential for a funded qualification or further professional training

· Access to an external coach to support your development

· Potential for external mentoring or short-term external placements

· Opportunities to work with and shadow Heads of Department across TLG

· Dedicated time to visit other organisations and build sector insight

· Participation in the Graduate Programme book club, with input from senior leaders

· Action learning sets and development sessions led by senior leaders

· Access to TLG’s internal leadership and development programmes

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.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis prior to the closing date, so we would encourage you to apply as soon as you’re able. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.

Hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week)

Closing Date: Tuesday 12th May

The Role
The role of a programme coordinator is ensuring the smooth running of all student related events. This will include having a full understanding of all the SEO-London programmes; understanding the relevant industry that the programme supports; how these fits into the SEO-London organisation and using this knowledge to liaise with students and client/partner firms to run, organise and market successful events.

In turn this role will be responsible for using data to ensure the programme meets benchmark KPIs on attendance and demographics.  In coordination with the programme manager will make recommendations for possible changes and ideas to further support the student experience. The role will also ensure a seamless and professional level of customer care to all students. 

This role would be suited to individuals who are committed to SEO London mission, motivated to work with undergraduates and interested in learning about, and gaining experience in, charity management. We are looking for people who are passionate about representation and believe that background should not be a barrier to employment.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

DAY TO DAY DELIVERY OF EVENTS 
Responsible for the overall administration all student events, with specific responsibility to ensure student communication is exceptional. Including event management, student and partner communication and coordination of all the relevant stakeholders, along with posting roles on opportunities page and weekly newsletter  
  
STUDENT MANAGEMENT & QUERY HANDLING  
Responsible for the relationship management of the students - including the ability to understand needs, resolve issues and anticipating and creating a strong relationship on behalf of SEO-London

• Responsible for managing student query escalations and to identify where there are opportunities to improve communication, marketing, or the type of events
• Responsible for managing the programme inbox (where applicable)
• Responsible for identifying creative and innovative ways to connect, educate and train students.
• Provide oversight of cv support, screening, and recruitment preparation 
• Responsible for attending campus events and representing SEO-London professionally with knowledge and enthusiasm
• Organise mentoring and buddying allocations 

QUALITY ASSURANCE  
Responsible for ensuring that all information relating to the events and student data is managed within the GDPR guidelines and is updated in Salesforce effectively for tracking purposes. Responsible for running reports to track and monitor events from the CRM

Person Specification

Skills and experience

We are looking for applicants who are:

• Looking to develop a career in charity and learn about charity programme management
• Motivated to work with undergraduates and enjoy interacting with large groups of people

• Have a working knowledge of the student lifecycle (both school and University)
• Strong understanding of employability skills required by students to be job market ready

You can showcase:

• Demonstrable communication and listening skills  
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team  
• Empathic approach to working with others
• A passion for our mission and the determination to help build the careers of others

You have some experience in some of the following skills or be willing to learn and develop them: 

• Understanding or experience of marketing and comms
• Business writing skills   
• Managing and analysing data
• Event coordination
• Good competency using Microsoft (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Strong organisation skills

Required qualifications

• University degree (any discipline), apprenticeship or relevant work or volunteering experience

Location: Hybrid (London-based)

Contract: Full-time

Salary: up to £38,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

We’re seeking an experienced, motivated Programme Manager with a passion for music and culture, and the confidence to drive projects forward in a small, collaborative team. 

This is an exciting time to join CDR as we grow nationally and you will play a pivotal role in shaping and scaling three of our core programmes at a time of real momentum.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years experience in delivering music education programmes, be highly organised, and proactive.

CDR is an organisation committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do, from our programmes to our hiring practices. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black people and others who are currently underrepresented in the music and cultural industry. 

About CDR

CDR is a community-first music organisation working towards an equitable music industry for producers and artists. Founded in 2002, we have a 20-year track record of nurturing independent music makers and pushing UK electronic music forward.

We connect education with modern music culture, empowering people to create new music, define their sound, and release music on their own terms. Our programmes span schools, youth centres, grassroots venues and international collaborations — from Newham to Nairobi.

As a Black-led, London-based National Portfolio Organisation (Arts Council England), we are building the CDR Pathway: a cohesive journey that unlocks creativity in people at a young age and supports them to develop their creative practice throughout their lives.

This is an exciting time to join CDR: after recently becoming an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation, we are rapidly growing our projects around the country. Building on 20 years of heritage in the UK underground music scene, there is a significant opportunity to push on further and grow CDR’s profile to establish ourselves as a leading music and education organisation nationally.

The Programmes You’ll Lead

Music Producer Club (MPC) – digital music-making for young people aged 12–18, delivered in schools, youth centres and online. Taught by ‘producer educators’ - working music producers we train to educate the next generation -, MPC builds creativity, skills and confidence while connecting participants with electronic music culture and the national curriculum.

Process – a development programme for women, non-binary and trans+ music makers. Structured across three strands for different abilities (Create, Define, Release), Process combines workshops, mentoring and masterclasses to build skills, confidence and community for underrepresented producers.

Out The Box (OTB) – hands-on analogue mixing workshops in leading London studios, giving emerging producers practical experience with desks, outboard gear and professional engineers while bridging digital and analogue production techniques.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Management

• Lead planning, scheduling and delivery of MPC, Process and Out The Box programmes and events.

Quality Monitoring & Evaluation

• Collect and analyse participant data, case studies and feedback, and drive solutions in response to pain points.

• Support continuous improvement by feeding programme insights into CDR’s evolving evaluation framework, learning outputs, and communications strategy.

• Ensure safeguarding, risk assessments and health and safety are adhered to across all programmes. Implementing training, good practice and further planning where necessary.

Strategic Development

• Work with senior management to scale and embed programmes nationally.

• Ensure programmes align with and contribute to the CDR Pathway, supporting participants to progress from entry-level engagement to sustained creative practice and professional development.

Person Specification

Essential

• Track record of managing and growing programmes in education, youth, or the arts.

• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

Terms & Benefits

• Full-time, hybrid working with a London office base.

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + office closure (Christmas week).

• Pension scheme.

• Training and professional development opportunities.

Reports to: CEO

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping over 50,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for someone who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a fixed-term contract as an Education Worker at our
centre in Southampton.

Location: IntoUniversity Southampton
Contract: Full-time, fixed-term until July 2026
Applications close: 9am Tuesday 31st March 2026
Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the successful candidate

Salary

£28,250 per annum

What could my day look like?

The Education Worker role is a frontline, fast-paced and rewarding role where no two weeks will look the same. A typical day will have different activities, possibly spread between the IntoUniversity centre, partner schools and the offices of a corporate partner.

In the morning, you might be setting off with resources to run a workshop for sixth-form students in their secondary school. In the afternoon you may be setting up the classroom ahead of running Primary Academic Support for young people in your IntoUniversity centre. On other days, you may be travelling to a corporate partner to run a business simulation workshop for 15 year-olds or leading a group of final year primary school students on a campus visit for their graduation.

As an Education Worker, you’ll always be delivering the programme as part of your centre team, which means that any delivery is always a team effort. 

About Spear

We launched the award-winning Spear Programme over 20 years ago, and there are now 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in the workplace.

Spear operates a joint venture model with churches across the UK to run our Spear Centres. Some Centres operate in collaboration with independent charitable trusts, while others are run directly with the local church (both referred to below as ‘Spear Church Partners’ or ‘Church Partners’) As a result, the Spear Partner Fundraising Manager role requires raising funds for both churches and charitable trusts.

About the role

Spear is in an exciting time of growth, as we expand our work nationwide. You will play a pivotal role in equipping new and existing Church Partners to build sustainable, thriving Spear Centres that transform young people’s lives. 

With an annual fundraising target of £125k, you will combine strategic insight, relationship-building and hands-on application writing, as well fundraising advice to help Church Partners grow diverse and resilient fundraising streams. Working closely with Trustees, Church leaders and Spear’s Central teams, you will strengthen funding pipelines, unlock new opportunities and ensure partners are supported every step of the way. 

Key information

• Salary: £37,000
• Contract: Full time (4 days considered) permanent. Monday – Friday with some out of hours work needed for events such as Spear Celebration. Ad hoc regional travel required to deliver training and support to partner churches.
• Annual leave: 28 days annual leave (including Christmas gift days) plus bank holidays
• Closing date: Friday 27th March, 09.30am (We are interviewing on a rolling basis and might close the application early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with Us Pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about personally representing the values and beliefs of Spear, and our mission to equip and support young people facing barriers to employment.
• Creative, self-motivated forward planner who exercises initiative, with the ability to prioritise workload, including working well under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce persuasive, high-quality fundraising applications
• Effective interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence, with the ability to relate confidently to a range of stakeholders both, internally and externally
• Experience in fundraising, Trust and/or community fundraising desirable, with good working knowledge of other fundraising streams is desirable but not essential
• Strong quantitative skills including ability to work with and interpret impact data, fundraising pipelines and basic financial information 

We are an office-based organisation and value the collaboration and opportunities to work creatively and build community that this offers us, with staff spending time in the working week both at home and in the London office.

Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement for people with refugee backgrounds. We support young people to build community, become leaders, and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home.

Each year, hundreds of young people from dozens of countries and living in London & Bristol take part in our residential programmes, leadership training and youth hubs. Our residentials are often the first step – immersive, relationship-rich spaces where young people connect, reflect and begin to see themselves as leaders. From there, many move into leadership training and take on volunteer roles within the movement.

Our work is youth-led and rooted in lived experience. We are now implementing our 2025–2028 strategy, focused on strengthening quality, embedding learning and ensuring our growth is sustainable and safe.

The Head of Programmes is a senior leadership role, reporting to the CEO and managing two senior colleagues. You will hold responsibility for the quality, coherence and safeguarding of all programme activity.

Responsibilities (abridged - see attached job description)

Programme Leadership & Strategy in Practice

• Lead implementation of OSH’s 2025–2028 programme strategy.

• Oversee the design, quality and coherence of residentials, leadership training and hubs.

• Take operational responsibility for residential delivery, including participant referrals, recruitment of staff and freelancers, programme content and educational standards.

• Attend and lead approximately five residential programmes per year.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen youth engagement and leadership pathways as the organisation scales.

• Ensure programme data is accurately recorded and used to improve delivery.

Team Leadership

• Line manage the Communities Manager and Leadership & Volunteering Manager.

• Provide structured supervision, clear objectives and professional development support.

• Ensure strong coordination between hubs, residentials and leadership pathways.

• Build a culture of accountability, reflection and continuous improvement.

Safeguarding & Welfare

• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and serve as DSL at events as required.

• Ensure safeguarding practice is robust, consistent and embedded across all activities.

• Respond to safeguarding and behavioural issues appropriately and oversee safe recruitment processes.

Partnerships, Budget & Oversight

• Maintain referral partnerships and represent OSH externally where appropriate.

• Hold programme budgets within agreed limits and ensure financial discipline.

• Embed monitoring, evaluation and reflective practice across the programme team.

Experience & Competencies (abridged - see attached job description)

Essential

• At least 5 years’ experience in youth or youth-centred programming, including residential or intensive settings.

• Experience designing and delivering leadership development or informal education programmes.

• Strong facilitation and training skills.

• Demonstrable experience managing staff and developing teams.

• Strong understanding of safeguarding practice and willingness to act as Deputy DSL.

• Experience working with young people from refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, or strong understanding of the issues affecting them.

• Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery in a part-time senior leadership role.

• Strong organisational skills and commitment to inclusive, youth-led practice.

Desirable

• Level 3 Safeguarding training.

• Experience managing programme budgets.

• Experience contributing to organisational strategy or scaling programme models.

• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Beacon CRM, MyConcern or similar systems.

• Lived experience of migration or displacement.

Are you a volunteering or alumni relations professional looking for your next challenge? Do you have a passion for engaging volunteers and for bringing people together? Are you looking to develop your career at a prestigious organisation?

We are looking for an International Engagement Manager to join our team to refine and expand a bold and innovative alumni volunteering programme to support both the priorities of the University and the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO). The post holder will deliver volunteer and engagement opportunities in key markets including China, India, Hong Kong, USA, Dubai, and many others, and will join nine other volunteering professionals as part of the wider team. The role will be responsible for developing a range of volunteering opportunities for international alumni, which support Birmingham 2030 targets around graduate employability, student recruitment, student experience, research and influence. You will be responsible for growing the number of international alumni volunteers and reporting on the impact of your work internally. 

A key component of this role will be developing relationships with colleagues across the University to include alumni engagement and volunteering across the University’s international strategic themes. The International Engagement Manager role will be a point of contact for international matters into the Development and Alumni Relations Department amongst other University departments, including International Student Recruitment, Birmingham Global and Careers Network. As the lead on international engagement activity for the department, you will be expected to travel overseas for events and alumni activity in key strategic regions.

You will be provided with a robust induction and an ongoing training program that will include support from the University as well as expert external providers.

The University has global reach, including several partnerships with other leading universities around the world, and is grounded in our local community, having opened the first fully comprehensive University secondary school in the country in 2015. We are an ambitious and successful research-intensive University (one of the top 100 research-led universities globally) and have produced 10 Nobel Prize winners, including three who received their awards in 2016. Academics here are exploring the impact of climate change, helping to address global health epidemics, and changing our understanding of Shakespeare. Our students come from nearly 150 countries and our flagship outreach programmes mean that almost 25% of our student population come from underrepresented backgrounds: one of the highest proportions in the UK. 

DARO exists to support this academic and student community by engaging, inspiring, and celebrating alumni, individuals, and charitable funders who give their money, time, and networks to support the University’s strategic priorities. The Office, which is comprised of five teams, is focused on fundraising and volunteering from alumni, organisations and individuals who are passionate about changing lives, through funding various research projects, supporting student bursaries, mentoring students, and providing internships, as well as providing a versatile programme of engagement opportunities for our global alumni community.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone

Martingale Postgraduate Foundation (Martingale) exists to fund and support the next generation of talented researchers. We believe that family income should not be a barrier to the pursuit of excellence, and our mission is to enable and nurture talented individuals from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to thrive within world-leading postgraduate research.

Martingale’s flagship programme is the Martingale Postgraduate Scholarship, which supports students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue and excel in postgraduate degrees, by providing:

• A fully-funded Living Wage Scholarship to pursue a one-year Masters degree or a four-year PhD.
• All tuition fees and research expenses, including a tax-free stipend for living costs.
• Tailored support to apply for Martingale courses at our partner universities.
• Access to Martingale programmes, including leadership training and connections with top academic and industry professionals.
• Membership of a pioneering community of talented researchers.

In the three years since Martingale launched, we are now supporting over 100 Scholars to undertake postgraduate degrees across our ten partner universities and have committed over £7.7m in Scholarships. We are continuing to expand our offer, bringing on new partners each year.

We are seeking an experienced, strategic and collaborative Head of Programmes to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in shaping our fast-growing Martingale Scholarship Programme.

As Head of Programmes, you will join our senior management team, overseeing the growing programmes team. Working closely with the CEO, you will oversee all aspects of Martingale’s Scholarship Programme from application to alumni, ensuring that the programme maintains a strong reputation for being both supportive and prestigious.

You will set the strategic direction of Martingale’s Scholarship Programme, working closely with the CEO on a day-to-day basis to ensure that as we expand across STEM the programme remains of a high quality and meeting Martingale’s mission. You will ensure that Martingale’s programmes are impactful, data informed and meet the needs of the scholars we are supporting. You will also be responsible for managing relationships with various external stakeholders including universities, funders and evaluation partners.

We are looking for a strong strategic leader with extensive programme experience including line management, partnership management and external relations. You will bring excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail, a proactive mindset, and a strong alignment with Martingale’s mission. We welcome applicants from a range of career paths who are excited to be part of a growing, fast-paced charity delivering meaningful impact.

Martingale Foundation is incubated by Purposeful Ventures who provide operational and strategic support. The Head of Programmes will be employed by Purposeful Ventures.

About Purposeful Ventures

Our vision is for a fairer society where all young people thrive. We work with social entrepreneurs, organisations and philanthropists that share our vision. Through our work with these partners, young people are given opportunities in education and beyond, helping them reach their true potential.

Purposeful Ventures offers philanthropists and funders bespoke advice, using an evidence-based approach to help them to identify high-impact opportunities to fund. We then partner with visionary individuals and mission-driven organisations with strong theories of change. We help them turn great ideas into sustainable and successful ventures by offering fully individualised and very hands-on support, access to funding and a ‘high-challenge, high-support’ home. We do the minimum necessary and whatever it takes to succeed.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership of the Scholarship Programme

• Provide strategic oversight of the end-to-end Martingale Scholarship lifecycle, from selection and admissions through to scholar progression and alumni outcomes.
• Develop and deliver a multi-year operational strategy for Martingale’s Development Programme (MDP), ensuring scalability, academic excellence, and alignment with organisational growth plans.
• Continuously refine the scholar journey to ensure it is sector-leading, prestigious, and tailored to the needs of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Build deep expertise in postgraduate education, research culture, and enabling access to inform programme evolution and innovation.

Admissions & Selection Strategy

• Lead the design, governance, and continuous improvement of a rigorous, fair, and high-quality admissions and assessment process across subject areas.
• Oversee shortlisting, interview frameworks, assessment centres, and final scholarship recommendations to the Selection Committee.
• Ensure alignment between Martingale’s selection processes and university partner requirements.
• Maintain oversight of scholar allocation, including place management, deferrals, intermissions, withdrawals, and reallocations.

Scholar Experience & Case Management

• Ensure effective advocacy for Scholars including maximising progression and retention across cohorts.
• Oversee complex scholar casework, including deferrals, intermissions, safeguarding concerns, funding queries, disciplinary action and university liaison.
• Ensure consistent, professional, and high-touch support across the scholar lifecycle.
• Strengthen cohort cohesion and long-term alumni engagement.

Safeguarding & Compliance

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Martingale, ensuring safeguarding policy implementation and record keeping in line with best practice in relation to vulnerable adults.
• Oversee data protection compliance relating to scholar and applicant data, in partnership with the organisation’s Data Protection Officer.
• Ensure programme delivery complies with charity, funding, and regulatory requirements.

Budget, Contracting & Financial Oversight

• Hold responsibility for programme budgets, ensuring effective resource allocation, cost control, and value for money.
• Oversee scholarship programme financial management, and work with Head of Strategy and Operations on onwards grants including deferrals, funding adjustments, and invoicing.
• Work with the Head of Strategy and Operations on university contracting, scholarship agreements, and financial reconciliation with partners.
• Ensure timely and accurate invoicing and reporting processes across programme operations.

University & Sector Partnerships (Programme-Focused)

• Lead programme-level relationships with university partners, including Heads of Departments, Graduate Tutors, CDT leads, and admissions teams.
• Ensure universities meet partnership commitments and that Scholars are appropriately supported institutionally.
• Contribute to partnership negotiations where programme design or operational delivery is concerned.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen university research culture and scholar support mechanisms.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact

• Lead development and oversight of Martingale’s Theory of Change and evaluation framework, working with our external independent evaluators.
• Develop robust systems to track scholar progression, outcomes, and programme effectiveness.
• Provide high-quality reporting to the CEO, Board, funders, and partners, evidencing impact and continuous improvement.

New Programme Development & Innovation

• Work with the CEO to design new subject expansions, pilots, or initiatives aligned to Martingale’s mission.
• Assess operational, financial, and reputational implications of programme growth.
• Develop business cases, delivery models, and implementation plans for expansion.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Provide senior leadership to the Programmes team, including line management of programme staff.
• Build a high-performing, mission-driven team with clear accountability and ownership.
• Develop succession planning and team capability as Martingale scales.
• Model Martingale’s values of excellence, professionalism, and thoughtful support.

Organisational Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Senior Management Team, contributing to organisational strategy and governance.
• Represent Martingale externally in academic, sector, and policy contexts where appropriate.
• Support Board and Committee reporting related to programme performance and scholar outcomes.

Key Requirements:

Essential Criteria

• Right to work in the UK

Experience and skills

Essential

• Significant experience leading and delivering high-quality programmes, ideally in higher education, research, scholarships, or a mission-driven organisation.
• Strong stakeholder management experience, with evidence of working effectively with universities, academics, funders, or equivalent partners.
• Proven line management experience, with the ability to develop and lead a high-performing team.
• Experience managing complex operational delivery, including planning, timelines, and coordinating multiple moving parts.
• Strong experience handling sensitive casework and providing professional support to individuals.
• Budget management experience, including planning and overseeing programme delivery costs.
• Excellent written communication skills, including producing clear reports and briefings for senior audiences.
• Commitment to safeguarding, wellbeing and compliance, with willingness to act as safeguarding lead.

Desirable

• Experience working directly with postgraduate research, PhD programmes, or doctoral training environments.
• Experience designing or overseeing selection and assessment processes (e.g. interviews, admissions, recruitment pipelines).
• Experience managing programme evaluation frameworks, including Theory of Change and external evaluators.
• Familiarity with contracting, invoicing, and operational finance processes.
• Knowledge of UK higher education systems and research culture.
• Experience working in a start-up, scale-up, or fast-growing charity.

Personal Characteristics

• Highly organised, proactive, and able to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: able to build rapport and trusting relationships, able to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Strong judgement, discretion and professionalism, including ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
• A commitment to Martingale’s mission to support postgraduate students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Comfortable working in a rapidly growing and changing organisation with a degree of ambiguity – confident to create processes and ways forward where they might not yet exist.
• Creative and innovative: willing to think outside the box to maximise reach.
• Resourceful, able to act on initiative, hardworking, detail-oriented, and systematic.

Key Information:

LOCATION: Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, London and Manchester (hybrid working pattern). We are prioritising applications for the Nottingham and Newcastle locations in line with our regional development strategy.

HOURS: 37.5 hours per week (flexible working around core hours of 10am-4pm)

START DATE: 10th August 2026

DURATION: 18-month graduate programme with optional apprenticeship opportunity upon completion. Permanent contract from August 2026. 

SALARY: £27,375 per annum (Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham and Newcastle), £30,025 (London).

DEADLINE: Thursday 2nd April at 12pm (noon).

The application process: written application > video interview > assessment centre.

Assessment Centres will take place between 20th April and 8th May 2026. They will be conducted on Zoom and consist of 3 tasks: An interview, a written exercise and a group task (with up to 3 other candidates)

In keeping with upReach's mission and values we would particularly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups and those with lived experience of barriers to social mobility.

We encourage all applicants to review our Application Pack before submitting your application.

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 a 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 socio-economic 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. 

About the FCLP

upReach is recruiting for our unique Future Charity  Leaders Programme (FCLP). This is a great opportunity for anyone who is passionate about social mobility, and looking to gain exposure to various aspects of charity management whilst working with university students who are exploring their career options. We welcome applications from those in the corporate world who are looking for a career change as well as recent graduates wanting to kick-start their career in the third sector.

upReach’s Future Charity Leaders Programme (FCLP) combines delivery work (supporting our Associates) with exposure to a range of aspects of charity management.

As a Programme Coordinator on the FCLP, you will deliver personalised, employment-focused support to a cohort of approximately 80 Associates, helping to transform their lives by equipping them with the necessary skills to secure a top graduate job. During a typical week, you should expect to be working across a range of projects including:

• 1:1 undergraduate coaching

• Events organisation

• Application support

• Partnership management (with university partners or employer partners) 

• and more!

In addition to this, the programme offers the opportunity to develop skills in key areas of charity management by participating in 3 rounds of six-month 'rotations' across different functions. After your initial 18 months and the completion of 3, six-month rotations, you will have the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship in Leadership and Management to further develop your skills and gain a level 3 qualification.

Throughout the programme, you will receive dedicated internal training developing your leadership skills and building your confidence in the role.Through our partnership with The Circle Line, you will be part of a supportive peer group, offered regular personal development training workshops online and in-person on their '12 Tools for Life'. You will also be able to choose your own practitioner to support you in 1:1 sessions throughout the programme to help you unlock more of your unique potential.

What will I be doing?

The FCLP is a fast-paced but rewarding role. Programme Coordinators spend 80% of their time (4 days per week) working directly with Associates to enhance their career knowledge and skills and 20% (1 day per week) on a charity management rotation (or an apprenticeship after 18 months). No two days are the same, but your responsibilities may include:

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with Associates, helping them to achieve their career goals 

• Developing and delivering professional development-focused support

• Individual and small group work with Associates 

• Assisting Associates with their applications to undergraduate positions and graduate jobs 

• Developing sector and/or employability skill knowledge while building resources to aid all Associates 

• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with university and/or employer partners 

• Delivering informative workshops to enhance sector knowledge and employability skills

• Planning, delivering and reporting on events and workshops with partners

When applying for this role we ask that applicants are able to commit to the full 18-month training programme, and we encourage participation in the apprenticeship scheme beyond this. As you will be working directly with our beneficiaries throughout their degree, this consistency will allow you to build bonds with your Associates and ensure continuity, thus allowing us to have the most impact for the young people we work with.

What Skills and Experience do I need?

This programme would be suited to individuals who are committed to upReach’s mission, motivated to work with undergraduates and interested in learning about, and gaining experience in, charity management. We are looking for people who are passionate about social mobility and believe that background should not be a barrier to graduate employment. 

Essential Skills/Experiences:

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

• Strong organisational and time management skills with a keen eye for detail and the ability to manage a varied workload

• A University degree in any discipline, or equivalent experience

• Self-motivation and an ability to work in a small team as well as solo

• Excellent communication skills and strong written English

• The ability to engage and communicate confidently with undergraduates, corporate volunteers (mentors) and employers via phone, email, and in person

• Confidence with public speaking or facilitating workshops

Desirable Skills/Experiences:

• Knowledge of the graduate labour market in the UK and experience supporting individuals through an application process 

• Working in one or more of the career sectors that upReach support Associates in applying to.

Team Culture & Benefits: 

By joining the upReach team, you will be joining a team who are dedicated to encouraging you in your career journey and fostering an inclusive culture. 

We offer: 

• Flexible working, hybrid working and reduced Summer Hours (June-August)

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days, plus bank holidays. (This increases to 27 days entitlement after 2.5 years and then to 30 days after 5 years of working with us)

• Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members

• 1 day of Birthday leave, 1 day of Volunteering leave and discretionary annual wellbeing days

• Optional extended unpaid leave

• 3% Pension Contribution, this increases to 5% after 5 years of working with us 

• Cycle-to-work scheme, Tech scheme

• Monthly socials, Annual in-person Team Day

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

• A range of discounts through the Charity Workers Discount and Tickets for Good websites

• 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

  • Socio-Economic Background Network

  • (Im)Migrants Network

Ready to apply?

We are dedicated 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. 

Unfortunately, upReach is unable to offer Visa Sponsorship.

Applications close at 12pm on Thursday 2nd April

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. Thus, 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+.