6 Head of programme jobs

Head of Youth Work and Mission

JOB DESCRIPTION

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oxygen

Hours: 37.5 hours per week. This role requires flexible working, including some evenings, occasional Saturdays/Sundays, and weekends when running residentials for young people, plus regular shifts at the Oxygen shop.

Salary: £36,000 – £39,000 per annum, plus pension and life cover and cycle to work scheme.

Location: Kingston upon Thames, South West London, with travel across the Boroughs of Kingston and Richmond

Why Join Oxygen?

Oxygen is a well established and respected Charity known for its ability to reach and engage young people in creative and innovative ways.  You will have the opportunity to shape and lead youth work strategy, be part of a dynamic and committed team who love to see young people overcome barriers to their development and discover who they are and who they want to become.

● Membership of the Senior Management Team

● The chance to develop innovative programmes tackling issues such as knife crime, mental health and youth unemployment

● Working within a well-established Christian charity making a tangible difference to young people's lives

Working for Oxygen is fulfilling and rewarding. It gives you experience of working collaboratively with a range of partners, and in a variety of contexts, that will be invaluable to anyone wanting to develop and progress in a career working with young people.

About Oxygen

Oxygen is a dynamic youth organisation based in Kingston upon Thames, South West London. Oxygen began as the vision of a group of young people who wanted to reach out to others to demonstrate their faith and meet their needs. We are supported by over thirty churches across the Boroughs of Kingston and Richmond, and staffed by a team of full and part time employees, volunteers and young apprentices.

We work in partnership with local churches, voluntary agencies and statutory bodies to give young people the support they need to overcome the challenges they face. Through a range of engaging and fun activities, we help young people discover their strengths, values and beliefs, understand their potential and aspirations for the future, and find opportunities to contribute to society through volunteering and serving others. 

Oxygen is a Christian charity which works with young people of all faiths and of none. Oxygen is recognised as a key provider of targeted support for young people, with a strong reputation for reaching those in need and making a real difference in their lives. We start where a young person is at, seeking to understand the world from their perspective and to discover their skills, talents and character. We help them look past immediate challenges towards a more hopeful future, raising aspirations and motivating them to move forward.  We seek to demonstrate that they are cared for and valued and to demonstrate the impact the Christian faith can have upon people’s lives.

We continue to develop engaging and inclusive programmes that promote a sense of belonging to a community which give young people purpose and direction.  We respond to the issues affecting young people today, including mental health, knife crime, youth unemployment, digital youth work, mentoring and youth enterprise, alongside our charity shop on New Malden High Street. This role will give Oxygen the capacity and depth needed to innovate and develop projects that have a proven, positive impact on young people's lives.

Job Summary

As Head of Youth Work and Mission, you will be responsible for the delivery and management of Oxygen's youth work programme, implementing key projects to support young people's development. You will be part of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and will promote the mission, values and Christian faith of Oxygen in all aspects of your work.

Christian Faith — Genuine Occupational Requirement

Because this post leads and promotes Oxygen's Christian mission and outreach to young people, and contributes to maintaining the Christian ethos and culture of the organisation, there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010 for the postholder to be a practising Christian.

Safeguarding

Oxygen is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check and satisfactory references.

See JD for more infomation 

The Head of Youth Work holds overall responsibility for the development and delivery of Providence House Youth Club’s youth work programmes, working with young people aged 8 to 19 from disadvantaged backgrounds across Battersea. As our foundational senior delivery hire, they will lead the delivery departments of universal youth work, girls work, sports programmes, detached and outreach work, school programmes and community mentoring. The postholder is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and acts as Deputy Safeguarding Lead. They will be hands-on: delivering youth club sessions, residentials and trips alongside the team, while ensuring Providence House remains a fun, supportive, safe and inclusive place that attracts and retains young people, raises their aspirations, and journeys alongside them for the long term.

Head of Health and Wellbeing Programmes
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for improving health, wellbeing and life opportunities within local communities? YMCA St Helens is seeking an ambitious and innovative Head of Health and Wellbeing Programmes to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the development of a growing portfolio of community-based services.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead the design, development and delivery of programmes that respond to community need, including adult mental health services, healthy eating initiatives, social supermarket provision, and education and training opportunities for people aged 16+. Working closely with local communities, the NHS, VCSE partners and other stakeholders, you will drive innovation, impact and sustainable growth across our community programmes.

We're looking for someone with:

• Significant leadership experience within community, health, VCSE, education or related sectors.
• Experience designing and delivering community-based programmes, including mental health provision.
• Experience leading education, training or skills-based programmes.
• Strong understanding of health inequalities and community development.
• Experience building effective partnerships across the NHS, VCSE, education and public sectors.
• Experience of co-production and working alongside communities.
• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to think strategically while maintaining operational oversight.

Why join YMCA St Helens?
This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow innovative programmes that improve lives and strengthen communities. You'll join an ambitious leadership team committed to tackling inequalities, promoting wellbeing and creating opportunities for people to flourish.

Closing date 20-09-2026

Help us shape the future of community funding across the West of England

Quartet Community Foundation is looking for an experienced, collaborative and forward-thinking Head of Programmes to lead our grant-making and programmes work across Bristol, Bath & North-East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

This is an exciting time to join Quartet. We recently launched our new three-year strategy 2026-9, containing ambitious plans to increase our impact through grant giving, strengthen our understanding of local communities and raise the profile of place-based giving. The strategy outlines how we aim to diversify and strengthen our donor base, driving increasing philanthropic giving, so that we can distribute £6.5 million in grants annually by 2029. As Head of Programmes, you will play a key role in turning that ambition into action.

You will lead and develop our grant-making programmes, ensuring they are informed by community need, insight and evidence and reflect best practice in equitable and accessible funding. You will work closely with local communities, voluntary and community organisations, funders and partners to understand emerging needs and identify opportunities for collaboration and innovation.  You will be able to administer funds directed by local authorities and other partners to their specification, bringing a high quality service and repeat “business” to our revenue funding through high quality grant assessment and distribution.

You will also manage and support our experienced Programmes Team, three direct reports, ensuring an environment where they can develop, perform at their best and embody a culture of continual improvement (please see attached staff plan).

Head of Youth Work

Are you motivated, energetic, and organised with the ability to connect with both young people and staff/volunteers?

If you are looking for a leadership position that requires creativity, that will enable you to flourish, be ambitious, operate both strategically and operationally, and drive success then this is the position for you!

As an equal opportunities’ employer, the organisation welcomes applications from under-represented groups; in particular from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse individuals, people with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ+ communities.  The dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group, with support from the Senior Leadership Team, is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive.

Position: Head of Youth Work

Location: Tilbury, Essex

Salary: £38,000 to £43,000 (dependent upon experience)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week (hours will be outside of the usual 9-5)

Benefits: 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays; workplace pension; free gym access (once the site has opened); access to the OnSide Talent Academy; bespoke training and mentoring.

Closing Date: 12 noon, Monday 7 September

First stage interviews (online): Wednesday 16 September

Young Person Panel (in-person in Tilbury): Evening of Monday 21 September

Second stage interviews (in-person): Future youth zone – Wednesday 23 September

About the Role

As the Head of Youth Work, you'll take the lead in shaping the future for young people, guiding a dynamic team of Youth Workers to create a youth work experience that stands out. We’re looking for someone who’s creative, driven, and all about making things happen for young people. You’ll be hands-on, with a positive vibe, ready to bring fresh ideas to the table and see them through to success.

No two days will be the same! You’ll be at the forefront, designing the new Youth Work Offer, recruiting and developing a passionate team, and ensuring our programs run smoothly. From junior and senior clubs to holiday clubs and events, you’ll make sure everything is on point.

You’ll be a crucial part of this new youth zone for Grimsby and North-East Lincolnshire, welcoming up to 250 young people each session and creating a space where they can thrive. Ready to make a difference? Join us!

Key responsibilities include:

• Staffing
• The Offer (Programme)
• Safeguarding Young People
• Partnership Working
• Policy, Compliance and Quality Assurance
• Leadership
• Inclusion

Before the youth zone opens and during its construction, there will be elements of hybrid working in place.

About You

You will:

• Be driven, hardworking, organised and equally comfortable engaging with young people and staff/volunteers.
• Have a sense of fun, plenty of energy but also a calm temperament and the ability to operate at a senior level
• Believe in young people’s potential and be proactive and can-do.

You won’t be afraid to get stuck in leading sessions yourself if needed, and you will lead on safeguarding within the organisation.

You will have experience of:

• Youth work, including in open access environments with young people aged 8-18 (up to 25 with additional needs/disability)
• Leading and managing youth work activities  
• Managing staff and volunteers, leading a team to achieve targets and key performance indicators (for example membership & attendance)  
• Managing budgets
• Managing conflict between young people and establish clear behaviour standards  
• Developing opportunities for young people to participate in decision making processes

To apply, you will be asked to submit a CV and cover letter via the company website.

About the Organisation

This is a brand-new locally run youth charity, set to provide thousands of young people with the opportunity to have fun, make new friends, try something new and feel safe. With community centric values and located in the heart of Grimsby, it will be an inspiring place for young people aged 8 – 18, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, to enjoy their leisure. The building is due to be completed in 2025.

The charity recognises that the workforce is under-represented in certain areas and are committed to addressing this.  Therefore, they actively encourage applicants to submit anonymous applications; in practice this means removing your name and email address from your CV and cover letter.  The HR Lead will have these details from your submission, but they will not be available to the selection panel when they are considering your application. 

The charity is committed to the safeguarding of young people. In accordance with their Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an Enhanced DBS check.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Youth Work, Head of Youth Work, Director of Youth Work, Youth Work Director, Head of Community Youth Work, Community Youth Work Director, Youth Worker.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation. #INDNFP