Youth and Communities Programme Manager

Lead a Team. Create Change.

Groundwork Greater Manchester is looking for a Youth & Communities Programme Manager to take on a role focussed on development. This isn't just about managing projects; it's about fostering growth—in the young people we serve, the communities we partner with, and the talented team you will lead.

At Groundwork, we don't just manage programmes—we develop people. You'll lead a passionate team, build powerful partnerships, and give young people the tools and confidence to create lasting environmental change. If you're ready to lead a team and make a difference, this is your opportunity.

What You'll Be Doing

·         Lead with Impact: You will have the autonomy to drive innovation, spot new opportunities, and build programmes that create lasting change across Greater Manchester.

·         Manage a Talented Team: You'll lead a passionate and supportive team. Our culture is built on trust, and we invest in our people's development, giving you the chance to mentor future leaders.

·         Empower Young People & Communities: Your work will directly empower young people and communities, giving them the tools and confidence to shape their own sustainable future.

Who We're Looking For

You have a strong background in youth and community work and are ready for a leadership role. You're a forward-thinking professional with a passion for people and a clear vision for growing services. You believe in the power of young people to drive environmental change.

We’re passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny and no-one is held back by their background or circumstances. We specialise in the following services and are committed to creating added social value through our delivery:

• Community engagement
• Landscape design & build
• Training & coaching for employment
• Early intervention to support health & wellbeing
• Safe & sustainable business support

As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk.

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults.

If you want to work in a values driven team that makes a real difference to individuals and communities in Greater Manchester, read on.

OVERVIEW OF THE POST

The Youth & Communities Programme Manager provides leadership and management for the youth & communities team and their programme of work, driving quality delivery and growth.

Working closely with other programme managers, they ensure that delivery is focused on achieving the Groundwork GM vision, facilitate learning across programme areas, ensure consistency in programme delivery and explore improvements to the way we work.

Delivery

·         Lead and effectively manage the youth & communities programme, including:

-           Community youth work, detached and centre/park based

-           Youth & community engagement in climate and nature projects

-           Capacity building, including coaching, mentoring and skills development.

-           Community outreach to support Groundwork’s services to reach their target audiences.

·         Ensure appropriate allocation of team and financial resources, that deliverables and quality standards are met and impact and outcome data is collected and analysed for learning and reporting.

Business & Service Development

·         Lead and manage the youth & communities team’s business development plan;

-           implementing sustainability plans for core services

-           identifying areas for growth and pro-actively identifying opportunities to achieve it.

·         Manage and grow delivery partnerships and relationships to support programme development, delivery and growth.

·         Champion GGM’s listening and learning culture with the team and use data and feedback from participants to inform programme improvement, development and growth.

·         Work closely with Groundwork UK and other Groundwork Trusts where appropriate to develop services and share learning.

Financial & Resource Management

·         Produce and manage the programme’s budgets and resources available.

·         Develop and realise financial sustainability plans for core programmes and growth plans where agreed:

-           Preparing funding bids and proposals

-           Working with partners to develop and input to bids and proposals led by others

·         Support strategic managers with larger income generating opportunities and longer term financial planning.

People Management & Development

·         Provide line management for seniors and project leads and HR support for the team in relation to day-to-day HR issues and well-being.

·         Be accountable for the team’s performance, development and wellbeing in the workplace.

·         Drive the embedding of GGM’s culture and values within the team.

·         Support the delivery of strategic workforce development plans.

·         Be accountable for managing GGM and team level communication and maintaining consistent messaging as agreed with senior leadership.

Internal Management

·         Embed GGM policies and procedures across programmes, champion delivery standards and ensure compliance.

·         Champion key business priorities such as EDI and carbon reduction across the team, ensuring these are embedded across all team operations.

·         Lead the development and delivery of business improvement plans.

·         Collate, analyse and learn from data and feedback to influence policy and action.