Programme Manager

Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.

We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library. Our collaborative network is made up of our member library services, partners and supporters. Together, we’re creating change, and you can be a part of it.

This is a pivotal moment of growth and development for Libraries Rising as a young charity. We’re seeking a passionate, skilled Programme Manager to join our team to support the ongoing development, delivery and growth of our programmes.

We’re looking for:

An experienced programme manager who enjoys turning ambitious ideas into tangible outcomes.

A proactive leader who is energised by variety, and able to work effectively across diverse topics and themes.

A champion of young voices, passionate about leading opportunities for children and young people to be involved in decisions that impact on them.

A creative thinker who innovates to grow and develop the impact of our programmes.

An enthusiastic collaborator who will build strong relationships with our team, members and partners, to add value to our productive and responsive environment.

We’re looking for someone who lives our values - progressive, collaborative, kind, aspirational and inclusive. What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We want to build an environmentally sustainable charity, and to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector.

About the work

The Programme Manager is a core role for Libraries Rising. You will work with our small and growing team, who are passionate about delivering our mission and vision. You will also work with our members (leaders of services for children, young people and families in public libraries and school library services) and sector partners.

We are about to launch our ambitious strategy for the future. You’ll be leading our established programmes and helping us to develop our impact further, with a particular focus on our Activate and Develop strategic priorities.

As part of our growth plan to expand our impact, we are working with The Reading Agency on Reading Rewired, a two-year project funded by Arts Council England across nine regions in England. We are working alongside young people and library services to co-create inspiring reading experiences. We have a Youth Engagement Project Officer to support delivery.

This year we are also reviewing the Children and Young People’s Promise and Journey with young people, and undertaking our national public libraries skills, confidence and knowledge survey. This work will inform our programmes for the coming years.

Job purpose

To lead, develop and deliver impactful programmes and training offer.

You will be responsible for developing and implementing programmes with a strong child and youth-led approach and to support our members to strengthen their local offers with and for children and young people.

What you’ll do

Youth engagement, co-creation and innovationPartnerships, advocacy and horizon scanning

• Build and maintain positive relationships with partners, sector organisations and members to maximise visibility nationally, and identify new opportunities for partnership working.
• To connect programmes and training to broader sector priorities, including the Shared Ambitions.
• Keep up-to-date with local, national and international developments relating to children and young people, libraries, education, local government, health and digital policy.
• Work closely with the Communications and Impact Manager to shape messaging and represent the charity.

Programme management and delivery

• Oversee delivery of funded programmes, managing project plans, risks, dependencies and milestones.
• Manage associated project budgets, ensuring cost-effective delivery.
• Ensure programmes are monitored and evaluated, promoting evidence of impact.
• Lead meetings, timelines and internal communication related to programme delivery.
• Compile reviews, reports, evidence and options appraisals to aid effective decision making, by team and Board.
• Support the preparation of bids and work with colleagues to apply and put them into practice.
• Ensure our programmes are inclusive and accessible, and environmentally sustainable, minimising its impact on the planet.

Member engagement and training

• Lead the planning and delivery of a national training and development programme.
• Lead the strategic direction, content and delivery of the annual hybrid conference.
• Work closely with colleagues to sustain member engagement, ownership and support for the charity.
• Work with Communication and Impact Manager to promote training and development opportunities to members.

People management and safeguarding

• Recruit, induct and line manage team members supporting programme delivery, including the Youth Engagement Project Officer.
• Delegate to colleagues you don’t directly line manage.
• Act as Libraries Rising’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Ensure equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging is considered in all elements of your work.

What you’ll bring to the role

Knowledge and experience of:

• Project management and delivery
• Youth engagement strategies
• Partnership management
• Communication
• Equity and inclusion
• Delivering change across networks
• Convening and event delivery
• Digital literacy
• Charity, education, or cultural/library sector knowledge
• Fundraising
• Political and cultural awareness

You’ll be

• Empathetic and inclusive
• Organised
• Collaborative and relational
• Progressive
• Strategic and entrepreneurial
• Growth mindset

Please see Job Pack for further information.

Employee benefits

• 25 days annual leave pro rata (20 actual) plus Bank Holidays
• Home working, with some travel 
• Pension - 5% employer contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme – including 24/7 counselling, health support and legal helpline
• A range of discounts on retail, entertainment, travel and wellbeing.