Youth Work Manager

This is a key leadership role in a values-driven charity that puts young people at the heart of everything we do.

As Youth Work Manager, you’ll lead our youth work delivery team, which currently consists of three youth workers and many more volunteers, and take responsibility for the design and day-to-day running of our youth work offer in Didcot and Wallingford.

You’ll support the team to deliver high-quality, responsive youth work across open access, detached and mentoring provision. You’ll also develop opportunities for youth voice and participation, ensuring young people play an active role in shaping our work.

This is a hands-on role, well suited to someone who wants to stay closely involved in frontline youth work while also growing as a manager. The best youth work managers are those who lead by example — delivering sessions, building relationships with young people, and supporting the team through the day-to-day. This role gives you the chance to do both: to shape and manage a strong delivery programme, and to keep doing the kind of youth work that first brought you into the sector.

We’re looking for someone who is committed to reaching young people who may not access other services, especially those who feel overlooked, unheard or unsure where they belong. You’ll be comfortable spending time in the community, meeting young people on their terms, and building relationships. You’ll lead a team that works across a range of settings, including parks, schools, and youth clubs, and help create welcoming, inclusive spaces where young people feel seen and supported.

You’ll report directly to our CEO, contribute to organisational planning, act as our DSL, and help ensure young people remain at the centre of all we do.

Salary: £34,000 - £37000 depending on experience 
We welcome applicants who may not feel they meet all the person specification, and we are advertising a salary range to accommodate such applications. This salary range is based on a 37.5-hour week, pro rata for part-time hours. 

Contract: Permanent. 30-37.5 hours per week
Much of our delivery happens outside school hours, and some sessions run later into the evening. We’d expect the Youth Work Manager to work at least one late evening and one earlier evening. Beyond that, we’re happy to be flexible. We’re open to job shares, condensed hours, or other creative arrangements if it helps the right person take on the role.

Key responsibilities: 

• Deliver youth work sessions as part of the delivery team, modelling high standards of inclusive, empowering and trauma-informed practice
• Line manage TRAIN’s youth workers in line with organisational HR policies and procedures, including supervision, performance management, and professional development
• Oversee the full portfolio of youth work provision (including open access, detached, group and one-to-one support), ensuring it responds to the needs and aspirations of local young people
• Promote a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion within the team and across all aspects of youth provision
• Create and strengthen opportunities for meaningful youth voice and participation in service design and decision-making
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead for the organisation, ensuring compliance with safeguarding legislation, policies and best practice
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with delivery partners and stakeholders, including schools, voluntary sector organisations and statutory services
• Lead on the recruitment, induction and supervision of youth work volunteers
• Monitor, evaluate and report on programme outcomes and performance indicators in line with funder and organisational requirements
• Contribute to the development and delivery of TRAIN’s organisational strategy, as part of the senior team
• Support fundraising, communications and stakeholder engagement, including input into bids, reports and promotional activities
• Ensure delivery is compliant with relevant legal, regulatory and safeguarding standards, and with TRAIN’s policies and procedures

Benefits: 

• Annual leave: 25 days, plus bank holidays
• Pension: 3% employer contribution
• Flexible working: Flexible hours and some home working
• TOIL: For additional evening and weekend work
• Professional Development: Tailored programme to suit your ambitions. Current staff are supported on various degree-level qualifications, specialist training and informal learning routes.
• Wellbeing: Full membership of an employee assistance programme with mental health and wellbeing support
• Culture: Supportive, collaborative team with regular team meetings and shared learning

Please download and read the full recruitment pack for more details.