Permanent jobs

Closing date: 16th June 2026 Interviews: 19th June 2026

This role leads a new flagship grants and strategic activity programme - a national outdoor play partnership supporting community foundations to deliver risky, adventurous and child-directed play opportunities for children aged 0–12 in up to 20 places across the UK. You will work in the UK Community Foundations team, the national backbone, co-ordinating and convening the wider partnership. The minimum £10m programme (likely larger) runs from June 2026 through November 2031, is delivered with seed funding from an anonymous lead funder. 

You will be accountable for the day-to-day running of the programme. That means managing the relationship with the lead funder, overseeing delivery across the four-outcomes learning framework, coordinating the national learning and influence backbone, building and maintaining sector relationships, and ensuring the programme is delivered on time, on budget and to consistently high standards. 

Alongside the programme, you will also support wider partnerships activity and act as a point of expertise on children and young people. You will advise the Partnerships team on CYP matters, provide a credible internal source of guidance on safeguarding, and keep UKCF abreast of policy and sector developments so we are well positioned to support community foundations to design and deliver further CYP-focused partnerships. 

You do not need to have worked in community foundations before. We are interested in people who combine substantial programme leadership experience - ideally within funding or grant making, though other types of programme delivery are likely to be relevant - with credible CYP sector knowledge, and the confidence to balance delivery, stakeholder relationships, sector influence and partnership support across a complex multi-year portfolio. 

The Partnerships & Insight team designs and delivers UKCF's national partnerships, brings new funding into the community foundation network, and grows our influence on the policy and funding environment community foundations operate in. This role sits at the heart of all of that, and gives you a broad view across the sector, the network and the wider VCSE landscape. 

We know that good programme leadership depends on different perspectives, lived experiences and ways of working. We encourage applications from people who may not meet every requirement but feel excited by the role and believe they could grow into it. 

Your portfolio 

You will hold responsibility for two connected areas. 

Programme management (0.65 FTE) 

You will lead the end-to-end delivery of the programme across four outcomes - Reach & Access; Quality & Character of Play; Lasting Local Capacity; National Evidence, Learning & Influence - and the operational layer that sits behind them. You will lead programme planning, budget management, risk management and quality assurance, working closely with the Director of Partnerships & Insight. 

You will manage the relationship with the lead funder, and any subsequent funders that come on board, including reporting, milestone delivery, board updates and stewardship of the partnership over the full grant period. You will also oversee community foundation onboarding, contracting, ongoing relationship management and convening across the cohort of around 20 delivery partners. 

You will coordinate the national backbone of the programme – participating community foundations, learning partner, expert panellists, sector relationships, and the dissemination of evidence and influence outputs - and oversee learning outputsagainst the programme's two-layer tracking architecture. 

You will build and maintain relationships that lead to the change the programme seeks to achieve and supports a potential continuation funding pipeline. You will represent UKCF and the programme externally - with funders, government, sector bodies and international peers, including our peers at community foundations in Canada.

Wider partnerships and CYP responsibilities (0.35 FTE) 

You will support the Director of Partnerships and the wider team on general partnership matters, pitching in at crunch points and offering senior advice and leadership on design and delivery. 

You will act as UKCF's internal point of information on safeguarding for children and young people, supporting the Partnerships team and wider colleagues to apply appropriate standards across CYP-related programmes and proposals. Training will be provided.

You will keep UKCF abreast of CYP sector developments - policy, funding landscape, research and practice - and translate these into practical advice for partnerships and field-building work. You will advise the team on CYP matters during pipeline development, scoping and proposal-writing, making sure new opportunities are well grounded in current sector knowledge. 

You will build and maintain relationships with key CYP sector bodies, funders and expert networks to position UKCF as a credible, well-informed partner in the children and young people space, and you will contribute to UKCF's wider thought leadership and external profile on CYP, including occasional speaking, writing and convening. 

Your wider responsibilities 

Like everyone at UKCF, you will work closely with colleagues across the organisation. You will partner with Communications, Finance, Field Building and other teams to support wider organisational activity, contribute to the development of the Partnerships & Insight team and to UKCF's culture, standards and ways of working, and take on other reasonable duties commensurate with the role. 

What you will bring 

We are looking for someone who combines substantial programme leadership with credible CYP sector knowledge, and who is comfortable holding the whole of a complex programme in view while making sound day-to-day decisions. You might recognise yourself in some, but not necessarily all, of the following. 

• Programme leadership and judgement - able to hold a complex, multi-year programme in view while making sound day-to-day decisions. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication, adapted confidently for funders, government, community foundations, sector peers and internal audiences. 

• Diplomatic, confident and effective relationship-building and influence with senior and varied stakeholders. 

• Proactive problem-solving - acting on initiative, diagnosing issues early and proposing practical solutions. 

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to balance multiple deadlines and priorities across a complex portfolio. 

• Creativity, flexibility and intuition, with a willingness to adapt your approach as the programme evolves. 

• Commitment to learning and improvement, including reflecting on your own practice and seeking continual development. 

• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and climate justice, and interest in how these values shape programme design, participation and whose voices are heard. 

Essential experience 

• Senior programme leadership: substantial experience leading voluntary and community sectormulti-year, multi-partner programmes, including accountability for budget, delivery and outcomes. 

• Children and young people sector expertise: strong working knowledge of the CYP landscape - policy, funding, practice - and credibility with sector stakeholders. 

• Safeguarding: confident acting as an internal point of information on safeguarding, with a basic or good understanding of safeguarding standards in CYP-related work, and willingness to undertake further training.

• Stakeholder management: experience managing significant relationships, including reporting, stewardship and the negotiation of programme changes. 

• Charity or non-profit setting: understanding of values-driven work and the operating norms of the voluntary sector. 

• Data, impact and learning: able to interpret quantitative and qualitative information, undertake basic and intermediate analysis, and oversee a learning partner, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Understanding of the norms of impact and learning in the voluntary and community sector.

• Relationship management: builds trust with funders, peers, partners and delivery organisations; offers diplomatic, credible guidance. 

• Digital, CRM and AI confidence: confident across Office 365 and  AI tools (or have started to experiment with them) to support efficient working and free up more time for relationship building. Motivated to use AI, and to do so mindfully, responsibly, ethically and to increase impact. 

• Ability to travel occasionally, which may include overnight stays and multi-day events. 

Desirable experience 

• Grant making and funding, particularly relational or participatory approaches; systems change or place-based approaches to community impact; or asset-based community development and community-led programmes. 

• Working with community foundations or place-based funding structures. 

• Play, early years, youth work, education or related CYP fields. 

• Designing and delivering co-design, collaboration or systems-change activity. 

• Contributing to policy or sector influence. 

• Developing AI tools within a VCSE context, and understanding of AI ethics and the unique VCSE context around AI - or an interest in this topic. 

• Securing continuation or follow-on funding for complex programmes. 

Inclusion statement 

UK Community Foundations is committed to building an inclusive organisation and a diverse field. We welcome applications from people from minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and others who are underrepresented in the charity and philanthropy sector. 

Location: Islington & South London Centre offices

Interviews: Assessment Centre 29th June 2026 in our South London Centre

We are looking for a passionate and driven individual to join our Management Team, to lead and motivate our team of Youth Development Leads. Working collaboratively to develop and implement our delivery plan and ensure we meet targets.

As part of the Management Team, you will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of Explore and Get Started, two of our Foundations for Work programmes. Through these programmes, we focus on supporting young people, often with complex needs, develop confidence and essential skills for the workplace.

Whilst the South London Centre will be the contracted place of work, there will also be the requirement to work from our Islington Delivery Space where the team operate from and deliver programmes to Young People. This individual will have a unique opportunity to help manage and support the development of our new delivery space in Islington, building links and connections in the local community.

As a Delivery Manager, you will lead your team to delivery effectively, ensuring that every young person engaged progresses with an appropriate pathway of learning, development and one to one support. You will be a role model for your team, demonstrating best practice in how we work with young people in a safe way to ensure we deliver maximum value for young people and partners.

As one of our Delivery Managers, you need to have:

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Strong planning and organisational skills

• Effective data analysis skills

• A track record of operational management

The Delivery Manager role is multi-faceted, and we are looking for an individual with a broad skill set. We work with young people from every background, so we’re passionate about building a diverse workforce that represents the young people we support. We, therefore, welcome applications from everyone who meets the essential criteria for the role.

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Delivery Managers? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Delivery Managers! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Can you make a real impact guiding individuals through their employment journey?

Employment Advisor
Contract type: Permanent
Working hours: Full Time - 37 hours per week
Salary: Circa £26,988 per annum
Location: Carlisle

About Us

Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face.

We deliver hundreds of locally led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people and adults into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential.

About The Role

Join our dynamic Employment Team as a dedicated Employment Advisor, supporting individuals 1:1 on their journey into work, developing action plans, building skills, and driving positive outcomes in a fast-paced, community-focused environment.

Job Purpose

Working as a member of the Employment Team you will engage on a 1:1 basis with our employment programme participants, establishing and maintaining excellent relationships to understand and meet their individual needs. You will develop personal action plans which enable movement of these people towards and into further sustainable employment. You will work in a friendly, busy employment team environment to ensure programme performance targets are consistently achieved to meet requirements of the allocated contract.

We want someone like you with the confidence to positively engage and motivate people from a wide range of backgrounds. In your role you will work closely with the local community and employers, supporting referrals onto the programme and identifying employment opportunities. You will enable participants to develop valuable work based skills and gain knowledge. Your role will require you to be supportive and understanding, be able to deal with any issues that may arise confidently. You will have strong interpersonal skills and be able to adapt them pending on what you are dealing with, communicating at different levels as key in this role.

Closing Date: Wednesday 17th June 2026.
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the Apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. 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

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.

At SATRO our mission is to raise young people's aspirations about their futures, and help equip them with the skills and confidence they need to pursue their goals.

About the Role

This role is all about preparing young people for their futures after education by enabling them to acquire and develop key transferable skills, confidence and experiences of the workplace that they will need to make more informed decisions.

You will deliver engaging, interactive workshops and challenges aimed at developing students’ (mainly ages 11 - 16) essential employability skills, building their confidence, and increasing their understanding of the variety of career pathways available.

About You

We are looking for someone enthusiastic, creative, who is a great communicator and comfortable working with young people in the full range of educational settings. 

You should have experience of working with young people, including delivering workshops, a strong understanding of employability skills and the ability to engage and motivate learners. 

About us

You will be joining a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to harnessing our relationships with businesses to raise young people's aspirations about their future careers, and through those partnerships help them understand employer expectations and develop the skills they will need to be successful. 

We offer flexible working arrangements and a fun and supportive working environment

For more details please see the attached role description.

We are looking to recruit an experienced HR Advisor to provide comprehensive HR support. You’ll play a key role in supporting the employee experience, providing top-notch support to all teams in the organisation and be comfortable working in a unionised environment and with all levels of seniority.  

Our recent all-staff survey reported high satisfaction levels, with 96% believing in the aims of the charity, 94% of staff having pride in working for the Centre, 94% of staff enjoying working with their colleagues and 94% agreeing they feel trusted to do their job.

In this role, experience of employee relations will be pivotal in supporting the organisation. As a trusted advisor, you will have sound employment law knowledge and be comfortable with challenging conversations, supporting managers with any issues such as sickness absence, holiday queries, capability or a disciplinary procedure. 

You’ll ensure that recruitment costs are kept to a minimum, work with recruitment managers to ensure vacancies are advertised following internal processes and ensure employment contracts are finalised before onboarding starts.  You'll also be confident using IT systems to assign training to new joiners and to existing staff, keeping records of courses and ensuring that safeguarding training is completed.

Bringing your experience of HR and a willingness and enthusiasm to the role, you will proactively seek to continually improve yourself and the role, championing a culture of service excellence, as well as taking ownership and accountability of your workload.

Please refer to the job description for further information. If you have any questions please email us.

The post is full time, 35 hours a week. For the right candidate, we will consider a 0.8fte (28 hours) appointment.

In your cv and cover letter please outline how you meet the requirements of the role and why you would like to work for us. You must account for any gaps in your employment history.

The Centre is an equal opportunities employer.  We are always looking for talented people from all backgrounds to join us and help improve the lives of homeless young people, insecurely housed families and their children.  We particularly want to encourage people from under-represented groups in the not-for-profit sector to step forward and apply to work with us. We require our staff to recognise the valuable role that volunteers play in the work of the Centre and to welcome and support volunteers with whom they work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We require job applicants, staff and volunteers to complete a criminal records self-declaration and, for this role, to undertake a basic DBS check.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor visas.
 

Benefits

· 26 days’ leave, rising to 28 days’ leave after two years’ service (pro rata for part time staff)

· Discretionary wellbeing and celebratory days

· Workplace pension scheme and we’ll match employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%

· Life assurance cover (after probation passed)

· Employee assistance programme

· Season ticket loan

· Training and development opportunities

· Access to Blue Light Card discounts

How to apply

Send your cv and cover letter.  To ensure fairness at all stages of the process, please don’t send your application to any other email address at the Centre

Closing date for applications: Monday 15 June, 9am
Interviews will be held by end of June

Please note that a short test will form part of the interview process, if you are shortlisted details will be provided to you in advance.

If you’ve not heard from us three weeks after the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Job Title: Test and Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer - Web Applications

About You:
You would be working within the Cadet Digital Services framework, ensuring the UK’s Cadet Forces MIS and associated web apps are maintained to an exceptional standard. We are looking for a dedicated and detail-oriented Test and Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer to join our Agile Delivery team. If you are passionate about ensuring the highest quality implementation and delivery of web applications and have a proven track record in both manual and automated testing, we’d love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive manual testing of web applications to ensure functionality, usability, and performance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain automated test scripts using tools such as Playwright, Cypress or Selenium Web Driver.
• Collaborate closely with the development and project teams throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), ensuring Agile and SCRUM methodologies are followed.
• Utilise test management and bug tracking tools such as Azure DevOps or JIRA to document test cases, track defects, and manage testing processes.
• Work closely with developers to ensure the seamless integration and architecture of web applications using technologies like HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Analyse test results, identify problems, and work with developers to seek solutions to ensure optimal performance and user experience.
• Leverage knowledge of Oracle Application Express (APEX) in testing and troubleshooting web applications.
• Work in an Agile environment with a key role in all ceremonies.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Proven experience in manual testing of web applications.
• Strong practical knowledge of MS365 applications.
• Strong background in creating and running automated testing scripts (experience with Cypress or similar is highly preferred).
• Solid understanding of SDLC, Agile, and SCRUM methodologies.
• Experience with test management and bug tracking tools (e.g., Azure DevOps or JIRA).
• Knowledge of core web technologies such as HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and web application architecture.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a plus.

What we can offer you

In addition to your salary, we offer all staff:

· Flexible working arrangements (you agree a working pattern with your line manager).

· Personal Accident Insurance, including loss of earnings cover and death benefit.

· 15 days of sick pay in any 12-month period (after 12 months employment - pro-rata for part time staff).

· A contributory pension scheme (you contribute at least 5% and we will contribute 10%).

· Good leave allowances (which are offered pro-rata for part time staff):

o 20 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays.

o Additional privilege leave, on set days each year, such as between Christmas and New Year.

o An additional five days of volunteering leave.

· Support for qualifications and personal development.

· Employee Assistance Programme.

· Season ticket loan.

· Railcard (if you are eligible)

· A caring and supportive team environment.

How to apply

Please send a covering letter that details how you meet the requirements of the job description along with a CV by 2359 hrs on Sunday 21st June 2026 by 2359.

Interviews will be held ishortly after.

While AI tools can be beneficial, we value the personal touch and authenticity in job applications. We encourage you to highlight your unique experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, ensuring all information is accurate. Please use AI tools responsibly and with integrity throughout the application and selection process.

Please note that as a charity dedicated to improving the lives of young people, we require staff to make a declaration about any relevant convictions, undergo both a Disclosure and Barring Service check and a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check (one of the requirements being that applicants must have been resident in the UK for 3 years). In addition, we will follow up references.

Do you have experience working with families and children aged 0-13, a good understanding of the needs of vulnerable families and a relevant vocational or academic qualification?

Welcare is recruiting an experienced Family Support Worker to deliver a broad-based preventative and responsive support service for families with children up to the age of 13 in partnership with schools, churches, the local authority and other agencies, in the London boroughs of Bromley and Greenwich.Local knowledge of Bromley and Greenwich areas would be an advantage.

You will be delivering practical and emotional support to enhance the lived experiences of children and families through one-to-one support and group work programmes.  The post requires working with families in person and online remote working.  The office base is in Community House, Bromley.

Please refer to the job description and person specification for further details.

About us

The Sir Martin Gilbert Learning Centre is an educational charity whose mission is to educate young people about who Jews are and the contributions they have made to society. Our free workshops are integrated with the National Curriculum and rooted in academic research. Since launching in January 2024, we've reached over 5,800 students and built partnerships with schools across England, Scotland and Wales.

We're now entering an ambitious phase of growth, developing deeper relationships with select Focus Schools and building towards a national reach of 25,000 students per year.

The role

This is far more than a management job. As our first School Partnerships Manager, you'll lead our outreach to schools and play a central role in shaping how the Centre develops and grows. Working closely with the Director, you'll drive the number of schools accessing our programmes, deepen relationships with existing partners, and help design our Focus School programme from the ground up.

You'll spend your time:

• Building and stewarding relationships with teachers, heads of department, and senior school leaders
• Proactively identifying and contacting prospective partner schools through outreach, networking and events
• Managing the full partnership lifecycle, from first contact through booking, delivery and follow-up
• Shaping our Focus School programme and contributing ideas for curriculum development
• Representing the Centre at conferences and educational events

This job is for you if…

• You have experience working directly in or with schools, and understand what motivates teachers and senior leaders
• You've worked in relationship management, outreach, partnership development, sales or business development
• You're a confident, persuasive communicator - comfortable on outreach calls, in writing, and presenting in person
• You're self-motivated, well organised, and thrive in a small, ambitious team
• You're genuinely committed to our mission and excited to help shape a young charity at a pivotal moment
• You're committed to safeguarding and the welfare of children and young people

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.

Would you like to shape the future of people leadership across a major national charity? Are you an experienced People Director who has led at senior level in a complex organisation and knows how to turn strategy into delivery? Can you bring the clarity, pace and judgement needed to lead a broad People function spanning operations, talent, reward, workforce planning and people insight?

Reporting to the Executive Director of People and Culture, we are looking for a Director of People to lead and integrate our People function, ensuring we have the right structures, capability and culture in place to deliver our organisational priorities. This is a senior leadership role for someone who has already operated at Director level, with direct experience of leading and managing a senior People/HR team. You will bring strong experience from a charity or not-for-profit organisation or a personal connection to the Armed Forces Community through service, family or lived experience.

We will only be considering candidates who are able to evidence the following criteria. Please See the Job Descriptions for more information:

- CIPD qualification at MCIPD or FCIPD level.
- Operated at Director level, with responsibility for leading a People/HR function in a complex organisation.
- Directly leading and managing a senior People/HR team.
- Significant experience working within a charity/not-for-profit organisation or a personal connection to the Armed Forces Community (serving, veteran, reservist, spouse/partner or family member).
- London-based, hub worker (2 days per week in London).

Come and be part of the leading Armed Forces charity, making a difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

In this role, you will:

- Lead the organisation’s People strategy, ensuring alignment with wider organisational priorities and future capability needs
- Oversee a full People function including HR operations, business partnering, talent, reward, learning and people data
- Act as a key advisor to the Executive team on workforce planning, organisational design, change and people risk
- Build strong leadership capability across the organisation and ensure managers are equipped to lead their teams effectively
- Use data, insight and evidence to shape decisions and improve organisational performance

This is a high-impact leadership role where you will have the opportunity to shape how we attract, develop and retain our people, while strengthening leadership capability and driving a consistent, high-quality people experience across the organisation. You will be joining at a time where there is real focus on building for the future, giving you space to influence, modernise and make a visible difference.

You will be contracted to our Haig House hub, with a minimum expectation of two days per week working in person at the hub. Please note that this in-person requirement is non-negotiable. Outside of these days, there is flexibility to work remotely/from home when not on site.

Employee benefits include -

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Private Healthcare
- Enhanced paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Generous pension contributions, with Employer contributions ranging from 6% to 10%
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see the Job Description attached to our direct advert. Our teams take a personalised approach to shortlisting, which is carried out without the use of AI and is based on the evidence provided in your application against the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interview schemes for candidates who declare an Armed Forces connection and/or a disability. However, candidates are only eligible for this scheme if their application clearly demonstrates that they meet all of the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification for the role.

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role(s). Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Organisation: Happy Days
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Location: Calderdale

Role Purpose

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides strategic and operational leadership across all frontline services, accommodation provision, organisational infrastructure, and compliance functions within the charity.

The COO is responsible for ensuring safe, trauma-informed, financially sustainable, and outcomes-focused delivery for individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, health exclusion, addiction, and crisis.

The role leads operations across the charity’s accommodation portfolio, including winter shelter provision, general needs accommodation, supported accommodation, and intensively supported housing. The COO also oversees the operational platform of the charity’s support programmes, including a community café, community supermarket, crisis drop-in provision, and integrated health clinics.

Working collaboratively with the CEO, Board, statutory agencies, housing provider partners, and wider stakeholders, the COO plays a key leadership role in shaping organisational strategy, strengthening operational systems, embedding trauma-informed practice, and developing innovative models of support that improve long-term outcomes for individuals experiencing multiple disadvantage.

The COO provides executive oversight of, operational risk, health and safety, HR, operational systems, and service compliance, ensuring the organisation maintains robust standards of governance, accountability, and person-centred care across all services.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Provide executive operational leadership across services and organisational functions
• Lead the delivery, development, and continuous operational improvement of:
  • Supported and temporary accommodation services (68+ properties)
  • Crisis and drop-in provision
  • Food programme and social supermarket
  • Winter shelter provision
• Translate organisational strategy into effective operational delivery plans
• Drive organisational improvement, innovation, and sustainable service growth
• Lead operational responses to emerging community need, organisational risk, and system pressures
• Support strategic planning, organisational development, and long-term sustainability
• Lead operational capital development initiatives across the organisation

Housing, Property & Supported Accommodation Executive Oversight of:

• Operational management, legal compliance, health and safety, quality assurance across all accommodation services
• Lead strategic partnerships with housing providers
• Manage delegated housing arrangements and supported housing pathways
• Maximise occupancy, sustainment, and positive move-on outcomes
• Oversee property-related risk management, maintenance coordination, and accommodation standards
• Lead the transformation and redevelopment of The Gathering Place, including partnership working with architects, infrastructure planning, and service design
• Oversee operational development planning for the Bramwell Booth building to support future service delivery and organisational growth

Safeguarding Operational Platform

• Lead organisational safeguarding strategy and systems
• Ensure SOP’s are in place to enable staff to respond effectively to complex needs including:
  • addiction
  • mental ill-health and physical health needs
  • dual diagnosis
  • homelessness
  • domestic abuse
  • offending histories
  • health exclusion
• Oversee serious incidents, risk management, and quality assurance processes
• Promote reflective practice, professional accountability, and safe service delivery
• Lead continuous safeguarding improvement and organisational assurance processes
• Support the organisation’s progression towards recognised safeguarding quality and excellence standards

Health Inclusion & Community Services

• Support development of innovative approaches addressing homelessness, substance use, poverty, and social exclusion
• Contribute to wider system responses focused on prevention, health equity, and community resilience

Corporate Governance, Compliance & Organisational Infrastructure

• Provide executive oversight of organisational governance, operational compliance, and corporate infrastructure
• Lead organisational responsibility for:
  • Human Resources
  • Health & Safety
  • Insurance and organisational risk
  • Operational systems and digital infrastructure
• Ensure robust organisational policies, procedures, and assurance frameworks are developed, implemented, and maintained
• Oversee compliance with employment legislation, health & safety standards, and contractual obligations
• Lead organisational risk management processes, incident oversight, and business continuity planning
• Ensure effective management of organisational insurance provision, liability protection, and risk mitigation
• Support governance reporting, operational assurance, and organisational accountability
• Develop quarterly Trustee and governance reporting packs in conjunction with Heads of Department and the CEO

Systems Development & Digital Transformation

• Lead the development and implementation of operational systems, reporting frameworks, and service infrastructure
• Design and embed systems that improve operational efficiency, safeguarding oversight, housing management, and service coordination
• Use data, insight, and performance analysis to improve outcomes and organisational effectiveness
• Support digital transformation, service modernisation, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Develop monitoring, evaluation, and impact reporting systems to support organisational learning and strategic decision-making

Leadership, Workforce & Organisational Culture

• Foster a high-performing, inclusive, and values-led organisational culture
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, retention, supervision, and staff development
• Promote staff wellbeing, reflective practice, and psychologically safe leadership
• Provide leadership oversight and strategic direction for volunteer services and volunteer programme development
• Support the organisation’s progression towards recognised volunteer quality standards, including the VSI Volunteer Excellence Award

Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

• Represent the organisation within strategic partnerships and multi-agency forums
• Work collaboratively with commissioners, funders, housing providers, and community partners

Financial Oversight & Sustainability

• Budget development and financial planning in conjunction with the CEO and Finance Team
• Support organisational sustainability through efficient service delivery
• Monitor operational performance, quality standards, and service outcomes
• Ensure effective governance, accountability, and operational compliance across all services

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant senior leadership experience within homelessness, housing, health, social care, community, or voluntary sector services
• Extensive operational leadership experience across complex, multi-service environments
• Experience leading services supporting individuals with multiple disadvantage and complex needs
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, and organisational risk management
• Experience managing accommodation-based and community support services
• Experience overseeing HR, compliance, governance, and organisational systems
• Experience leading quality assurance, risk, and compliance frameworks
• Strong partnership and stakeholder engagement skills across statutory and voluntary sectors
• Experience managing operational budgets, compliance frameworks, and performance systems

Desirable

• Experience working within homelessness, substance use, or health inclusion services
• Experience working within housing such as a registered housing provider
• Understanding of public health approaches and health inequalities
• Knowledge of housing legislation, supported housing models, and safeguarding frameworks
• Experience with digital transformation, systems implementation, and organisational modernisation

Key Attributes

• Values-driven and strongly committed to social justice and health equity
• Strategic thinker with strong operational leadership capability
• Calm, resilient, and decisive in complex and high-pressure environments
• Compassionate and emotionally intelligent leader
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence across systems and sectors
• Innovative, solutions-focused, and collaborative
• Committed to continuous improvement, accountability, and inclusive leadership

About the Investment team

The Investment team is responsible for selecting portfolio partners, managing our charity investments and supporting our portfolio partners to improve and scale their impact. 

The Investment team also leads the Impetus Leadership Academy, a leadership development programme to support talent from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK youth sector to progress into senior leadership roles. 

The team is made up of 18 people, including former teachers, charity chief executives, charity impact leads, management consultants, social investment portfolio managers and impact consultants.   

The team is led by a Portfolio Director who sits on the Senior Management Team. The Portfolio Director has 5 direct reports: a Deputy Portfolio Director, three Sector Leads (who lead our work in school engagement, school attainment and employment sectors) and an Impact Lead. Sector Leads line manage 6 Investment Directors between them. Investment Directors line manage Investment Managers (currently 7). Investment Directors and Investment Managers tend to primarily focus on a sector but might have mixed portfolios, depending on need, experience and interest. 

The Investment team has a good track record of role progression. All four Leads and a number of our Investment Directors were promoted from within the team. 

About this role

We believe that all young people deserve to succeed in school and in work, whatever their background. As we enter a challenging time with rising inflation and a likely recession, our work feels more vital than ever before. The role of Investment Director presents an exciting opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the charities portfolio partners we serve, the team itself and the whole of Impetus.   

We support a portfolio of 23 high potential charity and non-profit partners in the youth sector, helping them deliver benchmark-beating employment and education outcomes for young people, and to grow. 

We believe the strength of our approach resides in three things: 

​

• ​Building deep, trust-based, sustainable relationships with charity leaders by, investing time, kindness, integrity and honesty.
• ​Providing our charities multi-year, unrestricted funding to help them become sector-leading organisations and scale their impact.
• ​Offering tailored advice to charity leaders’ most pressing and strategic questions, including their mission, programme design, performance management, growth planning, and financial resilience.

Working with our portfolio partners is a privilege. The leaders we support are incredibly talented, passionate and keen for external advice, and the issues we work through with them are stimulating and stretching. Our senior management relationships are some of the most fulfilling relationships many of us have had in our careers, while the growth and impact performance of our partners are testament to charities’ commitment to disadvantaged young people and the influence we have on their development. 

Charities and funders often comment on the quality of our people. Our team is analytical and data driven; we are deeply relational, low-ego and collaborative. We actively invest in our colleagues holding regular training and community of practice sessions, and use skills-based assessments to tailor development. 

As an organisation we seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work and actively challenge our assumptions to better deliver change. Over the past two years we have taken action to help reduce racial inequality in the youth sector. In 2021 we launched our Connect Fund to support diverse leaders and their robust solutions to the entrenched employment gap faced by young people from ethnic minority backgrounds compared with their white peers. We have also built a highly regarded Leadership Academy for emerging youth sector leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds, with generous funding from State Street Foundation. 

If you are looking for a role combining strategic thinking, analytical insight and influencing emerging leaders, as well as the opportunity to work with a supportive team to transform young lives, I hope you will apply to work with us. 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sebastien Ergas 
Portfolio Director 

​Key responsibilities
Finding high potential charities and non-profit partners for our portfolio 

• Identifying potential charitable organisations for investment.
• Leading and delivering in-depth due diligence process within the scope of a grant round, to assess and build partnership foundations with potential partners – covering leadership and governance, and their impact, scale, and partnership potential.
• Modelling from first contact of origination, our approach to engaged and trust-based investment management support.
• Developing and presenting high quality investment propositions to our Investment Committee.

Managing partnerships with portfolio partners​

• ​Managing relationships with partner Chairs and CEOs. 
• Agreeing Service Funding Agreements, including appropriate annual investment milestones to allow for a clear assessment of re-investment potential at end of phase. 
• Regularly monitoring and assessing partner progress / risks against milestones and making evidence-based recommendations on progression or exit to Leads, Portfolio Director and the Investment Committee.
• Escalating key risks on performance, leadership and safeguarding.   
• Conducting annual partnership reviews with Sector Leads and partner CEOs.
• Working with Impetus finance colleagues to ensure timely distribution of grant payments, in line with Service Funding Agreements.  

Supporting portfolio partners  ​

• ​Providing high quality advisory support to CEOs and senior colleagues on key strategic topics, using a mix of at least monthly one-to-one meetings and group facilitation to: 

• clarify theory of change
• ​define long term ambition
• ​develop growth strategy 
• ​achieve a step change in the delivery and performance management of outcomes 
• ​strengthen leadership (individual and collective) and governance capabilities
• ​develop path to scale
• ​build financial resilience

• ​Scoping and project managing pro bono capacity-building projects (in addition to providing direct management support). Ensure projects are delivered to a high standard and contribute to charity progression.
• Identifying engagement opportunities for our donors and supporters with portfolio partners that are aligned with the partner’s activities and do not distract or undermine their core work.
• Collaborating with the Impetus Philanthropy team to support the development of additional funding opportunities for portfolio partners, enhancing their ability to deliver impact at scale.
• Effectively leveraging the support of investment managers to advance the objectives developed for each portfolio partner that is managed by an Investment Director.

Support to Impetus

• Developing expertise about “what works” in the sector through cultivation and use of expert input and engagement as well as investigation into key research and evaluative literature.
• Contributing insights and learning from portfolio work to inform Impetus’ strategy, model and delivery, providing evidence based recommendations to senior colleagues
• Contributing to internal priorities and working groups, bringing expertise and insight from portfolio work (e.g. team strategy discussions, digital improvement initiatives, or equity, diversity, and inclusion).
• Contribute towards Impetus’ public affairs and philanthropy objectives through input into case studies, research and policy campaigns, donor reports and fundraising events.
• Sharing the learning from our work across the team, across the organisation and externally working within Impetus strategy and agreed forums.
• Engaging in Impetus pro bono, communications, and advocacy events, and engage portfolio partners appropriately in these events. 
• Line-manage and support one or more Investment Managers, setting clear objectives and providing coaching, feedback and development opportunities to enable them to deliver high quality work and achieve their individual, project and team goals
• Embedding inclusive and equitable practices in portfolio work, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered and barriers to participation are identified and addressed

​Person specification

Essential​

• A commitment to Impetus’ mission. 
• ​Senior level responsibility and a strong track record of building trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders, advising them on key strategic decisions, and challenging them in a respectful and collaborative manner. 
• ​A talent for strategic thinking around complex issues. 
• ​Strong financial acumen and analytical skills. 
• Understanding of impact measurement and evaluation fundamentals. 
• ​Resilience, tenacity and initiative. 
• ​Ability to adapt personal style to different leadership contexts, working inclusively and effectively with diverse leaders and organisations.
• ​Growth mind-set to seek out and act on feedback and a commitment to continuous learning and development. 
• ​Proven ability to work independently, and to exercise good judgment. 
• ​Strong planning and time management skills. 
• ​Experience contributing expertise to team or organisational priorities, including sharing learning and supporting others’ development. 
• ​Interest in partnering closely with charities that are doing what it takes to get better. 
• ​A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable​

• Experience in the non-profit (charity or social enterprise) sector, through work, as a pro-bono volunteer or Trustee capacity.
• ​Experience in consulting, investment management, senior charity management, or other in-depth grant making and advisory work. 
• ​Knowledge and expertise in UK education or youth employability sectors. 
• ​Board experience in private, public or third sector. 
• ​Understanding of or experience with commissioning impact evaluations. 

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.​

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:  ​

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school  

• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths 

• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment  ​

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.​

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life. ​

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.​

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.​

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

​

Our Values​

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.​

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.​

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.​

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.​

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.​

​Our employee benefits ​

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.​

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button at the top of the page. ​

You will need to:​

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form)
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.​

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.​

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.​

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.​

The deadline for applications is 2026, Sunday 21st June 2026, 11:59pm.​

Interviews:​

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 29th June 2026.​

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 6th July 2026.​

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.​

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

The overall purpose of the role is to lead and coordinate meaningful participation and engagement opportunities for children, young people and adults to shape services, influence decision-making and ensure the voices of lived experience are central to organisational development. The postholder will support in designing, delivering and evaluating initiatives that build trust, inclusion and empowerment.

Main Responsibilities

• To co-ordinate and provide safe spaces for children, young people and adults to participate in user- led activities and projects.
• To be a key link between children, young people and adults within our participation service and staff, making sure their voices and experiences are heard.
• To recruit and engage children, young people, and adults, to enable them to feel comfortable to join our Participation service.
• To support the Head of Voice, Participation & Engagement to develop opportunities for children, young people, and adults to be actively involved throughout the organisation.
• Lead and facilitate small scale participation projects.
• To maintain records of all interactions with stakeholders, using Salesforce.
• To be able to work flexibly, including regular evening and occasional weekend work in response to participants availability.
• Support the Head of Voice, Participation & Engagement in planning and facilitating forums.
• Work with people with lived experience of bereavement to create meaningful content and service recommendations.
• Work across the organisation sharing, promoting and training in best practice in participation.
• To assist in planning, organising and delivering participation events (virtually and in-person).
• Ensure that a range of voices are heard, with particular focus on EDI.
• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of members of the participation service through adherence to the organisation’s safeguarding policy and practice.
• Maintain accurate records throughout all services, complying with the organisation’s recording and reporting requirements.

Communication and Relationships

• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with children, young people, families, adults, and stakeholders to create safe and inclusive spaces for participation.
• Facilitate group and one-to-one engagement sessions using creative and accessible methods to ensure diverse voices are heard and valued.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including service delivery, communication, marketing and fundraising to embed participation principles across all areas of work.
• Represent the organsiation externally at meetings, events and networks, sharing insight from lived experience to inform sector-wide learning.
• Translate feedback and participation outputs into clear reports, presentations or creative formats that inform decision-making.
• Demonstrate empathy, confidentiality and active listening when engaging with individuals or groups who may have experience loss and trauma.
• Establish excellent internal working relationships with peers and colleagues.
• Model the values and culture of the organisation in interactions and relationships at work.
• Adapt communication style and approach to suit the needs, preferences, and emotional states of children, young people and adults, including those with neurodiverse profiles or communication difficulties.
• Provide clear, compassionate explanations of support options, safeguarding procedures, and next steps to children, young people, adults and families.
• Maintain professional boundaries while fostering a safe and supportive environment for children, young people and adults.
• Respond to challenging or emotionally charged situations with sensitivity, professionalism, and a focus on empathy and support.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of communications and decisions in line with organisational policies and data protection regulations.

 Knowledge, training and experience

• Proven experience in youth participation, community engagement, co-production, or related areas, ideally within charity, education or health and social care sector.
• Understanding of participation frameworks, rights-based approached and trauma-informed practice.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of grief, loss, trauma, child development, and the psychological and social impact of bereavement on children, young people, families and adults.
• Experience in facilitating groups, workshops, and creative engagement activities both in-person and online.
• Ability to translate engagement insight into practical feedback and recommendations
• Adhere to legislation and statutory guidance related to Safeguarding Children and Young People, Safeguarding Adults, and the Mental Capacity Act.
• Participate actively in clinical supervision and reflective practice to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery.
• Contribute to the development and sharing of knowledge within the team by supporting training, mentoring, and peer learning opportunities.

Analytical and judgment skills

• Ability to gather qualitative and quantitative feedback and identify key themes, trends, and areas for improvement.
• Exercise sound judgement in managing sensitive information, ethical boundaries and participant confidentiality.
• Assess engagement risks and implement appropriate boundaries and referrals in line with safeguarding policies.
• Critically evaluate participation initiatives and contribute to evidence-based practice through reflection, evaluation tools and reporting.
• Balance organisation priorities with participant needs, ensuring representation remains authentic rather than tokenistic.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and meaningful data recording and reporting to inform practice, service evaluation, and organisational performance monitoring.

Planning and organisational skills

• Plan, coordinate and deliver participation activities, forums and events with clear objectives, timelines and outcomes.
• Support the development of annual participation calendars or frameworks as needed.
• Manage competing priorities across multiple projects, ensuring timely communication with internal teams and external partners.
• Maintain accurate records, consent forms and participation data using appropriate digital systems.
• Support logistical arrangements including venue booking, accessibility adjustments, transport and safeguarding measures.
• Contribute to strategic planning by identifying emerging themes, opportunities for partnerships and areas for innovation.
• Provide cover and support for participation and engagement team members during periods of absence or high demand.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and reflective capacity, using supervision and peer support to sustain personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness.
• Contribute to the development of efficient, evidence-based practices by supporting team planning, service evaluation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum 3 years’ experience of working with children and young people or adults in health, social care, youth, community or education setting
• Experience of advocating for the interests of children, young people or vulnerable adults or individuals from ethnically diverse communities
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with experience of tailoring these to a wide range of audience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage sensitively with children, families, and professionals while maintaining professional boundaries at all times
• Experience of facilitating participation groups both in person and online
• Knowledge of different facilitation approaches and methods
• Demonstratable experience of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and an ability to practice in a way that promotes this
• Experience of building trusting relationships with children, young people, and adults creating safe space
• Passion for the power of Voice and Lived Experience
• Understanding of the challenges that participation work can present, and experience of how to overcome this
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and with external organisations
• Emotional maturity, stability and resilience with a strong commitment to self-care and the ability to seek support and guidance when difficulties arise in the course of work
• Strong IT skills, including confidence in using multiple IT systems

Desirable

• Experience of working in bereavement sector

Benefits

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.
• TOIL for our hours work.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Company sick pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance.
• Training loans.
• Enhanced family friendly policies.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 16th June 2026 at midnight

Winston’s Wish reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

Please refer to our recruitment pack for further details on the interview process.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Store Associate to join our friendly Store in Armagh!

This will be a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate, motivated, and keen to help raise funds to support the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK.

As a Store Associate you will support the Store Manager, other Store Associates, and volunteers to help run a busy store, you will have the opportunity to develop and learn within the store.  Weekend work will be a key part of the role.

Store Location: 21-26 Scotch Street, Armagh, Northern Ireland, BT61 7BY

Hours: 7 Per Week (Permanent)

Some of the Key Responsibilities include:

• Excellent Customer Service
• Visual Merchandising
• Organising Stock, Pricing and Steaming stock before going on the shop floor.
• Ensuring Stock is generated over the door by members of the public and ensuring donors sign up for gift aid.
• Implement any promotion in the store as directed by Head Office or your Area Business Manager or your Store Manager.
• Achieve and maintain high standards of housekeeping, organisation and cleanliness throughout the Store, including the sales floor and stockroom areas.
• Actively encourage the public to donate saleable stock.
• Rotate stock on a daily basis so that no garment remains on the shop floor for any longer than the agreed time limits.

The Ideal candidates should demonstrate in their application:

• Experience of working in a retail environment
• Experience of cash handling
• Experience of working in a customer service environment
• Experience of working on own initiative
• Knowledge of working in a fashion environment
• Basic IT skills

The full Job description and Person profile is linked under the Additional Info section. Please read this before applying to ensure that the job matches your skills and experience.

* As part of Barnardo's ongoing commitment to safeguarding, our retail recruitment process requires that successful candidates are asked to consent to a Basic criminal records check.

Interview Date: Where an interview date has been given in the advert, this will be the only date available. Please check this before proceeding with your application.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date.  We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible

The Retail section consists of more than 700 Barnardo's shops across the UK. These high-street stores are reliant on donations from the public and corporate supporters and generate funds from the sale of these donated items. There are a wide range of shops, from traditional charity stores to book shops and furniture. The Trading division produces and sells a range of products, including cards and gifts.

About Barnardo's

At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is reflected in our values and our practice, and we have invested in this area of our work to ensure that we can deliver on our commitments to be an inclusive employer. EDI is a key enabler of our purpose as a charity and we want to ensure that the diversity of our teams is reflective of the communities we serve and that we continue to learn and develop our work with a focus on inclusion. We particularly encourage applications from candidates from Black, Asian and  Minoritised Ethnic Communities, candidates who are LGBT+ and Disabled candidates. 

Our basis and values

Transforming Lives Through Learning

Due to exciting growth and expansion of our King's Trust Programme, we are looking for five passionate, energetic, and inspiring individuals to join our King’s Trust Team Programme within the college. The available roles are Team Leader (x3),  Asisstant Team Leader, and Curriculum Manager, details of each role can be found on our website.

This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a life-changing programme that supports young people to build confidence, develop employability skills, improve wellbeing, and create positive futures either within the college or in a community setting.

If you believe in second chances, inclusive education, and helping young people realise their potential, we would love to hear from you.

We will be holding an Information Event on 10th June 6:00pm - 7.30pm at our City Campus. This is a drop in event and staff will be on hand to answer any questions and talk to you about the college and the King's Trust. Please email us for more information and to register your interest.

About the King’s Trust Team Programme

The King’s Trust Team Programme is a 12-week personal development programme designed to support young people aged 16–25 who may be:

• disengaged from education or employment
• lacking confidence or direction
• facing barriers to learning
• experiencing social, emotional, or personal challenges
  looking to improve their future opportunities

The programme combines:

• team-building activities
• community projects
• employability and enterprise skills
• work experience opportunities
• residential experiences
• confidence and wellbeing development
• English and maths support
• progression planning
• At the heart of the programme is the belief that every young person has potential.

About the Role

3x positions available

As part of the college team, you will work directly with young people within community and college settings to deliver engaging, supportive, and meaningful learning experiences.

You will motivate learners, build positive relationships, and help young people overcome barriers while supporting them towards education, employment, training, or volunteering opportunities.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and expand provision within the local community while being part of a supportive and forward-thinking college environment.

Key Responsibilities
 

• Planning for the weeks ahead – setting out what team members want to achieve and finding out how to get qualifications 

• Planning for a week away/Residential 

• Community projects 

• Work placements 

• Planning for the future (CVs, interview skills and job applications) 

• Final presentation of the programme to an invited audience. 

Duties of the role also  include:

• Deliver the required number of “Teams” which comply with the prescribed 12 week programme 

• Recruit a range of young people across targeted groups 

• Progress young people through the programme in line with College budgets, achieving a range of Performance Indicator targets, including the number of young people recruited; their retention on the programme and the qualifications and positive outcomes achieved 

• Contribute to team review  as complied by Princes Trust and College staff and ensure agreed actions to improve the quality of the programme are followed up 

• Maintain accurate and up to date records, both paper and electronic, as required by the College and the Trust. 

•  Negotiate residential and community project activities with local providers under the guidance of the Head of Department 

• Assess, verify and report student achievement through the College Exams department. 

• Implement action plans to address issues identified in Team Review 

• Attend all necessary internal/external training courses/ management and steering group meetings as required 

• Carry out related duties as may be reasonably required by the College and by the Trust. 

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking enthusiastic individuals who are:

• passionate about transforming lives
• committed to inclusion and equality of opportunity
• positive, adaptable, and resilient
• able to inspire and motivate young people
• experienced in working with young people or vulnerable learners
• confident delivering group activities and community projects
• strong communicators with excellent interpersonal skills
• organised and able to work independently and as part of a team
• Experience within education, youth work, employability, SEND,
• community work, coaching, or mentoring would be highly valued.

What we can offer you 

As the successful candidate, you will be offered a salary of between £28,760 - £33,563 per annum based upon a combination of the skills, knowledge and experience that you can bring to the role. 

Our benefits  

• Enhanced Pension contributions scheme with SYPA 
• Annual leave - 30 Days (222 hours) + 8 Bank Holidays (59.2 hours)- this includes a discretionary Christmas closure period 
• Health and wellbeing, we offer
  • Employee assistance programme through Bupa
  • Occupational Health through PAM
  • Free eye tests for VDU users
• Free Parking is available at the majority of our campuses

Further information can be found on our Benefits andCareer Developmentpages.

Disability Confident 

We are a Disability Confidentemployer and are committed to removing barriers for applicants with a disability during our recruitment process, upon appointment and as an employee. Please review our Recruitment Guidelines for Disabled Candidates which provides further information on reasonable adjustments and how the Disability Confident scheme works in practice.If you require any reasonable adjustments or any support at any point throughout the process, please contact us.

Armed Forces Covenant  

As part of our commitment through the Armed Forces Covenant,we’re pledged to support the Armed Forces Community. Recognising the value Personnel, Veterans and military families contribute to our community and country. 

Safeguarding  

We are an employer who is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students. Successful applicants will be required to have an enhanced DBS check and will be subject to safer recruiting procedures.  Further details on our safer recruiting procedures, including the employment of ex-offenders can be found here Safeguarding 

Next Steps: 

To apply:Click apply online and follow the links to complete the online application. For queries regarding the application process, please contact us. CVs are currently not accepted. 

As a Leader in Diversity employer, we encourage applications from everyone and value diversity in our workforce.   

Closing date: 21st June 2026

Please be aware – If we have a high number of applications, we may decide to close the vacancy earlier.