342 Jobs for the Youth and Children sector

The Role
Policy Development Lead
We are looking for a Policy Development Lead to provide strategic leadership, coordination and expertise in proactive policy development across NDCS. This exciting new role will help us think beyond immediate policy activity, identify where system change is needed, and develop longer-term policy positions that are informed by evidence, specialist insight, lived experience and external practice.
The role will initially focus on Education, while retaining the flexibility to support wider policy development across areas such as early years, social care, health, benefits, sign language and other emerging priorities. Working closely with Platform Leads, Policy and Nation Leads, and colleagues across the organisation, you will help ensure NDCS develops strong, evidence-based policy positions that create meaningful change for deaf children and their families.
What you'll do

• Lead and coordinate proactive policy development activity across NDCS, identifying opportunities for deeper policy thinking and systems change.
• Apply systems thinking to identify complex challenges, explore interdependencies and develop practical solutions
• Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities, using systems thinking and horizon-scanning approaches to inform future organisational priorities.
• Translate complex evidence, research and lived experience into clear recommendations that support organisational decision-making and influence.
• Influence senior leaders and key stakeholders by providing strategic policy advice, insight and recommendations.
• Lead and coordinate policy development activity across multiple teams, ensuring expertise, insight and activity are aligned.
• Build productive relationships with external researchers, policy networks and sector experts to bring innovative thinking into NDCS.
• Identify cross-cutting themes and opportunities for change by bringing together insight from local, regional and national sources.
• Facilitate strategic conversations that help colleagues explore complex issues, understand system interdependencies and develop long-term solutions.
• Champion a proactive, evidence-informed approach to policy development across the organisation.

What you'll need

• Significant experience in policy analysis, development or strategy within a complex organisation, sector or policy environment.
• Proven ability to translate complex evidence, research and lived experience into recommendations that drive organisational action and influence.
• Experience influencing senior decision-makers and shaping organisational, sector-wide or public policy direction.
• A track record of leading and coordinating complex work across multiple teams, functions or stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality briefings, policy positions and strategic recommendations.
• Experience bringing together evidence and insight from multiple sources to identify emerging issues, trends and opportunities for change.
• Strong systems-thinking skills and experience developing long-term solutions to complex challenges.
• The ability to lead through collaboration, credibility and specialist expertise, building alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the policy, practice and systemic issues affecting deaf children and families, and the ability to apply this knowledge to strategic policy development.
• Strong digital skills and a sound understanding of agile values & principles.
• Acriminal record check / DBS disclosure (if offered the position).

What you'll get

• Home-based working with flexible hours.
• 25 days holiday - plus an additional 3 days at Christmas (& bank holidays).
• Pension (5.5% employer contribution).
• Healthcare Cashplan.
• Annual performance-based salary increase.
• Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programmes.

What we do
The National Deaf Children's Society are the leading charity for deaf children. We give expert support on childhood deafness, raise awareness and campaign for deaf children's rights, so they have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Pre-employment checks
As part of our commitment to creating a safe and trusted environment for the children, young people and families we support, all offers of employment are subject to background checks. These include Right to Work verification, Criminal Record Disclosure, and ID and address verification.

To complete an online Right to Work check, you will need a valid UK or Irish passport, or a government share code if you are not a British citizen. If an online check is not possible, we’ll need to verify your documents in person at our London office. Please be aware that travel time and expenses for this appointment cannot be reimbursed.

Disability Confidence
We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to offering interviews to candidates who request to be considered under the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum requirements for the role.

The National Deaf Children’s Society is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1016532 and in Scotland no. SC040779.

An exciting opportunity to play a key role supporting young people through our new residential programme at Jamie’s Farm Skipton.  Following the success of our day visits, our residential programme will launch in January 2027. We are looking for someone to help shape the reflective and relational aspects of each visit, working closely with young people, visiting staff and the wider farm team.

What is Jamie’s Farm?  Jamie’s Farm is a charity that supports young people by combining therapeutic work, farming, and purposeful activities to help them thrive. Through residential visits to our working farms, we provide a nurturing environment where young people can reflect, build confidence, and develop the resilience they need to overcome personal challenges.

Known within the organisation as ‘Therapeutic Coordinator’

More about the role:  This is not a formal therapy or counselling position. As Therapeutic Coordinator, you will coordinate the therapeutic input for up to four school or partner organisation visits each month, holding personalised conversations with young people, facilitating reflective group discussions and working closely with visiting staff to ensure each child gets the support they need during and after their time on the farm.

You will also write personalised reports, contribute to daily farm life through walks, meals and shared activities, and act as the farm’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, helping ensure safeguarding practice is followed confidently and consistently. 

About you :  You’ll bring strong professional experience of working with young people facing challenging circumstances, with the warmth, curiosity and patience to build trusting relationships. You may come from youth work, education, mentoring, social care, pastoral support or a similar field, and will be confident supporting young people through reflective and relational approaches. You’ll be organised, collaborative and flexible, with excellent communication skills and a strong commitment to Jamie’s Farm’s values and the communities we support. 

In return, we offer a competitive salary, generous annual leave and pension, regular therapeutic supervision, specialist training/CPD, all meals when on site, and the chance to join a supportive team in a beautiful rural setting.

You can find the full job description, desired experience and further employee benefits in the recruitment pack below. Don’t meet every single requirement?  We’d still love to hear from you – your unique skills and experience could be just what we’re looking for.

If you’d like to find out more before applying, we are offering an opportunity to visit the farm on Friday 4 September, between 1pm and 4pm. You’ll be able to meet the Head of Farm, ask questions and see the site. Please email the address below for further information.

Help us grow the volunteer community that makes guiding possible

Every week, volunteers create spaces where girls can have fun, build confidence, find their voice and make a difference.

At Girlguiding, nearly 80,000 volunteers help girls know they can do anything. But we know there are many more girls who could benefit from guiding if we can attract and recruit more volunteers to join us.

That's why we're looking for a volunteer recruitment manager to lead and shape our approach to volunteer recruitment.

This is an exciting role for someone who is passionate about volunteering and understands how to turn insight into action. You'll lead work to attract more volunteers, improve the recruitment journey and help local teams recruit and welcome volunteers into guiding. Working closely with colleagues, volunteers and country and region teams, you'll ensure we're removing barriers and creating an inclusive recruitment experience that allows more people to get involved.

About the role:

In this role you'll:

• Lead initiatives to attract and recruit more volunteers, particularly unit leaders.
• Improve the volunteer recruitment journey, making it easier for people to find the right role and get involved.
• Use insight, research and data to understand prospective volunteers and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Work closely with our insight, marketing, and operations teams to develop effective recruitment activity.
• Partner with volunteers and colleagues across our countries and regions to deliver a shared approach to recruitment.
• Develop evaluation and reporting processes that help us understand what's working and where we can improve.
• Share learning and best practice across the organisation.
• Manage and support the Volunteer Recruitment Lead.
• Provide updates and recommendations to senior stakeholders and operational groups.

About Girlguiding

Girlguiding is the UK’s largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls. We’re over 300,000 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers, who come together to laugh, learn, explore and have adventures, in communities across the UK and virtually. We're almost 80,000 volunteers who make guiding happen by giving time, talent and enthusiasm. Girls can do anything. We’re a powerful collective voice – with girls, led by girls – changing the world for the better.

Girlguiding values the differences that a diverse workforce brings and is committed to inclusivity, and to employing and supporting a diverse workforce. We are proud to work with a number of organisations who support us to create and maintain a culture that celebrates diversity and champions inclusion in the workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Girlguiding operates a hybrid working arrangement where office based staff are required to attend the office on average two days a week, or 40% of working time across the year. Location allowance is payable to those who work in accordance with our hybrid working model. We’re committed though to supporting our staff to achieve a good work-life balance and offer flexible working options wherever we reasonably can. All staff are required to carry out our online health and safety training and complete a DSE risk assessment to ensure we can provide the support you require. 

We strive to ensure our recruitment processes are accessible to everyone. If you would like to receive any information in a different way or would like support in helping you to apply, please get in touch with us.

An exciting opportunity to transform young people's lives and play a central role in our new residential programme at Jamie's Farm Skipton. Following the success of our day visits, our residential programme will launch in January 2027. We are looking for a skilled and organised Programme Coordinator to join our growing delivery team, helping to shape and deliver meaningful programmes that support young people to thrive.

What is Jamie’s Farm? Jamie’s Farm is a charity that supports young people by combining therapeutic work, farming, and purposeful activities to help them thrive. Through residential visits to our working farms, we provide a nurturing environment where young people can reflect, build confidence, and develop the resilience they need to overcome personal challenges.

Known within the organisation as ‘Programme Coordinator’

More about the role: This is a varied and rewarding role at the heart of our programme delivery. You will spend much of your time working directly with young people, helping them engage fully in farm life through the shared routines and activities of the day, from feeding rounds and walks to mealtimes and evening activities. You will also plan and lead practical gardening and horticultural sessions, helping young people experience the purpose and satisfaction that come from meaningful work.

Alongside this, you will play a crucial role in coordinating up to 20 visits per year, acting as the key point of liaison with partner schools and organisations, from the point of booking through to meaningful follow-up support after the visit has ended. 

About you: We are looking for someone with at least two years’ experience working with diverse groups of young people, with excellent communication, teamwork and organisational skills. You will be able to build strong relationships with young people and adults alike across a range of settings, influence and motivate others, and contribute positively to the wider vision and goals of the charity.

You will have knowledge of gardening or horticulture and the confidence to plan and deliver engaging practical sessions with young people. Experience in a school, social work or similar setting would be helpful. Warm, patient and collaborative, you will be excited by the opportunity to contribute to farm life and help shape our developing residential programme at Skipton.

In return, we offer a competitive salary, generous annual leave and pension, regular therapeutic supervision, specialist training/CPD, all meals when on site, and the chance to join a supportive team in a beautiful rural setting.

You can find the full job description, desired experience and further employee benefits in the recruitment pack below. Don’t meet every single requirement?  We’d still love to hear from you – your unique skills and experience could be just what we’re looking for.

If you’d like to find out more before applying, we are offering an opportunity to visit the farm on Friday 4 September, between 1pm and 4pm. You’ll be able to meet the Head of Farm, ask questions and see the site. Please email the address below for further information.

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and take the next step into a broad senior leadership role.

As Head of Income Generation and Communications, you will lead Cosmic’s fundraising, marketing and communications function, with responsibility for sustainable income growth, team leadership and strengthening our profile. You will oversee a varied portfolio spanning community and challenge fundraising, corporate partnerships, major donors, events, volunteering and supporter stewardship, while also setting the direction for our communications, brand and digital activity.

This is a role with real scope to shape our future. You will work closely with the CEO and Trustees, lead a small team and external communications support, and develop a three-to-five-year strategy that turns ambition into clear plans, targets and results.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in fundraising and income generation, experience of managing people and performance, and the confidence to oversee communications and volunteering strategically. You do not need to be a communications specialist, but you should understand how strong storytelling, supporter engagement and volunteer involvement can help drive income and impact.

Salary: £45,000–£50,000 | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid, primarily based near St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington

Note: This post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1, and is open to female applicants only, due to the nature of the role. Subject to an enhanced DBS check.

The Head of Youth Programmes sits in our Senior Leadership Team and holds overall operational responsibility for our frontline youth programmes across three pillars: Prevention, Intervention and Healing. The postholder leads and line manages the delivery team, and carries DSL responsibility for the organisation.

You'll lead delivery, expansion and impact evaluation across all three pillars, line manage the Education Lead, IDVA Team and Creative Projects leads, and work closely with the CEO to consolidate our delivery models. You'll hold responsibility as our Designated Safeguarding Lead, manage operational budgets, and build multi-agency partnerships across Barnet and neighbouring boroughs.

It's an opportunity to bring fresh energy and strategic leadership to a small, values-driven charity that trusts its team to do meaningful, creative work with the young people we support.

Essential criteria

• Experience as an IDVA, ISVA or in a comparable frontline advocacy role supporting young women and girls affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence or other forms of harm.
• A strong understanding of VAWG, domestic abuse and youth harm, grounded in survivor-centred and harm-prevention approaches.
• Experience of overseeing and responding to complex safeguarding through multi-agency working.
• At least Level 3 safeguarding training. Designated Safeguarding Lead training is desirable, or a willingness to complete this within an agreed timeframe.

We have highlighted the essentials above. The rest of the person specification, in the attached recruitment pack, is a guide to what we are looking for in a strong candidate, rather than a checklist. Your experience may not meet all of it, but if you have the essential experience we would encourage you to apply. We are just as interested in transferable experience as in a conventional career path.

Benefits

• Regular clinical supervision with an external practitioner 
• Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme, including a 24/7 helpline, counselling and a wellbeing app
• Free on-site parking in Colindale and funded travel between delivery sites

Details

£38,000 to £40,000 pro rata. 28 hours per week (four day working week). Permanent. Barnet, London / Hybrid.

Closing date: Thursday 15th October 2026. Interviews: w/c Monday 26th October 2026.

We are looking for a highly organised, experienced Finance, HR and Office Manager to cover a range of responsibilities for our charity.

This is a varied role and will include processing the day to day finance transactions, processing invoices and making payments and overseeing all the Human Resources functions and recruitment including volunteers and trustees. The role will also cover facilities management, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for the team.

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, ERIC offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 25 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays per year), rising one day per year as a long service reward up to a max of 5 days.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to wellbeing resources
• 3% Employer Pension contribution
• Living Wage Accredited Employer

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital training programmes and other training as required by the role.

For the full job description and person specification please view in the advert.

To successfully lead the Grants team and raise voluntary income from a range of Grantmakers including Trusts, Foundations and local Government grant funders contributing to an overall team target of £1-million +. Working effectively with a grants team of three, and across the organisation, you will meet team annual targets of circa £675,000 through finding new opportunities, building excellent relationships with funders and managing the team effectively. This will lead to more young people reached by Eikon’s services.

Responsibilities

Income generation

· Lead responsibility for raising current annual team target of £675,000 for restricted and unrestricted income

· Work to agreed metrices including an annual target of £220,000 - £250,000/year with a pipeline including statutory, national & regional grant funders (some being invite only).

· Develop and lead networking plan (internal/external) to secure long-term grant and statutory funding opportunities to help increase financial income year on year.

Account Management

· Lead a stewardship framework, ensuring excellent account management of funders across the team (including own portfolio)

· Lead plans for the year, thinking creatively to develop new engagement opportunities such as panels, breakfast meetings and other events

· Collaborate with other leads and managers in the team to maximise opportunities through relationships, for example Major Donors, Corporate partnerships and Individual Givers.

Management

· Line management two staff members (Senior Grants Fundraiser and Trust Fundraiser), creating a positive and supportive working culture supporting them to meet their targets

· Lead on managing pipeline information on Donorfy, being able to pull reports for information and analysis including:

o Provision of data and narrative for monthly team meetings

o Contribution to Board reporting with narrative and pipeline information

o Analysis for annual planning sessions

Quality and standards

· Ensure all staff and volunteers understand and deliver within Eikon’s safeguarding policies and practices when taking part in fundraising activities.

· Ensure all activities follow the relevant Fundraising Codes of Practice and Eikon’s Ethical Fundraising Policy.

· Prepare relevant Grant Agreements and contractual information.

· Carry out risk assessments for all activities for which you are responsible.

· Carry out required basic due diligence on new funders.

Finance and resources

· Budget responsibility with authorisation up to agreed limits

· Operate within organisational approved budgets, policies and procedures.

Communications and relationships

· Work collaboratively with the Communications Lead to devise annual communications and marketing plans, ensuring Eikon is strategically positioned externally.

· Work collaboratively with service leads ensure new services developed meet funder needs and requirements

Strategy/transformation work

· Lead on developing and delivering annual grants plan

· Participating in a Leads network, contribute regularly to organisation matters including strategies, annual plans and budgeting.

Organisational requirements

· Work within Eikon’s equal opportunities, health & safety, and safeguarding policies at all times

· Understand and act when safeguarding issues need to be escalated

· · This is a flexible working role. You must be available to attend regular external meetings across Surrey and occasional meetings at Eikon’s New Haw office. Some meetings may take place outside normal working hours or at weekends.

· Work co-operatively and under the management of The Eikon Charity staff to ensure the highest quality of delivery and support

· Work within Eikon’s internal policies, safeguarding and data protection regulations

· Be responsible for equipment/resources

· To promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the working environment

Rural Media is a Herefordshire-based charity and production company that empowers rural young people and underserved communities to find their voice, develop their creative talent and use digital creativity to drive social change. Through our proven creative participation model, developed and refined over three decades, we support early-career creative talent, young rural people and underserved groups to gain the skills, confidence, and platforms for personal growth and societal change.

Over the next three years, Rural Media Charity will focus on two interconnected strategic priorities:

• Youth Voice & Social Change – Supporting young rural people to drive social change through digital creativity, challenging stereotypes, influencing policy, and becoming leaders and changemakers in their communities
• Early-Career Artists/Creatives & Digital Platforms – Supporting early-career creatives from rural, regional and underserved communities to develop their practice, thrive on digital platforms, and build professional creative careers

Rural Media is looking for an ambitious Strategic Partnerships Manager to build a brand-new corporate partnerships function from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to shape a role from scratch, backed by our CEO/Creative Director and a Strategic Partnerships Consultant, generating a six-figure income stream that will directly fuel our work with rural young people and underserved communities.

Working closely with our Development Director, Head of Youth Programmes and Head of Production, you'll identify, secure and grow partnerships with businesses who share our commitment to rural equality and youth opportunity — turning first conversations into lasting, mutually valuable relationships with a particular focus on supporting young people not in education, employment or training into real opportunities in the creative sector.

This is a varied role combining prospecting, pitching, negotiation, stewardship and ambassadorial work – whether that's crafting a partnership proposition, presenting to a board, or reporting back to a corporate supporter on the impact of their support.

We're looking for someone who is:

• A proven relationship-builder with a track record of generating income, sponsorship or partnership value.

• Confident engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, including at director and board level.

• Skilled at developing compelling proposals, pitches and cases for support.

• Comfortable managing a varied pipeline from first contact through to signed agreement.

• Excited about widening opportunity for young people and underrepresented communities through corporate partnership.

At Rural Media, you'll join a friendly, ambitious team committed to using creativity to change lives and widen access to careers in the screen industries. If you'd like to help build a new income stream that transforms young lives, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply:

• Visit our website

• Deadline for applications: 9am 10th October

• Start date: Mid-late November

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic background. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process — such as accessible formats, extra time, or alternative ways to communicate — please contact Mel and she will be happy to accommodate you.

Farm Discovery Programme Manager

Salary: £40,170 | Home-based | 35 hours per week | Permanent

This is a varied senior role combining programme leadership, team and contract management, quality assurance, safeguarding, data and financial oversight, partnership development and programme improvement.

You’ll ensure our Farm Discovery team has the clarity, support and resources they need to deliver consistently high-quality educational experiences for children from disadvantaged communities. You’ll also use data, feedback and evaluation to improve the programme, develop partnerships and contribute to its future growth and development.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a strong track record in programme management and leading complex delivery
• Is outstanding at enabling and leading educators and dispersed teams
• Understands the primary education context in England
• Can build strong relationships with schools, farmers, funders and partners
• Has experience of quality, safeguarding, health and safety and risk management
• Is confident using data, managing budgets and improving systems and processes
• Can communicate effectively and work collaboratively across an organisation
• Shares our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for children experiencing disadvantage

The role is home-based, with regular travel across England and North Wales, including overnight stays, an essential part of the role. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses are covered.

Hours: 35 hours per week, with flexible working arrangements considered, including slightly reduced or compressed hours for the right candidate.

Closing date: Thursday 8 October 2026, midday.
CVs not accepted for this role. Please see our website for more information.

XLP is a youth work charity working to create positive futures for young people and at the cutting edge of tackling poverty and educational failure in inner London. We deliver holistic, long-term work with young people aged 11 to 25 in schools and communities.

We have got big plans and we need the fundraising power to match. Our vision is to grow XLP’s impact across London by building a fundraising engine that’s ambitious, strategic and fit for a medium-sized charity. This role is about making that leap to unlocking major new income streams.

That means bold action. It means going after bigger grants, attracting larger gifts and shaping a sharp, strategic approach to long-term income growth. It means helping build and lead a strong, values-driven fundraising team with the drive and determination to go the distance. You will bring precision, persistence and the skill to turn complex work into compelling funding applications.

We are looking for a confident, engaging and proactive fundraiser who enjoys building relationships, identifying opportunities and making things happen. You will be someone who works collaboratively, brings positive energy to the team and is motivated by creating opportunities for young people to grow, thrive and build strong futures. While an understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by young people in inner-city London would be beneficial, what matters most is your commitment to XLP's mission and your desire to make a lasting difference

Outreach Support Worker Opportunities

Bristol

£34,873 - £38,763 pa 

Do you want to get out there and work in a role where you will support an end to rough sleeping in Bristol? 

St Mungo’s Bristol Street Outreach Team will be recruiting to a number of Outreach Worker roles as part of an increased number of opportunities across rough sleeping services. This could include working with focused groups of clients including those residing in vehicles on the roadside or people who have been rough sleeping for a particularly long time, some of whom are part of the ‘Target Priority Group (TPG)’.

Our belief is that rough sleeping is an intrinsically harmful and dangerous activity both for the individual and for the wider community. Therefore, we take a proactive and assertive approach to supporting people away from this activity. Our aim is to support people to recover from the effects of rough sleeping and move away from a street lifestyle permanently.

Working as an Outreach Worker you will:

• Work with people who are rough sleeping to assess their needs and deliver a person-centred support that meet peoples individual needs and connect them to suitable housing options. This could also include working alongside people who are residing in vehicles on the roadside.
• Balance time in the community, on Outreach, working with people where they are sleeping or spending their days, alongside time in the office completing administrative tasks and attending meetings.
• Help people access vital services like healthcare, substance use support, and adult social care.
• Work in partnership with multi-disciplinary teams and agencies across the city to meet client’s individual needs.

It’s not always an easy job, but the opportunity to work with different people every day, helping individuals experiencing homelessness and the local community end the harms of rough sleeping can be highly rewarding.

You will work on a weekly shift rota including mornings, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. This helps us to ensure we are available to support people experiencing homelessness when they need us the most. Shifts can vary particularly during periods of extreme weather.

About you

We are always on the lookout for people who share our ambitions. You don’t need direct experience to succeed in these rewarding roles; if you are ready to get out there and support our clients, we encourage you to apply!

• You will have good communication skills with the ability to network and build effective relationships with a variety of people, a good understanding of the complex issues faced by homeless people and the difficulties they experience in accessing services.
• If you think you have the resilience and patience to work with people who may have complex needs and challenging behaviour, we will provide you with the tools and training to support clients to end rough sleeping for good.  
• Due to the nature of this role a full UK or equivalent driving license is desirable for this post, and/or competency in cycling.

St Mungo's are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage applications from all under-represented groups.

Closing date: 10am on 24 September 2026

Interview and assessments on: 5-6 October 2026

Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have existing and ongoing right to work in the UK for the duration of employment.

Successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for someone with a strong understanding of co-production and, ideally, knowledge of Parent Carer Forums and how they operate. You will be an experienced line manager, able to motivate and support large teams, with senior-level experience in a user-led environment. Ideally, you will also have led service delivery improvement programmes, improved satisfaction scores or similar KPIs, and built strong partnerships through effective relationship management and communication.

Make a difference every day by helping a growing autism charity deliver the very best support for autistic people and their families.

Space4Autism is looking for an experienced, organised and people-focused Business & Operations Manager to help drive our organisation forward and ensure everything behind the scenes runs effectively.

Space4Autism has been a lifeline for autistic individuals and their families across Cheshire East since 2005. What started as a parent-founded, volunteer-run charity has grown into an organisation delivering over 4,000 activities a year - social clubs for children and young people, parent and carer support, services for autistic adults, an autism-friendly community café, a charity shop offering work experience for autistic adults, training and workshops, and space for private hire. Everything we do is guided by one simple promise: we listen, we help, we care. 

Now, as we grow, we need someone who can help us grow well - a Business & Operations Manager who will work hand-in-hand with our CEO to keep the organisation running smoothly, sustainably, and with the same care we bring to every family we support. 

The opportunity…

This is a hands-on senior leadership role for a pragmatic, confident operator who's just as comfortable in a budget spreadsheet as they are supporting a team, and who genuinely wants their work to change lives. You'll be a trusted partner to the CEO, taking ownership of the day-to-day so that strategy turns into action - across business planning, finance, funding, people, operations, and governance.

You'll report directly to the CEO and line manage the whole Space4Autism team, giving you real influence over how the charity runs and grows.

What you'll be doing…

Business planning & strategy: help shape, implement, and monitor our business plan, turn strategic goals into clear action plans, and keep leadership priorities, projects, and timelines on track. You'll attend Trustee Board meetings and bring your insight, challenges, and ideas to the table.

Budgets & finance: support budget planning, monitoring, and reporting, and keep a close eye on spend so we stay financially sustainable, working alongside our finance team and external accountants.

Funding & income: help drive our funding strategy and income diversification, track grant requirements and deadlines, and coordinate funding applications and stakeholder communications.

Operations: own the smooth running of the organisation day to day: improving systems and processes, spotting operational risks before they become problems, and supporting governance and compliance.

People Management & Leadership: line manage the whole team, lead on recruitment, and support onboarding, performance, and development, building a working culture that's positive, collaborative, and accountable.

Policy & governance: develop and maintain our policies and procedures, keeping us compliant with legislation and best practice, and supporting our wider governance and compliance reporting.

What we're looking for…

· Strong business management and operational leadership experience

· Proven financial and budget management capability

· Experience managing people, teams, and organisational processes

· Sound knowledge of governance and compliance, including regulatory frameworks, safeguarding, and best practice

· Somebody who is able to occasionally attend off-site fundraisers and other events outside of core working hours

· A track record of supporting organisational growth — scaling services, managing change, building capacity

· A confident, pragmatic decision maker with sharp problem-solving skills

· Excellent organisational skills and the ability to juggle competing priorities

· A hands-on style that works both strategically and operationally

· Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

It would also be great if you have…

· Experience building strategic relationships and partnerships

· A background in the charity, healthcare, or NHS sectors

· Knowledge of charity governance, safeguarding, or regulatory frameworks

· An understanding of autism services or neurodiversity-informed practice

· Experience working in a growing organisation or service environment

You'll fit right in if you're…

Proactive and solutions-focused, calm under pressure, a collaborative leader with a strong sense of accountability and integrity and genuinely passionate about improving outcomes for autistic individuals and their families.

What you’ll get in return…

· Salary of £38,000 - £42,000 DOE

· Enrollment into employee pension scheme

· 31 days holidays including bank holidays

· Wellbeing social days

· Charity discount scheme

Ready to apply? Here’s what you need to know…

Please submit your most up to date CV via this advert. It is highly desirable that you also attach a cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and motivations for wanting to join Space4Autism.

Suitable candidates will be contacted for an initial telephone discussion prior to final shortlisting. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend a competency-based interview where you will also be tasked with preparing a short presentation.

If you are successful in the competency-based interview, you will be invited to attend a final meeting with the CEO to ensure you align and to answer any questions you may have about the role and the charity.

We are anticipating a high volume of applications for this role and while we will endeavor to respond to all applications, if you have not been contacted prior to the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.

Disability Confident Employer

Space4Autism is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (reg no. DCS021234). We guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the essential criteria for this role, as set out in the job specification.

If you'd like to apply under this scheme, please let us know by stating this clearly on your CV / covering letter and telling us that you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme. You're welcome to share as much or as little detail about your disability as you're comfortable with, we only need enough information to confirm you meet the criteria.

If you're invited to interview, please also let us know of any reasonable adjustments you'd need to take part. For example, accessible interview arrangements, extra time, alternative formats for materials, or a different interview format. You can tell us this at the same time as applying, or at any point once you've been invited, and it won't affect your application in any way.

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