National schools programme manager jobs in Blackburn, blackburn with darwen

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (excluding breaks)

Days: To be worked over 5 days, Monday to Friday, with core hours between 8am – 6pm

Contract: 18 month fixed-term contract in the first instance (subject to the successful completion of a 6-month probationary period)

Responsible to: Bruce Poole, Senior Strategic Lead for Wellbeing, Health and Social Care

Place of work: Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles, Salford, M30 0FN 

We are seeking to recruit to a brand new post and are looking for an experienced and strategically minded person to strengthen Salford CVS’s strategic VCSE leadership role within Salford.

Main purposes of the post

To provide strategic leadership for Salford CVS’s health and social care work, ensuring the VCSE sector is influential, represented and embedded within key strategic partnerships, boards and system-wide initiatives across Salford.

The postholder will work closely with the Senior Strategic Lead for Wellbeing, Health and Social Care to shape strategic agendas, strengthen cross-sector relationships and ensure VCSE voices help influence the city’s long-term plans relating to Health and Social Care.

For more information, please download the full Job Pack.

How to apply

Please download and complete our application form via the ‘Apply’ button.

Closing date: Noon on Tuesday 12th May 2026.

Interview date: Friday 22nd May 2026, in person at Salford CVS’ offices.

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

The Research Officer supports Kinship in building a strong and coordinated evidence base about kinship families, and ensures our influencing work is grounded in real experience.

The role supports the design, delivery and communication of high-quality research, insights and evaluation that shapes policy, practice and service development. It also supports the coordination and operational delivery of research and practice activity, helping ensure projects, networks and events run effectively and that insights are shared across the organisation and the wider sector.

They will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, including Policy, Programmes, Peer Support and Communications. It will ensure that research and insight are gathered and used consistently and that the experiences of kinship carers, particularly those from underserved communities, are central to our work. This role could be hybrid or remote.

Key responsibilities include:

• Design and deliver qualitative and quantitative research that improves understanding of kinship families’ needs, experiences and outcomes.

• Lead data collection through surveys, interviews, focus groups and desk research.

• Carry out analysis using suitable methods to produce accurate and meaningful insight.

• Ensure research reflects the diversity of kinship carers, including carers from ethnic minority communities, mixed heritage families, informal kinship carers and carers experiencing additional barriers.

• Maintain strong ethical standards and follow GDPR requirements.

• Developing and supporting participatory research methods with carers, children and young people.

• Support evaluation of Kinship services including peer support, training and digital programmes.

• Develop tools and approaches that help gather feedback and evidence of outcomes.

• Analyse programme data to highlight trends, gaps and opportunities.

• Provide evidence that strengthens Kinship policy positions and external influencing activity.

• Contribute data and insight to briefings, consultation responses and reports.

• Support opportunities for kinship carers to participate in research in a respectful and inclusive way.

• Manage the Kinship Professionals’ Network and the Kinship Care Researchers’ Network, working with the Practice Lead to plan and schedule meetings, coordinate agendas, record and minute meetings and share insights across the organisation. 

• Support the planning and delivery of research and practice events, from consultations to knowledge exchange events.

Essential requirements include:

• Experience completing mixed methods research including design, fieldwork, analysis and reporting.

• Experience working in a research, evaluation or insight role in a charity, academic or public sector setting.

• Experience producing accessible research outputs for different audiences.

• Experience engaging with underrepresented communities and understanding barriers to participation.

• Experience of kinship care or social care research in the UK or comparable settings

• Excellent project management skills with an ability to manage multiple projects and tasks with accuracy and attention to detail.

• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills with experience of R or equivalent statistical languages.

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts.

Key dates:

• Application deadline: 11.59pm on Sunday 19 April 2026
• First interview: w/c 27 April 2026 (online)
• Second interview: w/c 4 May 2026 (if required)

How to apply:

Please apply for the role of Research Officer by sending a CV (max 2 pages) and cover letter (max 1 page). The deadline is 11.59pm on Sunday 19 April 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Please ensure you have read the application timelines.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work.   We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

Following the successful secondment of a valued team member, we are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic individual to join our Wales team as an Operations Officer on a fixed‑term basis.
 

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the operational delivery and development of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), helping more young people to access our life‑changing programmes.
 

As an Operations Officer, you will manage and support a portfolio of Licensed Organisations (LOs) to ensure the delivery of a high‑quality DofE programme. Most LOs are schools, but you will also work with a diverse range of partners, including colleges, local authorities, charities, pupil referral units, youth groups and young offender institutions.
 

You will work closely with a team of Operations Officers across Wales, each responsible for their own portfolio. The role is field‑based, involving regular travel to meetings and events. When not attending meetings, you will work from home, and applicants must live within or very close to the allocated portfolio area.
 

Reporting to an Operations Manager, you will be responsible for day‑to‑day contact with LOs and for supporting delivery of the Wales Business Plan. You will be a passionate advocate for the DofE, motivated to help achieve our ambition of giving more than one million young people the opportunity to participate in our programmes.

Welsh Language

The DofE has been recognised by the Welsh Language Commissioner for our Welsh language provision. Applications from Welsh‑speaking candidates are actively encouraged. Non‑Welsh speakers will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to developing their Welsh language skills.

Key Accountabilities

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with Licensed Organisations to support high‑quality programme delivery across your portfolio.
• Provide effective day‑to‑day support to LOs, including induction and training for LO staff.
• Develop and implement short‑ and long‑term action plans in collaboration with LOs.
• Use online management tools to budget, forecast and track targets, and ensure effective use of eDofE across the portfolio.
• Attend regular online and face‑to‑face meetings with LOs, including occasional early morning and evening meetings.
• Carry out licence reviews with existing LOs and support the licensing of new organisations.
• Increase participation among young people who experience marginalisation, helping to expand reach and promote inclusivity.
• Support the preparation, monitoring and reporting of externally funded projects and grant applications.
• Attend and support national events, such as Gold Award Events, which may occasionally require overnight stays or weekend travel.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the UK, contributing to project and working groups.
• Support the implementation of the DofE strategy and the Wales Business Plan.

What we are looking for:

• Strong ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to influence external partners.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently, while also contributing positively within a team.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail, with strong written skills including editing and proofreading materials for different audiences.
• Confident verbal communication skills, including the ability to run effective meetings and deliver presentations face‑to‑face and online.
• A solution‑focused approach, with the confidence to challenge poor practice.
• Ability to analyse and interpret data and act on insights.
• Competent in Microsoft Office applications.

How to apply and interview dates

If you feel excited by this role and believe you have the necessary skills and experience to become a valued team member, please go to our website and apply.
 

The deadline for applying for this role is: 26th April - Midnight 

1st  interviews will take place on: WC 11th May - Virtual via Teams. 
 

2nd interviews will take place on: WC: 25th May - in person, venue to be confirmed 
 

 If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if you would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us.