Platform Engineer
Remote (UK-based) | Full-time | Salary: £71,043 + benefits including 4.5-day week and 11% employer pension
Do your best work, for the right reasons.
Oak is a fully remote, mission-driven organisation offering high levels of flexibility, autonomy, and purpose. We’re a national not-for-profit working in partnership with teachers to create the highest-quality, sequenced curriculum and lesson resources for pupils across all subjects and age groups.
Our culture has been independently recognised through:
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Flexa verified (93% overall score, including 95% for working hours and 97% for role modelling)
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Escape the City's Top 1% Employers – based on anonymous colleague reviews of culture, development, and impact
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Investors in People Gold - through external accreditation and colleague feedback
�� About the Role
We've built a lot, fast. Now we want to make it last.
As a young organisation, we've used modern technology to move quickly and get remarkable products into teachers' hands. We've proven what's possible. Now we're maturing, making sure the foundations are as strong as what's built on top of them. We see this role as central to that change.
You'll work with engineering, product, and research colleagues to build confidence in using observability principles that deepen our understanding of how teachers and pupils use our products, and help us keep improving them. We work in product squads alongside designers, researchers, and education experts, regularly releasing new features and improvements so teachers and pupils get quick and easy access to the highest quality learning resources.
Alongside other members of the platform engineering group, you'll enable squads to move more quickly by optimising tooling and implementing automations, including the effective and safe use of AI. You'll drive the creation and adoption of engineering standards across code, deployment, security, observability, and monitoring. And you'll be a key driver of automation, working with the rest of the platform team to improve the overall developer experience.
You'll need a good understanding of platform engineering in a SaaS-heavy environment and the value it brings to an organisation. A solid grounding in development practices, security fundamentals, and infrastructure operation matters. But specific technical skills are less important to us than a passion for automation, an ability to understand complex systems, and a pragmatic engineering approach.
As part of the Oak team, you'll contribute to the wider success and culture of the organisation, and support and role model our five values: create the right environment, be a great colleague, own your role but work for the team, make things happen, and keep getting better.
��What you'll be doing:
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Leading continuous improvement of the observability, performance, and reliability of our web applications (Next.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, Node) and serverless functions (Google Cloud Functions, Cloudflare), deployed on Vercel and Cloudflare
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Helping teams maintain high service quality by promoting a culture of quality across engineering and product, and enabling squads to use SLOs and SLAs effectively
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Contributing to the strategy and evolution of our monitoring, logging, and reporting solutions so developers can resolve problems quickly and get meaningful insights into application behaviour
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Identifying and implementing automations that speed up development, improve security, or raise the quality of what we deliver
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Working in cross-functional, product-oriented squads with colleagues from across the organisation
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Deputising for other members of the platform team and taking on broader responsibilities as needed
�� What we're looking for
You'll have strong professional experience working with event-driven architectures using serverless technologies such as Google Cloud Run, AWS Lambda, or Azure Serverless.
Beyond that, you'll bring:
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Demonstrable experience collaboratively designing and implementing observability, monitoring, and reporting solutions for complex cloud infrastructures in a major cloud provider (GCP, AWS, or Azure), including solutions for squad-specific use cases
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Confidence reading and maintaining web application code, with the ability to design and build small apps, preferably in JavaScript or TypeScript
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Experience with cloud computing platforms and a working familiarity with Infrastructure as Code tools
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A collaborative approach, comfortable promoting and leading collaboration with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and able to frame work in terms of impact.
You'll want to contribute in all areas, not just your own lane. You'll be comfortable working at pace across a range of digital systems, always looking for ways the team can keep getting better. And you'll be excellent at remote working, building relationships and managing your time effectively.
Specific technical skills matter less to us than a sound engineering mindset and the ability to bring others with you.
�� Our Benefits
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25 days annual leave, plus one extra day for each year of service (up to 28)
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Additional Oak closure days over Christmas/New Year
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11% employer pension contribution (with no minimum employee contribution)
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A 36-hour working week, with half-days on Fridays or every other Friday off
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Fully remote working — we’ll support your home set-up and offer coworking options if preferred
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Twice-yearly in-person offsites to collaborate, connect, and have fun
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A culture that genuinely supports flexibility, autonomy, and trust
�� Inclusion and Belonging
We believe diverse teams build better products. We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the tech and education sectors.
If you're from an underrepresented group, there's a good chance you're discounting yourself before you've even started. That's more common than you'd think, and it means we may miss out on brilliant people. If you're excited by this role but don't meet every requirement, please apply anyway.
We use the Applied platform to help reduce bias in our hiring process. Answers are anonymised and reviewed by a panel of humans.
�� Key Info
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Location: Remote, but you must be based in the UK with the legal right to work here
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Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time
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Closing date: We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and may close the role early
If this sounds like the kind of role and team where you could do your life’s best work, we’d love to hear from you.
Next steps
You'll answer a few admin questions followed by three questions about your day-to-day work. Answers are anonymised, randomised, and reviewed by a panel, so it's your thinking that gets assessed, not your CV.
If you're shortlisted, we'll invite you to interview. We give everyone feedback at the end of the process.
Interview dates:
Interview 1: Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 July 2026
Final interview: Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 July 2026
If this sounds like somewhere you could do your life's best work, we'd love to hear from you.
We're getting strong responses to our roles and we may close applications early. If you're interested, don't leave it too long.
We are an equal opportunities employer.
We're an equal opportunities employer and committed to making sure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
- Job Title - Communications & Engagement Lead
- Responsible to - Chief Executive Officer
- Salary - £23,000 actual (based on £31,500 full time)
- Contract - Part-Time (28 hours per week) - From time to time, you may be required to work some evenings and weekends. These are usually communicated well in advance and the time will be given back to you in lieu. We expect team members to work in-person 60% of the time whether that’s at our office in MediaCity or at our delivery locations in Greater Manchester. This is a one-year fixed-term contract, with the likelihood of renewal subject to funding availability.
Important dates
- Applications to be received by 11pm on Sunday 5 July 2026
- Video Screening to be complete by 11pm on Thursday 9 July 2026
- Interviews held on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 July 2026.
ABOUT YOUTH LEADS UK
Youth Leads UK is an award-winning charity that believes young people matter. We support young people furthest from opportunity to build skills, create change, and shape the decisions that affect their lives – from classrooms to communities to boardrooms. We run leadership programmes, deliver social action projects, and publish Youth Leads Magazine – a platform for youth voice and creativity.
Working with thousands of young people across Greater Manchester for over a decade, we are experts in enabling young people to step outside their comfort zones, build real-world skills and grow in confidence. We back young people to lead, in our programmes, in policy spaces and in shaping Britain's future.
Please see our website ‘About Us’ page for more information about our vision, mission and values.
WHY WORK WITH US?
At Youth Leads UK, we believe in creating an environment that helps you thrive both personally and professionally. We offer 30 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) and a part-closure over Christmas and New Year. Our wellbeing programme includes regular socials and time for mental health initiatives, and our base at MediaCity, one of Greater Manchester's most vibrant and sustainable locations, ensures a positive and connected working environment.
We are deeply committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion. That’s why we are a Living Wage Employer, signed up to the Greater Manchester Good Employer’s Charter, and the #ShowTheSalary campaign. It’s important to us that our staff team reflects the communities we serve. We guarantee interviews for our Youth Leads UK alumni, care experienced or disabled individuals, so please let us know in your application if you meet this criteria. We promote equal opportunities and we value the unique perspectives of diverse team members.
As a youth-led organisation, we prioritise employing individuals under 30, aligning with our mission to foster strong connections and relatability with the young people we support. This is in accordance with the Equality Act and reflects our belief in empowering young voices to shape our work.
ROLE SUMMARY
This is the lead communications role at Youth Leads UK - the person who holds our voice, shapes our stories, and makes sure the world hears what our young people are doing and why it matters.
Working closely with the CEO and eventually supported by two Youth Content Creators, you will own the communications and engagement function across all channels and audiences. You will set the tone, maintain the brand, lead our campaigns, and ensure everything we put out reflects who we are and what we stand for.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
Strategy and brand
- Own the Youth Leads UK communications strategy, ensuring our channels, campaigns, and content are coherent, consistent, and purposeful
- Act as the guardian of our brand — maintaining voice, tone, and visual identity across everything we produce
- Work closely with the CEO to align communications activity with organisational priorities and the Generation:NOW strategy
- Analyse performance across channels and use insight to inform what we do next
Campaigns and content
- Lead the development and delivery of youth-led campaigns on issues that matter to our communities - from mental health and civic participation to cost of living and representation
- Oversee the planning and production of Youth Leads Magazine - three editions per year, created by and for young people
- Lead on long-form and strategic content including press releases, impact reports, website articles, and stakeholder communications
- Set the brief for social media content and oversee delivery by the Youth Content Creators, ensuring quality, consistency, and brand alignment
- Manage email communications including newsletters and stakeholder updates
Developing young people
- Provide day-to-day communications direction to two Youth Content Creators — setting briefs, reviewing content, and ensuring brand consistency
- Actively mentor and develop the Youth Content Creators, helping them build skills, confidence, and understanding of professional communications practice. The youth content creators will be line managed by the Head of Programmes, who you will work closely with
- Champion youth voice across all communications output, ensuring young people are authentically represented and genuinely involved in how we tell our story
Media and public profile
- Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, and media contacts across local, regional, and national outlets
- Draft and issue press releases, media statements, and reactive comments
- Identify and pursue opportunities to place youth voice in public debate - through opinion pieces, broadcast appearances, panel contributions, and more
- Support the CEO and young people to prepare for media appearances and public-facing engagements
Communicating our impact
- Work with the wider team to translate programme outcomes, data, and young people’s stories into compelling content for a range of audiences
- Produce materials that communicate Youth Leads UK’s impact clearly and powerfully to partners, funders, and the public
- Ensure our digital presence - website, social channels, email - reflects the quality and ambition of our work
OTHER AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- Ensure young people play a strong leadership role across our work
- Keep up to date on new developments and trends within the youth sector
- Administrative duties as required, such as minute-taking, arranging travel and booking venues
- Representing Youth Leads UK at conferences and events
- Act as an ambassador for the organisation
- Ensure Youth Leads UK’s Health and Safety and Safeguarding and any other appropriate policies are adhered to where necessary
- Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others who might be affected by your work as required by law and described in the relevant operating policies and procedures
- Be committed to safeguarding principles and be willing to put the welfare of children and young people at the forefront of your work
- An understanding and belief in the inclusion of all staff, partners and young people irrespective of race, gender, sexuality, age, religion, ability, identity and experience
- Actively promotes and embeds an understanding of equality, diversity, and an inclusive culture
- Able to take personal accountability for key work areas
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED
ESSENTIAL
- Strong writing skills - able to produce compelling content across formats, from social media captions to press releases to long-form articles
- Experience developing and delivering communications strategies or campaigns
- Solid understanding of brand, voice, and audience - and how to maintain consistency across channels
- Experience managing or overseeing social media channels for an organisation or campaign
- Ability to use analytics to evaluate performance and make informed decisions about future activity
- Experience writing press releases or supporting media and press engagement
- Confidence building relationships with journalists, media contacts, or external stakeholders
- Excellent organisational skills - able to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain quality under pressure
- Genuine commitment to youth empowerment, social justice, and amplifying underrepresented voices
- Experience with video content production or editing
- Understanding of safeguarding principles when working with young people (training provided)
DESIRABLE
- Proficiency in Canva for creating and adapting branded content
- Experience with email marketing tools and understanding of what makes an effective newsletter or stakeholder communication
- Experience using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar tools (training available)
- Experience working in or with the charity, public, or youth sector
- Understanding of civic leadership, social action, or community engagement
- Experience directing, briefing, or supporting others to deliver communications work
- Familiarity with website content management systems
- Experience mentoring or developing junior colleagues or young people
We recruit based on potential, not polish - so don’t worry if one or two of the above are missing - most things can be taught!
ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION
Youth Leads UK has a small yet mighty team, so you may be required to take on other duties and responsibilities from time to time.
All staff are expected to:
- Adhere to the policies and procedures in the Youth Leads UK staff policy handbook.
- Maintain confidentiality at all times in line with organisational policies.
- Successfully complete an enhanced DBS check and provide two independent references before appointment.
- Actively promote an inclusive and diverse culture within the organisation.
The post holder must have confirmation of eligibility to work in the UK (the successful candidate will be required to provide documentary evidence before a job offer is confirmed).
Registered Charity
6 - 10
Supporting 1,500+ young people a year to build skills, raise their voices, and lead change — from Greater Manchester to nationally
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.