Participant development manager jobs in Edinburgh

We are looking for someone who cares deeply about our ambitious plans, and who has the skills to manage large scale programmes, whilst also being able to independently take action to deliver operational tasks. 

Your work will be central to enabling our continued growth, directly supporting the development of strong partner relationships and shaping the experience they have across our programmes, so that they can deliver excellent outcomes for babies, children and young people.

Role Overview

We are looking to appoint three Programme Officers, who will be responsible for supporting programme delivery and programme operations at the Reach Foundation. 

We have 3 vacancies across our portfolios of work:

Role 1: Programme Officer (Leadership)

This includes our x100 programmes across the West, East, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, our leadership programme with A Million Realities, and newly established place based leadership programmes for heads and executive leaders.

Role 2: Programme Officer (Cradle-to-Career)

This includes our Cradle-to-Career catalyst, foundations and leadership programmes (which are each distinct phases of our Cradle-to-Career core offer), our Accelerator programme, and a number of bespoke Cradle-to-Career catalyst programmes run directly for partner organisations. 

Role 3: Programme Officer (Educational Breakthroughs)

Helping to launch our newest strand of work, developing and growing ‘educational breakthroughs’ that enable all children to enjoy lives of choice and opportunity. This will include delivery of existing elements of our ‘breakthrough portfolio’ (Languages for All, developing mapping/ data tools to support local breakthroughs, re-imagining key stage 3 for Lift Schools) and supporting new clients as we begin partnerships with them. 

Each role has a distinct portfolio of programmes you will support, but the duties, skills and capabilities required for each role are aligned. We expect the three Programme Officers to work together closely to ensure consistency of delivery across our work, to share learning and to develop a community of practice. 

You will work closely with the Directors responsible for each programme, alongside our Events and Operations Officers, who work across all programmes,  to ensure our programmes are planned and delivered to a high standard. 

The role of the Programme Officer has three core areas of responsibility:

1. Programme Planning and Project Management

• Project manage multiple, simultaneous programmes across the portfolio with rigour. Work with other programme managers to embed consistent programme management across our organisation. 

• Work with the Events and Operations Officers to complete the annual calendar-setting process, setting event dates and key programme milestones. Ensure all events are appropriately staffed. 

• Utilise Asana to monitor project milestones, proactively identify off-track delivery risks, and lead status updates during programme meetings to ensure timely intervention.

• Champion the use of HubSpot (CRM) and set up progress dashboards alongside evaluation colleagues.

2. Programme Delivery

• Improve (or establish) processes that ensure that every participant on our programmes has a great experience from the moment they find out about us, to when they exit working with us. 

• Manage the main programme inbox, serving as the responsive, warm, and professional first point of contact for routine enquiries from participants and external partners

• Coordinate regular, high-quality programmatic communications (e.g. programme blasts or event invites) to keep participants informed and engaged throughout the year. You may author these, or work with others to ensure they are circulated in a timely manner.

• Ensure all programmatic data collection is in line with GDPR guidelines.

• Support in programme administration tasks, such as preparing papers for steering group meetings, taking minutes and circulating actions. 

• Actively participate in cross-organisational reviews, sharing delivery insights in order to improve the quality of our work. 

• Programme-Specific Deliverables: 

Participant Recruitment & Onboarding: Lead the end-to-end application and onboarding journey for new programme cohorts, including coordinating assessment or sign up windows, distributing welcome materials, and managing intake data. 

Coaching Offer Management: Act as the end-to-end operational lead for the leadership coaching offer, managing coach-matching logistics, scheduling, and tracking completion rates.

Contract and Agreement Tracking: Administer the distribution and tracking of Service Level Agreements (SLAs), ensuring signed copies are received prior to delivery. 

3. Stakeholder and Relationship Management

• Coordinate the operational onboarding of new bespoke partners, guiding both internal and external senior stakeholders through this initial phase

• Invest deeply in building strong, warm, and respectful relationships with senior external stakeholders across identified bespoke partnerships, acting as a point of contact for any queries and ensuring excellent customer service

• Develop strong relationships internally, particularly with Regional Directors or Breakthrough Project Leads , providing them with regular progress updates, risk assessments, and actionable recommendations ahead of key delivery milestones.

• Actively collaborate with fellow Programme Officers to share operational learnings, standardise delivery templates, and build a supportive internal community of practice.

Please review the attached Job Description for more details.

The successful candidate will lead the delivery and development of Brake's fundraising events programme, driving participation, engagement and income generation. The portfolio includes Brake's flagship fundraising events, such as The Big Tea Brake and annual black-tie dinner, a series of digital fundraising challenges, and the management of third-party challenge events.

The role is responsible for creating exceptional supporter experiences, growing event income and building lasting relationships with participants, sponsors and stakeholders to help raise vital funds for Brake's work supporting road crash victims and campaigning for safer roads.

You are an experienced events professional with a track record of planning, delivering and growing successful fundraising events. You are confident managing multiple projects simultaneously, balancing competing priorities and delivering high-quality events that achieve participation, income and engagement objectives.

You enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues, supporters and external partners, while also being confident working independently and using your own initiative. You are highly organised, solutions-focused and resilient, with the ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment. You are motivated by achieving results and continuously improving event performance through insight, innovation and excellent supporter experiences.

You bring: 

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience of working in event delivery in a fast paced, target driven environment
• Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating multiple events simultaneously, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard;
• Experience of fundraising events, challenge events or participation-based campaigns, with a focus on achieving income and participation targets;
• Experience of using data, reporting and insight to monitor performance, identify opportunities and improve results;
• An understanding of supporter stewardship and the ability to deliver excellent participant experiences that encourage fundraising and repeat engagement;
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively both internally and externally;
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines;
• Resilience and adaptability, with a proactive, solutions-focused approach to overcoming challenges;
• A commercial mindset, with the ability to maximise income, manage budgets and demonstrate return on investment;
• Strong negotiation skills and confidence when working with venues, suppliers, contractors and external partners;
• Experience of using CRM systems and other digital tools to manage data, reporting and supporter communications;
• A collaborative team-player who contributes positively to shared objectives and organisational success.

Take a look the the full job description attached.

This is a new role at a genuine moment of growth for SSE - we expect to recruit over 600 social entrepreneurs across our learning programmes next year and every one of them starts with a good assessment. 

Our assessment work spans a large pool of staff, freelancers and partners, and this role exists to bring it all together: clear frameworks, consistent data, and a process that's welcoming to people who don't always find application processes easy.

We're looking for an assessment lead to design and embed the systems, training and guidance that help our wider team assess applicants fairly, consistently and efficiently - and to carry out assessments and interviews directly. You'll work closely with the Head of Grants and Assessment, our Tech Team, and Programme Managers across the organisation.

You’ll will need to have a rare combinations of skills – a good understanding of a wide range of social enterprises and charities, gained through experience of training, business consultancy or development support, combined with the ability to design systems to support data collection and assessment, and the ability to support others to use those systems. Are you up for the challenge?

Os ydych yn drefnydd sy’n canolbwyntio ar bobl ac yn mwynhau meithrin cysylltiadau a chreu effaith, byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gennych.

Volunteers are at the heart of our work. Each year, they support over 70,000 young people to build confidence, develop skills and explore their futures through insight talks, workshops and events. 

We’re looking for a Volunteer Coordinator to grow and support our network across Wales. This is a new role, created as we invest in strengthening how we recruit, prepare and engage our volunteers, with the opportunity to shape how this work develops. 

In this role, you’ll build relationships with employers, public sector organisations and community groups to recruit volunteers from a wide range of industries. You’ll manage onboarding, support volunteers to feel confident and well-prepared to work with young people, and work closely with our Volunteer Manager and Programme Team to match volunteers to opportunities across Wales. 

You’ll play a key part in ensuring volunteers have a positive, high-quality experience – providing ongoing support, responding to feedback, and helping us continuously improve how we engage and retain our network. Alongside this, you’ll track activity, maintain accurate records, and contribute to understanding our reach and impact. 

We’re looking for someone who is highly organised, proactive and great with people, confident building relationships, managing multiple priorities and communicating clearly. You’ll bring experience of working with volunteers, or in a coordination or partnership-focused role, and have a genuine motivation to support young people to achieve their potential. And, we'd love someone who is confident communicating in the medium of Welsh.

This role would suit someone who enjoys working collaboratively, is comfortable working across a wide geography, and is motivated by creating opportunities and delivering impact. 

If you’re motivated by purpose, confident bringing people together, and want to play a key role in expanding our impact across Wales, we’d love to hear from you. 

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We carry out social media checks on shortlisted candidates as part of our recruitment process, using only publicly available information and in line with our data protection responsibilities.

While we don’t specify this in our person specification, we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have experienced some of the challenges that young people across Wales face today.

AAFDA was founded by Frank Mullane in memory of his sister Julia Pemberton and her son Will who were both killed by her ex-partner in 2003.

Each year, around 150 families lose a loved one to domestic homicide. The actual number of suicides as a result of domestic abuse remains unknown. Most of these families suffer significant problems including relationship breakdown, job difficulties/loss and mental and physical health issues. We help these families in many ways, our prime function being to provide families in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with specialist peer support and expert and specialist advocacy for the range of statutory reviews that will take place after domestic homicide.

AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) is a growing Charity and to meet the demands we are looking for a specialist Advocate for Scotland. Although home based, some travel will be required - frequency will be commensurate to the role. We welcome applications from candidates with experience of domestic abuse. We are also committed to diversity and strongly encourage applications from those with Black and/or Minoritised backgrounds.

Scotland is expected to introduce Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews commencing in April 2026. We are looking for a candidate with a good understanding of the Scottish legislative system and good understanding around domestic abuse to join our growing charity

Our Specialist Advocates support families impacted by fatal domestic abuse through provision of lay advocacy, for and on behalf of, families with a range of statutory service providers (e.g. those conducting reviews and inquiries, social services, police, housing) and work to build good relations between all parties. To ensure that families get the support they need, you will use AAFDA’s Home Office endorsed seven-step approach to working with individuals and families, to ensure that they receive the best possible support and advocacy to restore dignity and relief for families and to help them cope and recover. Through trauma-informed approaches, you will:

· Listen to families and advocate for them in a complex system that too often treats them as passive participants and overlooks the value of their insight.

· Provide information, support, guidance, advice and advocacy on Domestic Homicide & Suicide Reviews (DHSR’s) and other reviews where relevant and appropriate.

· Manage families’ expectations of the legal and procedural processes facing them by supporting families in meetings with agencies such as health, police and local authorities.

· Give families practical help on a wide range of issues - including help with letter writing or advocating with employers and local authorities on the families’ behalf.

· Support AAFDA in our bringing families together in AAFDA’s peer support events, such as the Hear Our Voice weekend and the on-line peer support Zoom sessions, where families can speak with others to share their experiences and stories. This will involve occasional evening work.

In return for joining us, we will offer you:

· 25 days annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays

· Excellent development and training opportunities

· Pension Scheme

· Healthcare Scheme

· Employee Assist Scheme

Application Instructions

To apply for this role, please submit a supporting statement along with your CV. Closing date:

Applicants will be shortlisted according to how well they meet the criteria in the person specification. Please highlight and explain how you meet these in your supporting statement. If you have been shortlisted for interview, you will be informed by email. Regrettably, we are normally unable to acknowledge unsuccessful applicants.

Please note that we will not progress applications where the supporting statement does not address the criteria for the role being applied for.

.You will be required to visit families and clients across Scotland. 

We’re looking for a collaborative, highly organised Youth Engagement Project Officer, who is passionate about building opportunities for children and young people in libraries.

You’ll have great communication skills and enthusiasm for platforming young people’s voices. You’ll also know how to manage priorities, keep projects within deadline and budget, and accurately collect and compile data. As a natural people-person, you’ll feel confident supporting library teams, partners and colleagues and be happy taking initiative.

We’d especially love to hear from you if you have created opportunities for children and young people to be heard and involved in decisions that affect them, and if you’ve been involved in supporting the delivery of projects. Experience of libraries is not required as you’ll have lots of opportunities to learn about our sector in this role.

About the work

Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.

We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library, to be understood, empowered and inspired. Our collaborative national network is made up of members from library services, partners and supporters. We believe in the need for safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’re creating change, and you can be a part of it.

We are an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation. Our members are leaders in children and young people’s public libraries and school library services.

Libraries Rising and The Reading Agency were recently successful in securing funding from the Arts Council to deliver a two-year programme, to place young people at the heart of shaping the future library reading experience. The two-year project forms part of the legacy of the National Year of Reading 2026 and will work with young people and library services across nine regions of England to co-create new approaches, resources and digital innovations that build on the strengths of libraries and inspire more young people to read for pleasure. 

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who lives our values - progressive, collaborative, kind, aspirational and inclusive. 

What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We are building an environmentally sustainable charity, and we want to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector. 

Our application process is open to everyone and anyone with the experience we’re looking for. We have a diverse board of trustees, and we are developing the diversity of our staff team. We particularly welcome applications from people from racialised communities, trans or non-binary individuals, and those with hidden or visible disabilities. 

Please note - a Candidate Pack for this role is available on the application page. 

Job purpose 

As Youth Engagement Project Officer, you’ll work closely with the Programme Manager, the wider Libraries Rising team, The Reading Agency, library services and young people to support the delivery of this project, and to develop our wider support of libraries with their youth engagement work.

What you’ll bring to the role 

You’ll be:  

• A strong communicator, confident with building relationships and keeping everyone on track. 
• Experienced in working with young people and partner organisations. 
• Committed to platforming young people’s voices, especially those who are underserved by their communities, marginalised, or experiencing deprivation.   
• Committed to co-creative practice and working with, not doing to. 
• Experienced in creating, developing and implementing effective systems and procedures.  
• Experienced in providing operational, administrative and project support, with digital skills including use of Microsoft Office and supporting remote teams.  
• Experienced in providing in person and online event planning and support. 
• Aware of GDPR implications and requirements.  
• Committed to your own professional development.    

Employee benefits 

• 25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays 
• 5% employer pension contribution 
• Employee Assist Programme – including 24/7 counselling, health support and legal helpline. 
• A range of discounts on retail, entertainment, travel and wellbeing. 

Additional information

If you have any questions about the role, please get in touch. 

All applicants must have an existing Right to Work in the UK.

Please also note that appointment will be made subject to collection of two references and a satisfactory DBS check or evidence of a current DBS certificate. 

As a Wheelchair Skills Training Coordinator, you will work directly with young people and their families, schools, colleagues, partners etc to deliver accredited training across the UK

Whizz Kidz: the facts

Over 75,000 young people aren’t getting the wheelchair or support that fully meets their needs.

Without the ability to be independent young wheelchair users are restricted in their ability to socialise and participate in society.

We’re here to change that.

As the UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users (9 months -25 years old), we empower young people by providing the wheelchairs, equipment, support and confidence-building experiences they need, and campaigning for a more inclusive society.

And we won’t stop until they are mobile, enabled and included.

Our vision

A society in which every young wheelchair user is mobile, enabled and included.

Our values

We are young people focused, ambitious, collaborative and inclusive.

Job summary

This role will predominantly support the Service Delivery Managers and Support Officer across the UK in the effective planning and delivery of wheelchair skills training to meet the strategic objectives. The postholder will be required to work directly with young people and their families, schools, colleagues, partner organisations and professionals, delivering accredited training across the UK.

The person

You will be part of the Young People’s Services Team who provide a range of services and activities for young wheelchair users and their families. You will have a friendly and professional approach to working with families and professionals and be highly organised to manage planning, delivery and relevant paperwork for all wheelchair skills services. 

Key accountabilities

• Coordination and delivery of wheelchair skills training, travel training and train the trainer across the UK.
• Conduct on site visits prior to delivery of travel training to plan routes and inform risk assessments.
• Book relevant modes of transport for travel training sessions.
• Writing Service Level Agreements for key partners; content providers and schools.
• Obtaining information from content providers and schools, such as Public Liability, DBS and key Risk Assessments.
• Writing Care Plans & Risk Assessments.
• Ensure schools complete paperwork for accredited services and liaise with Skills & Education group regarding learners
• Sending event invites to young people and families and updating the database as required.
• Updating all documentation for events and participants onto the database.
• Promoting Whizz Kidz services to third party organisations in order to drive new applications/referrals.
• Attending events such as Kidz to Adultz exhibitions to promote Whizz Kidz and showcase wheelchair skills training.
• Ensuring feedback and monitoring data is collected at each event and at set intervals after the event in order to measure long term impact.
• Collate information for case studies to measure impact of training.
• Liaising with Trainers when required.
• Liaising with young people, families and schools as required.
• Ordering equipment and resources where needed.
• Attending Whizz Kidz services across the country if required in order to support the Service Delivery Managers and Services Support Officer.
• Attending Team Meetings and contributing to the development of Whizz Kidz services.

The post holder will also

• Work within all policies, procedures and budgets set by Whizz Kidz.
• Act at all times in the best interest of Whizz Kidz.
• Form effective working relationships with all colleagues members, volunteers and outside organisations as appropriate.
• Take responsibility for ensuring that the policies and procedures relating to Health & Safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times.
• Respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means in line with the Data Protection Act.
• Not disclose to an unauthorised person any confidential information acquired through official duties unless they have received official permission to do so.

The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be expected within the scope and job rank of the post.

Please note: This post is subject to an Enhanced level DBS Disclosure, which will be sought prior to the confirmation of a job offer.

Person specification

Skills and knowledge

• Understanding and familiarity of good practice and law around child protection, disability discrimination and equal opportunities legislation, health and safety, confidentiality, and data protection.
• The ability to teach and demonstrate wheelchair skills, using a wheelchair
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate at all levels
• Ability to motivate children and young people of all ages
• The ability to deliver training using coaching/teaching skills.

Experience

• Experience of working directly with disabled children, young people and their families.
• Demonstratable experience of delivering training, teaching or coaching.
• Youth work experience.
• Experience of risk management procedures.

Personal qualities

• Alignment with our values – young people focused, ambitious, inclusive and collaborative
• Passionate about supporting young wheelchair users and creating societal change
• Ability to get on with and motivate children and young people of all ages
• Ability to multi-task, work calmly under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
• Good level of computer literacy, including databases

Weekend working, travel, irregular hours and overnight stays will be required. The ability to drive and have access to a car is therefore necessary.

A few perks

The wellbeing of our colleagues is of paramount importance to our success as an organisation, and we want to ensure that our benefits package provides something of value for everyone, whether it is our generous holiday entitlement, wellbeing days, Healthcare cash plan, long-service awards. We hope you agree!

Annual leave

25 days of annual leave per annum plus Bank Holiday (pro-rata for part time colleagues).

Christmas closure

In addition to annual leave, employees get three days of paid Christmas leave.

Pension

Automatic enrolment for all colleagues with the option to opt out. Contributions of 5% gross salary made by both Whizz Kidz and employees. We will match higher contributions of up to 6% of gross basic salary.

Simply health

Automatic enrolment in a fully paid for cash plan that assists you with everyday health costs. This scheme is also available to your families for an extra charge.

Season ticket loan

An interest free loan of up to £5,000 following the successful completion of the Probationary Period.

To apply please visit our website via the Apply Button.

We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment. Please let us know whether you require any reasonable adjustments for application or interview.