Schools and colleges officer jobs in Nottingham

Purpose of the Role

The Youth Insights Programme Lead is responsible for leading the effective design, planning and delivery of assigned Youth Insights panels and projects. The role bridges strategic leadership and operational delivery, ensuring that panels are well designed, well facilitated, well coordinated and deliver high-quality insight for partners.

The Programme Lead manages day-to-day partner relationships, leads delivery planning, supports facilitators, oversees programme outputs and ensures young people have a positive, inclusive and meaningful experience.

The role contributes to insight generation and reporting, working within the frameworks and quality standards set by the Programme Manager.

Key Responsibilities

1. Programme Design and Delivery

• Lead the design and delivery of assigned Youth Insights panels, within the methodology and standards set by the Programme Manager.
• Translate partner objectives into clear delivery plans, session structures and participant journeys.
• Develop and adapt session plans, materials and activities for assigned panels.
• Ensure sessions are engaging, inclusive, purposeful and appropriate for young people.
• Lead or support facilitation of Youth Insights sessions as required.
• Ensure delivery remains aligned with agreed outcomes, quality standards and partner expectations.
• Identify practical improvements to delivery and share learning with the Programme Manager.

2. Operational Partner Management

• Act as the primary day-to-day relationship manager for assigned partners.
• Lead operational planning meetings, delivery updates and routine partner communications.
• Manage partner expectations around timelines, outputs, session planning and reporting.
• Maintain strong working relationships with operational partner contacts.
• Identify risks, issues or opportunities in partner relationships and escalate appropriately to the Programme Manager.
• Support strategic partner conversations by providing delivery insight, evidence and learning.
• Where a partner contact holds both strategic and operational responsibilities, act as the primary day-to-day contact while ensuring the Programme Manager retains senior oversight.

3. Insight Generation and Reporting

• Analyse youth feedback and identify key themes, patterns and insights from assigned panels.
• Draft reports, summaries, presentations and recommendations for partners.
• Ensure reports go beyond description and begin to translate youth feedback into meaningful insight.
• Work within the reporting frameworks, standards and templates agreed by the Programme Manager.
• Incorporate quality feedback from the Programme Manager and strengthen outputs accordingly.
• Support the development of case studies, impact stories and evidence of partner value.
• Contribute learning from assigned panels into wider Youth Insights service development.

4. Delivery Quality and Facilitation

• Ensure all assigned programmes are delivered to a high standard.
• Brief, support and coordinate freelance facilitators for assigned sessions.
• Ensure facilitators understand the purpose, method, safeguarding requirements and desired outcomes of each session.
• Monitor delivery quality and participant experience.
• Provide feedback to facilitators and escalate quality concerns where needed.
• Ensure session materials, resources and activities are prepared and appropriate.
• Support consistency of delivery across panels, while adapting appropriately to different partner contexts.

5. Youth Engagement and Inclusion

• Ensure young people are meaningfully involved, listened to and supported throughout their participation.
• Work with the Programme Coordinator to support recruitment, onboarding, retention and engagement.
• Monitor participant experience and respond to issues or barriers to participation.
• Identify gaps in representation within assigned panels and work with the Programme Coordinator and Programme Manager to address them.
• Ensure delivery is inclusive, accessible and responsive to young people’s needs.
• Support young people to build confidence, skills and understanding through their involvement.

6. Programme Coordination and Project Management

• Develop and maintain delivery plans for assigned Youth Insights panels.
• Coordinate timelines, milestones, partner inputs, facilitator availability and reporting deadlines.
• Work closely with the Programme Coordinator to ensure logistics, communications and records are well managed.
• Ensure risks, actions and dependencies are tracked and communicated.
• Support effective use of HubSpot and other systems to manage participant journeys and partner activity.
• Ensure programme information is accurate, up to date and accessible to the team.

7. Team Support and Development

• Support and mentor the Programme Coordinator in relation to assigned programmes.
• Delegate appropriate tasks clearly and support effective workload management.
• Share learning, tools and good practice across the Youth Insights team.
• Contribute to training, reflection sessions and process improvement.
• Support a positive, collaborative and values-led team culture.
• Help build team confidence in delivery, facilitation, insight generation and partner communication.

8. Safeguarding, Compliance and Risk

• Ensure safeguarding, consent, data protection and risk processes are followed across assigned programmes.
• Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns or risks in line with S4TP policies.
• Ensure facilitators and delivery contributors understand relevant safeguarding and compliance requirements.
• Support accurate record keeping and documentation.
• Contribute to risk assessment and mitigation for sessions, panels and partner activity.

Key Relationships

Internal:

• Youth Insights Programme Manager
• Youth Insights Programme Coordinator
• CEO where required
• Wider S4TP team
• Freelance facilitators

External:

• Operational partner contacts
• Strategic partner contacts where appropriate
• Young people and alumni
• Schools, colleges and youth networks
• Delivery partners and stakeholders

Success Measures

Success in this role will include:

• Assigned panels are delivered effectively, safely and to a high standard.
• Partners receive timely, useful and high-quality reports and outputs.
• Young people have a positive, inclusive and meaningful experience.
• Operational partner relationships are well managed.
• Programme delivery runs smoothly, with clear plans, timelines and communication.
• Insight reports demonstrate analysis, themes and recommendations, not just summaries.
• Facilitators are well briefed, supported and consistent in delivery.
• Learning from delivery contributes to wider Youth Insights improvement.

Who we are

IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

What you’ll do

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders) 

We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.

Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.

You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we looking for?

You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.

You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.

Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.

IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• 5% employer pension contributions
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).

To apply

Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.

Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.

First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.

The Southmead Project is seeking an experienced and motivated Fundraiser to support the charity’s long-term financial sustainability.

The postholder will identify, research and secure funding from trusts, foundations, charitable bodies, statutory funders and other appropriate sources. They will lead on developing high-quality, persuasive funding applications and reports that clearly communicate the impact of the Southmead Project’s work and the needs of the people it supports.

Working closely with the CEO, Head of Finance and trustees, the Fundraiser will develop and deliver an annual fundraising plan, maintain a strong funding pipeline, and support the organisation to diversify its income. The role will require excellent writing, research, relationship-building and organisational skills, alongside a strong commitment to the charity’s values and mission.

• Develop an annual fundraising plan, alongside the Head of Finance and CEO.

• Carry out ongoing prospect research to identify new sources of funding from trusts, foundations, charitable bodies, statutory funders and other appropriate sources.

• Maintain a fundraising pipeline, ensuring that opportunities, deadlines, applications and reporting requirements are monitored effectively.

• Build and maintain a database of prospective and current funders, including key contacts, deadlines, funding priorities and application requirements.

• Monitor relevant local, regional and national funding opportunities, including being a sponsored charity at community events.

• Produce funding applications for trusts, charities, foundations and statutory bodies as an ongoing part of the charity’s income generation.

• Analyse data and feedback collected through outcomes processes for report writing.

• Build and maintain positive relationships with funders, partners and relevant stakeholders, including the corporate sector as part of the charity’s income diversification strategy.

• Attend monthly meetings with the Senior Leadership Team and trustee meetings as required.

• To work within the framework, spirit and ethos of the Southmead Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy, and actively engage in promoting the policy within the charity and in all dealings with clients and other agencies.

• To follow the Southmead Project policies, procedures and professional code of conduct as outlined in the Team Handbook.

• All members of staff, paid and unpaid, are required to undergo the   enhanced level of Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Please see job description for full details.