Senior communications engagement lead jobs in birmingham

The Youth Endowment Fund  

Programme Manager

Reports to: Programme and Impact Lead 

Salary: £44,200 

Contract: 18-month fixed term (Full-Time)

Location: Central London, Hybrid*  

Closes: Monday 14th July 2025 at 12pm

About the Youth Endowment Fund

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice. 

Last year, 244 people in England and Wales tragically died after being assaulted with a knife. Of these, 32 were children. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives.

The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.

Key Responsibilities

Deciding which projects, we should fund and evaluate is key, as is making sure we deliver our funding and evaluations to the highest standards. Our Programme Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, funding and supporting programmes designed to prevent youth violence.

Programme Managers at YEF come from all walks of life. We look for individuals who may have experience in the youth sector, children’s social care, policing, criminal justice, education or how to involve local residents in making decisions about their own neighbourhoods.

As a Programme Manager at YEF, you will work very closely with our evaluation team to make sure we learn from what’s being implemented and that the organisations we fund are prepared and excited to work with us to find what works.

To achieve this, you will:

· Make sure we choose the best organisations to work with by assessing funding applications, critically appraising delivery plans and budgets, getting to know potential grantees and conducting site visits. These assessments will help you form recommendations to our senior leadership team about which opportunities to pursue.

· Work closely with grantees, external evaluators and our own evaluation team to ensure that the activity we are funding will be evaluable. This requires you to support and advise grantees on how to work in the context of an evaluation – usually, a randomised trial (you don’t have to have experience working on a randomised trial in the past, but it helps!).

· Build strong relationships with our grantees and provide them with ongoing management and support through the life of their funding. You will also be responsible for monitoring the performance of grantees and ensuring targets are met and any project risks are effectively mitigated.

· Think carefully about how we find the best projects to fund and evaluate, ensuring we can best find what works to keep children safe. To do this you might need to work with colleagues to spot where there has previously been a lack of evidence about what works (we will help you with this!). You would project manage these projects so they are excellently delivered – on time, within budget, and to a high standard. You will help to determine what our commissioning processes aim to achieve and design grant application processes to achieve it.

· You’ll manage our engagement with potential grantees to make sure we are attracting a diverse and promising portfolio of organisations to apply.

· Report to our team and external stakeholders regularly on how well the projects we are funding are going, spotting where grantees need support and coming up with how we can best provide that support.

· Represent the Youth Endowment Fund at external events, including reporting and presenting to our Grants and Evaluation Committee, who approve all our funding decisions.

About You

You are this sort of person:

• You don't want your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in a charity that is making a difference.
• You want to work in a job that makes young people safer. This issue matters to you. You don’t need extensive experience in grant making, you just have to be committed to learning it. You should be keen to learn about the sectors we work with, the challenges facing young people and what organisations face when implementing programmes.
• You have experience in one or more of the following areas: policing, education, criminal justice, social care or the youth sector.
• You have a strong understanding of challenges that organisations face in delivering projects. You must also be a really good project manager, great at managing and developing people and external stakeholders, energised by tackling complex problems and really care about the YEF’s mission to build evidence of what works. 
• You have incredible judgement. You are able to reach sound and considered judgements about the viability and suitability of applicants based upon our given criteria, often using detailed written and financial information, and are able to deliver constructive feedback to organisations. You can also identify when things aren’t going to plan and be proactive with sharing observations and recommendations.
• You are an optimiser. You look for solutions and think creatively to overcome challenges. You are curious, hungry to learn and always looking for ways to improve processes and increase efficiency and impact.
• You love well-designed systems. You are committed to designing and maintaining the best systems to make sure we manage our commissioning processes well. You know this is critical to effectively managing multiple, large-scale funding programmes and competing priorities.
• You are an excellent communicator. You have the ability to convey information clearly and effectively—both in writing and verbally. You understand the importance of strong communication in fast-paced decision-making and thrive in a busy, collaborative team environment.
• You win people over. People tend to warm to you and respect you. You have built good relationships with people at every level inside and outside the organisation and have managed large networks of stakeholders with different interests and priorities. You are excellent at customer service and can professionally handle issues that come up within your grant portfolio.
• You work very well in a team. You are not motivated by being the individual winner. You want the team as a whole to succeed. You don’t care who gets the credit as long as things get done.
• You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, backgrounds and values.
  
  

While it’s not a criteria, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.

We’re also keen to hear from applicants with a strong understanding of evaluation methodologies—particularly Randomised Control Trials (RCTs)—and experience either directly supporting or overseeing programme delivery within an evaluation context.

It’s important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This position will require a DBS check to be performed, but a record is not a block to performing this role.

Hybrid Working Details 

The office is based in Central London, but you don’t have to be. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month. As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage. 

To Apply 

To apply, please send a CV, and a cover letter answering the specific questions below, please also complete the monitoring form by clicking the "Apply for this" button by 12pm, Monday 14th July 2025.

 If you have specific expertise in any of our sectors, we want to hear about it in your cover letter.  Applicants must answer the following questions as part of their application to be considered.

Application Questions

1. The Programme Manager role involves overseeing several projects at once and juggling many different tasks simultaneously. Can you give us an example of where you’ve had several competing priorities, what project management techniques you used to stay on top of your tasks, and what the outcome was?

2. Can you give an example of when you have had to manage multiple partners in a project and resolve conflicting positions? Can you explain how you went about this and what the outcome was?

  Interview Process

This will be a one stage panel interview process. Interviews will take place in the week commencing 21st July 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

 Benefits Include

· £1,000 professional development budget annually

· 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

· Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support

· Volunteering days - 4 half days per year

· Death in service - 4 times annual salary

· Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

· Financial support including travel and hardship loans

· Employer contributed pension of 5%.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful, and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Do you want to make a difference to the lives of students and equip them to put their faith into action?

SCM is looking for a recent graduate to spend a year working with us to help us to continue to build on the work of our successful Faith in Action project. 

Run in partnership with Project Bonhoeffer, a small charitable trust, the project began in 2012 with a vision that Christian students in Britain would have a greater awareness and understanding of Bonhoeffer’s radical approach to faith and discipleship, and its implications for Christian living in the modern world. 

The project has helped to run over a dozen campaigns from Food Poverty to Peace, and had an immeasurable impact on thousands of students through blogs, resources, and relationships. All of this is bringing to light many ‘Bonhoeffers’ of today negotiating the implications on Christian living in the world.

In 2021 we developed the Faith in Action project as a graduate scheme by employing two graduates to work on the project; one to lead on theology bringing a depth of learning and theological refection, and the other to be a campaigns lead, taking us always back out into the world to make a difference.

The project has been very successful, and now we are looking to grow it for further. We are looking for a passionate graduate to join the project for the 2025-26 academic year.

In this role, you will be a theologian to make other theologians, and will provide the framework for students to be able to reflect theologically on their life and modern Christian Living. You will be responsible for growing the breadth of SCM’s Faith in Action resources, and discovering new ways of connecting with the current membership via the trends of social media or engaging in face-to-face reflections. An activist to make other activists, you will coordinate social action for SCM, engaging the membership in social justice projects that maximise our impact in society and the world.

You will work to build relationships between SCM communities and members to equip students with the skills they need to become faith-filled agents of social and political change and lead them in theological reflection to discern their involvement in local and national campaigns. You will also work to develop relationships with other Christian social justice and campaigning organisations to create opportunities for students to put their faith into action. In all of this, you will be supported by our small but perfectly-formed team, who will share your values and fully understand your aims in this project.

The role will require some travel within Britain, as well as semi-regular visits to the office in Birmingham, which may also include an overnight stay. All reasonable expenses for travel and accommodation will be reimbursed. Some evening and weekend work may be required for which time off in lieu will be given.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and LGBTQ+ individuals who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. Due to the nature of this role and the responsibilities of the successful post-holder, a genuine occupational requirement to be a committed Christian is in place for this role in accordance with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010.

Please use the forms provided; CVs will not be accepted. Applications should be submitted electronically in Word format by email to the address provided in the application pack.

Student Christian Movement is a registered charity in England and Wales, number 1125640, and in Scotland number SC048506

About Chapter One

Chapter One is a dynamic, growing charity with a vision of a world in which all children have the literacy skills needed to thrive. Our mission is to close the reading gap by providing children with one-to-one support at the time they need it most. 

Our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme currently supports around 3,000 children a year. It pairs disadvantaged, struggling five to eight-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 140 local and national businesses. The volunteer ask is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability. 

For more information about our programmes please visit our website. Please also take some time to visit our social media channels and watch our videos.
 

About the Role

The Human Resources (HR) & Administrative Assistant will provide support to the CEO, Line Managers and the wider team with a range of HR related and administrative tasks. They will work remotely and will need to have access to a reliable internet connection. They will report to the CEO.

This role is ideal for someone who wishes to pursue a career in HR, and Chapter One is willing to support the postholder to gain external qualifications. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and the post-holder must be permanently based in the UK at the time of applying and for the duration of their employment. 

All Chapter One employees are required to attend quarterly in-person staff meetings held in various locations across the UK (all expenses covered); participation is mandatory.

Main duties will include:

HR Administration and Data Management

• Maintain accurate and up to date HR records on Chapter One systems

• Be the in-house expert on Breathe, Chapter One’s HR system

• Lead on data entry and HR system (Breathe HR) management, including generating relevant reports to support staff management and key decision making

• Monitor and track training and DBS records ensuring timely renewals in line with Chapter One’s policies

• Assist with documenting and maintaining HR process and workflows

• Ensure employee documents are stored correctly and confidentially

Organisational Policies and HR Procedures

• Working with the CEO and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to create, update and disseminate relevant Charity policies and/or updates to the staff handbook

• Prepare standard HR letters and documents (contracts, change letters)

• Lead on the liaison with and promotion of the organisations Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured EAP)

• Create process guides for staff in collaboration with Line Managers and the CEO

• Act as a first point of support for HR-related queries from managers, escalating to the CEO when needed

• Liaise with Chapter One’s external HR advice provider when additional expertise is required

• Proactively identify opportunities to streamline and improve HR administrative processes and procedures

Recruitment, Onboarding and Offboarding

• Support managers through the entirety of the recruitment process for staff and trustees - including, but not limited to, advertising vacancies, organising applications, arranging interviews, monitoring interview tasks, coordinating assessments, collecting candidate documents, requesting references

• Managing the onboarding process for all new staff, including, but not limited to, holding HR induction meetings, coordinating new starter paperwork, setting probation review dates and training

• Work with Line Managers to organise induction plans, schedule introductory meetings, and ensure new starters are fully supported during their initial weeks

• Coordinate the offboarding process for departing staff, including exit interviews, return of equipment, and removal from systems

General HR Support

• Organise and schedule staff meetings and organisation-wide training sessions

• Coordinate wellbeing and employee engagement activities, including, but not limited to annual surveys, staff away days, seasonal events

• Plan and coordinate in-person meeting logistics, including venue booking, accommodation, equipment and refreshments, ensuring all arrangements are inclusive and appropriately tailored to staff needs

• Work with the SLT to be a champion of Chapter One’s values, and a custodian of its supportive work culture

• Communicate instructions and other messages to Line Managers and staff clearly and promptly on behalf of the CEO 

• Support with preparation for audits or compliance checks e.g. Right to Work, DBS

• Provide HR support to staff working groups e.g. Wellbeing or Learning and Development

• Attend external HR webinars (eg with DOHR or Breathe) and disseminate information to the CEO & Line Managers as required

• Stay informed of relevant employment law updates, notifying the CEO of possible changes needed to policies or procedures

• Support general organisational administration as needed, such as scheduling key meetings, maintaining registers or documentation, or assisting with regulatory filings

• Assist the CEO & Line Managers with additional HR and administrative/organisational tasks, assigned at the discretion of the CEO

We are looking for applicants with the following essential qualities:

• Educated to A-level standard or equivalent

• A genuine interest in Chapter One, with a passion for the work we do

• Experience in a similar HR role 

• Proficient in use of Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets and Google Workspace

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with colleagues at all levels

• Thoughtful, compassionate and inclusive approach to interpersonal relationships

• Self-motivated and proactive, with a problem-solving mindset

• Goal-oriented team-player who also thrives working independently

• Meticulous eye for detail, who takes pride in holding themself to the highest standards in all aspects of their work

• Professional, discreet and able to handle confidential information

• Working knowledge of HR functions

The best applicants will also have the following desirable qualities:

• Experience of working in the charity/non-profit sector

• A desire to develop a career in HR

• A qualification in HR, e.g. CIPD Level 3, or working towards one

Interview Dates:

1st round interviews - Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd July
2nd round interviews - Monday 28th July

Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from individuals who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. 

Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All postholders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request

The Research Manager will work in a small team that is responsible for commissioning and managing high quality, robust social research, and for synthesising and disseminating evidence of what works to support the most disadvantaged young people into good jobs.

About the role:

The Research Manager will support all aspects of Youth Futures research, from project development to impact.

This will include:

• helping to develop our research strategy
• identifying research questions alongside colleagues in Youth Futures
• working closely with our research partners and suppliers so that projects are delivered on time and to budget; and ensuring that all research outputs are consistently high quality and make clear, practical and impactful recommendations for practice and policy.

This role can be based at any of our hubs located in Birmingham, Leeds or London.  We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

How to apply:

Apply via our website. A full job description and person spec can be found in the job recruitment pack. 

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.