Senior digital manager jobs

At Esteem any young person can belong and make a positive difference, no matter what challenges they face

Young people aged 14-26 can realise their strength to cope with life’s challenges and thrive into their futures

Our community is grounded in trust and respect, and built with young people for young people

Our work leads to highly positive outcomes for wellbeing, confidence, skills development and active citizenship. Over 88% of young people who attend Esteem feel more confident to meet people, leave the house, and get involved in their local community

Taking an asset-based approach to working with young adults, we are focused on people’s strengths and avoid othering people by labelling. We build from strengths and actively facilitate independence and initiative, aiming for young adults to work jointly with staff and our volunteers to create and embed progress in their lives. We offer the time they need to trust and experience being trusted, to learn, build resilience and to grow.

As Chief Officer you'll lead with dynamic, inspiring, and truly participatory leadership, nurturing Esteem's unique ethos and facilitating young adults and staff as co-creators in the organisation's mission and future, while upholding the strategic and governance frameworks set by the board of trustees.

The incoming Chief Officer will be joining Esteem at a pivotal time of consolidation and potential growth, with opportunities and challenges that require both visionary and pragmatic leadership. 

Esteem is a special organisation and we need a special individual to help us take it forward into the future. The role requires a deep respect for youth agency and a commitment to enabling young people as leaders within Esteem.

Position: Chief Officer

Accountable to: Chair of Trustees

Location: Esteem, Old School House, Ham Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex - with some options for flexible/hybrid working

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full-time), core hours of 10am–6pm (30-37.5 hours per week negociable)

Salary: £50,000 to £55,000 per annum - Depending on experience

Annual leave and benefits:

• 35 days annual leave (including bank holidays and Christmas close down)

• Occupational Sick Pay (325 hours in rolling 12-month) following probation

• Company pension scheme 

• Healthcare cash plan - from day one

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme - from day one

How to apply: Visit our jobs board to view the Recruitment Pack

Closing date: 9am Friday 15th August 2025

Responsibilities:

Lead with purpose and a strengths-based approach

Make things work day-to-day

Steward our resources and risk

Connect our community, inside and out

Safeguard Esteem’s integrity

Shape the future together

Champion good governance

Board Collaboration

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Experience:

1. Proven leadership experience within a participatory, values-driven organisation. (A, I)

2. Demonstrated success in building and maintaining high-quality strategic relationships with funders, stakeholders, and partners, including high-net-worth individuals. (A, I)

3. Experience of working within a safeguarding framework, with a thorough understanding of best practices and legislative requirements as part of a contextual safeguarding approach. (A)

4. Experience leading or managing a multidisciplinary team of staff and volunteers. (A)

Skills and Abilities:

1. Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, combined with strategic thinking (A, I, E).

2. Ability to lead collaboratively, enabling young adults and staff to exercise agency and co-create solutions and contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s mission. (A, I)

3. Knowledge of organisational governance and collaborative strategic planning in a small-to-medium-sized organisation. (A, I)

4. Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and foster an intentional environment which promotes a work-life balance. (A)

5. Skilled in managing transitions and change, ensuring stability while fostering collective agility, innovation and growth. (A)

6. Strong financial management and analytical skills, understands the income & expenditures statement, balance sheet, forecasting and cashflow (A, I, E).

Values and Leadership Style:

1. A fundamental commitment to Esteem’s values and participatory approach. (A, I) 

2. A strong commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and to promoting an organisational culture of trust, respect and belonging. (A, I)

3. A foundational understanding of the importance of wellbeing for all in the organisation.

  (A, I)

1. Open to feedback and reflective practice, with a strong commitment to personal and organisational learning. (A)

2. A collaborative and facilitative leadership style that builds consensus and nurtures relationships across the organisation.(A, I)

Desirable

1. Familiarity with a range of program delivery methods, digital engagement strategies and online platforms that promote inclusion and remove barriers to participation for young adults, and foster community building and organisational strengthening. (A)

2. Knowledge of diverse impact measurement and evaluation methodologies, particularly relevant to young adult development programs.(A)

3. Advanced facilitation skills for engaging diverse groups, including young adults, in co-creative processes and discussions.(A, E)

4. Experience in writing successful grant applications and developing compelling funding proposals. (A)

5. Experience of challenges faced by young people and underrepresented groups is highly valued (A,I)

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