Senior hr manager jobs in manchester, greater manchester

Key information

Location: Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, or London

Hours: 37.5 hours

Start date: August 2025 (we are happy to work with you and your notice period)

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £26,575 per annum if based in Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle or Bristol. £29,150 if based in London. All roles also receive a £312 yearly tax-free work-from-home allowance.

Application deadline: Monday 14th July 9 am

This application process will consist of 3 stages: Application, telephone interview and Assessment Centre (Via Zoom). Telephone interviews will take place week commencing 21st July and Assessment Centres will take place w/c 28th July. Please let us know if you will not be available during these dates.

About upReach

Do you think that your socio-economic background should determine your career prospects?

upReach’s vision is of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential. Our work is important because, currently, a student from a disadvantaged background who gains a first-class degree from a top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2. 

We are an award-winning charity employer working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. We help undergraduates from lower socioeconomic backgrounds achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment. 

To find out more about how we support our students, visit our website and read our Annual Report and Impact Report. 

Role overview 

upReach is seeking to hire a People and Culture Officer to provide administrative support in various areas of the charity. You will work with the Senior People and Culture Manager in areas including recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, employee relations, and a variety of HR projects such as Training, Learning and Development, EDI, and policy development. 

This position would be suited to individuals who are passionate about upReach's mission and have an understanding of the challenges facing those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 

Our values

upReach upholds the following values:

• Perseverance

• Integrity

• Advocacy

• Aspiration

• Proactivity 

Skills 

The ideal candidate will bring with them the following skills:

• Organisation

• Communication (both written and verbal)

• Collaboration

• Attention to detail 

• Relationship building 

Experience 

To be successful in this role, you will bring with you the following experience: 

• Strong organisational skills with a keen eye for detail and the ability to manage a varied workload;

• Excellent communication skills and strong written English with the ability to communicate with students, team members and partners;

• Confident with a range of technology, programmes, and tools, including experience using Google Suite. Experience using HR platforms is desirable.

• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and working independently to find solutions to problems; 

• Self-motivation and an ability to work in a small team as well as independently, and work with a wide range of team members.

• Ability to engage and communicate confidently with candidates and hiring managers via phone, email, and in person.

• Previous experience working within an HR role is desirable, and if you have or are working towards a CIPD qualification, please mention it in your application. 

Responsibilities

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Work with managers to refine job descriptions, post roles, and advertise vacancies effectively.

• Manage the Recruitment inbox, responding promptly and professionally to candidate queries.

• Oversee the Applied platform to facilitate end-to-end recruitment, including application tracking, interview scheduling, and assessment centre coordination.

• Provide comprehensive administrative assistance during onboarding, including preparing offer letters and contracts, conducting reference checks, and creating induction schedules.

• Coordinate equipment setup (e.g. laptops, phones) and access to key systems such as Appogee for new starters.

Offboarding

• Assist managers and employees through the offboarding process to ensure a smooth transition.

• Conduct exit interviews and summarise feedback to facilitate continuous improvement efforts.

• Manage administrative tasks for leavers, including system deactivations, final leave calculations, and equipment returns.

Operations & Systems Management

• Maintain and update employee data. 

• Assist with the planning and administration of staff surveys, including setting up surveys, booking town halls, and coordinating related logistics.

• Assist in event coordination, including booking venues, transportation, and accommodations for key events such as the SSMAs, Team Day, Gala Dinner, Mental Health First Aid Training and staff induction weeks.

• Oversee the movement and tracking of all tech equipment across sites in line with onboarding and offboarding processes.

• Act as the first point of contact for general People & Culture queries, providing consistent and helpful support to all colleagues.

• Ensure employee records are accurately maintained and GDPR compliant.

• Produce HR-related reports covering recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, and employee engagement metrics (with guidance from senior colleagues).

• Work closely with the Senior People & Culture Manager to review and improve internal HR processes, aligning them with organisational goals.

We offer an opportunity for the successful candidate to study for a CIPD qualification (Level 3 or 5, dependent on skills and experience) whilst in the role.

Team Culture & Benefits: 

By joining the upReach team, you will be joining a team who are dedicated to supporting you in your career journey and fostering an inclusive culture. 

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days, plus bank holidays. This increases to 27 days 2.5 years and then to 30 days after 5 years of working with us.

• Birthday leave and volunteer leave

• Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members. 

• 3% Pension Contribution, which increases to 5% after 5 years of working with us. 

• Cycle-to-work and tech buying schemes.

• Monthly socials

• Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aid Training and annual wellbeing days

• Summer Hours (early Friday finishes from June to Aug)

• Personal Development Budget, activated after 6 months in the role

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Diverse Roots Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

  • Parents and Carers Network 

  • Socio-economic Background Network

Ready to apply?

We are passionate about making our recruitment process fair and accessible to all. All of our applications are blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another formats upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. 

Applications close on Monday, 14th July at 9 am. 

Equal Opportunities

At upReach, we value being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Diversity in the workplace creates dynamic and effective organisations and we are actively working to build a more inclusive workforce by continuously improving our recruitment, retention, and development practices. We  particularly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities , those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+. During the application process you will be asked to fill out your diversity information, this will not affect your outcome and cannot be seen by application reviewers and interviewers. All diversity data collected is anonymous.

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Business Analyst to work as part of our Evidence and Impact Team.

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

The Evidence and Impact team at Rethink Mental Illness ensures the organisation maximises its impact through data-driven decision-making, robust evaluation, and strategic analytics. The team conducts comprehensive evaluations and economic analyses, including return on investment (ROI) and social return on investment (SROI), to demonstrate programme effectiveness and inform strategic choices.

The team designs and implements predictive models and analytical frameworks to forecast service demand, identify trends, and support resource allocation decisions. They ensure data quality and ethical practices underpin all analysis, transforming complex data into actionable insights for senior leadership and stakeholders.

Collaborating closely with internal teams, external partners, and academic institutions, the Evidence and Impact team drives continuous improvement, innovation, and organisational learning. They also build data literacy and analytical capabilities across the organisation through training and professional development initiatives, strengthening Rethink’s evidence-based approach to improving mental health outcomes.

How you will make a difference

This role supports the organisation through a strong focus on business intelligence, data collation, and analytics. It plays a critical part in ensuring contract compliance through the development of effective systems and supporting quality improvement. The role involves contract reporting and the preparation of PowerBI dashboards, apps, reports, and presentations to inform strategic decision-making.

Key areas of focus include Criminal Justice, Peer Support Groups, People Analytics, Fundraising, Finance, and Risk and Governance. The postholder will work across these domains to provide clear insights and contribute to organisational learning and development.

Working hours for this role are flexible. It is a home-based position, but we value in-person collaboration, so some travel will be required to main office locations (primarily London) and occasional visits to services across the UK.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. 

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation 

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here. 

Managing Director

UK Association for Transactional Analysis (UKATA)

Location: Remote/Home-based
Salary: Circa £65,000 FTE plus benefits
Contract: Permanent, Part Time – Flexible 21- 28 hours per week 3-5 days

Closing Date: 11th July 2025

Interview Dates: First interviews w/c 21st July 2025, Second interviews w/c 28th July 2025

About Us

UKATA is a charity and company limited by guarantee dedicated to advancing Transactional Analysis (TA) training, qualifications, and practice across the UK. We support our members through professional development, accreditation, and promoting TA as a valuable approach in therapy, counselling, education, and organisational contexts.

The Opportunity

We're seeking a dynamic and hands-on Managing Director to lead our small but dedicated team. This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic leader who thrives in an environment where you can make a direct impact and see the tangible results of your work.

As our MD, you'll work closely with the Trustee Board to shape our future direction while taking personal responsibility for the day-to-day operations. You'll lead a small team of employees, contractors, and volunteers, translating our strategic aims into practical outcomes that deliver real value to our members.

What You'll Do

• Work with Trustees to develop and execute strategic plans that align with our mission
• Take direct responsibility for financial management, including budgeting, investment strategy, and fundraising
• Oversee and personally contribute to the development of membership systems and website improvements
• Build relationships with key stakeholders including members, committees, and international TA organisations
• Lead the delivery of our annual National Conference and quarterly magazine
• Recruit, develop, and manage our small team, fostering a positive work culture
• Ensure compliance with charity regulations and governing organisational policies and procedures
• Function as Company Secretary, handling legal requirements and annual reporting

About You

We're looking for someone who combines strategic vision with a willingness to roll up their sleeves and get involved in practical delivery. You'll be:

• An experienced senior leader with understanding of the non-profit sector
• A strategic thinker who also excels at practical implementation
• Financially astute with proven budget management experience
• An excellent communicator with the ability to build effective relationships
• Self-motivated and comfortable working from home
• Knowledgeable about the mental health sector (desirable)
• Familiar with Transactional Analysis or willing to undertake training (desirable)
• Educated to degree level (desirable)

Why Join Us?

This role offers the chance to lead a respected organisation while making a genuine difference to our members and the wider TA community. You'll have:

• The autonomy to shape both strategy and operations
• The satisfaction of seeing your ideas implemented directly
• The opportunity to work with dedicated professionals passionate about TA
• Flexible remote working arrangements
• Employer Sick Pay Scheme
• 33 days annual leave per annum FTE
• Access to private healthcare benefits

UKATA is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.

We look forward to hearing from you.

City Year UK - Chief Executive vacancy

We’re looking for a visionary new leader to take City Year UK into its next chapter. As our current CEO prepares to move on after seven incredible years of leadership, this is a thrilling moment — an opportunity to shape the future of a movement that’s changing lives. With strong foundations in place, we’re ready to grow our impact, invigorate and expand the delivery of our programmes, and raise our voice even louder in support of children and young people across the UK, as a flagship programme for the UK Year of Service.

We challenge 18 to 25-year-olds to tackle educational inequality through a year of full-time social action. As mentors, tutors and role models in schools, they support pupils growing up in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK

Position: Chief Executive

Location: Hybrid (London, Birmingham or Manchester, with travel to an office typically twice a week)

Hours: Full-time

Salary: £85,000 - £100,000 per annum

Duration: Permanent

Closing Date: 10 am on Monday, 14 July 2025

The Role

As Chief Executive, you will be the driving force behind our next chapter of growth, innovation, and impact. Working closely with the Board of Trustees and a dedicated Senior Leadership Team, you will establish strategic direction, expand our reach, and ensure long-term financial stability. You’ll be a champion for innovation, a builder of innovative partnerships, and a compelling advocate for the power and potential of a UK Year of Service.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead a mission-driven, values-led organisation at a moment of genuine momentum — a chance to elevate youth voice and leadership and be an integral part of the change that our young people are creating every day.

About You

We are looking for an inspiring leader who is passionate about unlocking the potential of young people, championing educational equality, and driving lasting change. You’ll bring a strong track record of strategic leadership and fundraising in the charity sector, along with the vision and energy to lead City Year UK into an ambitious new chapter. Skilled at building powerful partnerships, navigating complex stakeholder environments, and championing an inclusive, purpose-driven culture, you’ll also be a dynamic fundraiser, ready to support the growth and diversification of our income so we can expand our impact even further.

We offer a competitive package that reflects the significance of this role and values the unique skills and experience you will bring to lead our organisation into its next chapter.

If you want to make a real difference and believe that young people can change the world, we want to hear from you!

To apply for this role, please provide the following documents:

- An up-to-date CV

- A supporting statement answering the following questions, max 250 words per question:

1) Why is City Year UK’s mission important to you, and how would your skills and experience help us achieve it?

2) City Year’s work is dependent on partnership funding from schools, corporate supporters and philanthropy. What track record do you have of leading organisations and developing partnerships with similar requirements?

Employee Benefits

As an organisation, particular emphasis is placed on fairness, well-being, and inclusion and offers a range of benefits for staff, including:

• Annual leave: 25 days per annum, rising to 28 days, plus 3 Christmas Grace days
• A matched pension scheme with 4% standard employer contributions and matched up to 5%.
• An organisational culture that values its employees and places particular emphasis on fairness and transparency.
• Sector-leading training, with qualifications up to master's degree level funded under the apprenticeship levy. Day 1 flexible/home/part-time working options 2 Volunteering days per year - pursue a project you’re passionate about 2 Wellbeing days per year
• A comprehensive wellbeing service designed to support the overall wellness of employees Interest-free travel season ticket loans
• Interest-free bike loans under the “Cycle to Work Scheme”
• Interest-free loans to assist employees with welfare or financial hardship
• Enhanced sick pay for up to 6 weeks
• Free eye tests and £20 off glasses with Specsavers

Other areas of experience may include CEO, COO, CFO, Chief Exec, Chief Executive, Managing Director, Director, Head of, Deputy CEO, Deputy Chief Exec, Deputy Chief Executive.

Please note NFP People are advertising this role on behalf of our client.

Data Insights Officer

This is a newly created Data Insights Officer role within the Systems team, where you will significantly enhance the capacity and expertise in data analysis and reporting.

You will be instrumental in embedding a data-driven culture, driving analyses and insights to feed into decision making throughout the Network.

The focus for this role will be supporting the Network's young people’s engagement strategy. The Data and Insights Officer will contribute to reporting design, ensuring data informs decision-making at all levels, and will provide ongoing support through tracking the impact of new young people engagement initiatives, helping identify indicators for success.

The organisation is an equal opportunities’ employer and welcomes applications from under-represented groups; in particular from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse individuals, people with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ+ communities. The dedicated Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group, with support from the Senior Leadership Team, is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive.

Position: Data Insights Officer

Location: Hybrid working (two days a week in the Bolton/London office combined with home-working and travel across the Youth Zone network as required)

Salary: £34,000 - £39,000 per annum (dependent upon experience)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours/week)

Benefits: Agile working with flexibility in working hours; 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising to a maximum of 30 days); birthday leave, additional annual leave purchase scheme; company matched pension; company sick, maternity, paternity & adoption pay; Employee Assistance Programme, active and engaged networks to join (including Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) and access to Charity Worker discounts.

Closing Date: Friday 18th July at 9am – please note we may close this advert early dependent on the volume of applications.  So if this is of interest, it’s a good idea to apply ASAP!

First stage interviews (virtual): Thursday 31st July 2025

Second stage interviews (in-person): Thursday 7th August 2025, Wolverhampton

About the Role

You will play a vital role, driving enhancements in data capture and strengthening the Network's ability to demonstrate the measurable impact of its youth work. This will involve collaborating closely with teams across the organisation and the Youth Zone Network to understand their data requirements and provide tailored reporting and insights.

This role is perfect for someone who can translate complex data analysis into compelling narratives within a youth work context, drawing out insights to shape recommendations for the Network.

About You

You will be adept at communicating insights clearly and accessibly to diverse audiences. A passion for the power of youth work and a commitment to supporting Youth Zones in increasing engagement with young people are essential. You will bring expertise and creativity to drive improvements in data capture, analysis and insights, and will thrive in a flexible environment, including working collaboratively across different teams.

You will have previous experience in a similar data analysis role handling large datasets, along with experience with Salesforce (CRM) and working with young people or in a youth work setting.

As a growing and ambitious charity, the role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity with significant responsibility, variety, and the chance to be part of a team dedicated to empowering young people to reach their full potential.

If you’re ready to make a real difference we would love to hear from you!

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter (of not more than two pages), explaining clearly why you are interested in the role, and answering ALL points as outlined on the role profile.

About the Organisation

A national youth charity that believes all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose. The charity funds and builds state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound youth centres called Youth Zones in some of the country’s most economically disadvantaged areas. It also offers training and support to the teams that run Youth Zones – as part of growing national network of independent youth charities.

You are actively encouraged to submit anonymous applications; in practice this means removing your name and email address from your CV and cover letter. The HR Lead will have these details from your submission, but they will not be available to the selection panel when they are considering your application.

The charity is committed to the safeguarding of young people. In accordance with its Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires a basic DBS check.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Data, Insight, Data Insight, Data Analysis, Data Analyst, Insight Analyst, Data Insight Analyst, Senior Analyst, Business Analyst, Reporting Analyst. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation

About Us

The Greater Manchester Women’s Support Alliance (GMWSA) was established in 2016 by seven organisations who provide support services to women across all ten boroughs in Greater Manchester (GM) who may be vulnerable or have unmet support needs.

We came together as the GMWSA in order to ensure that our collective voice is heard by policy makers and commissioners of services. We represent the interests of our beneficiaries and service users, we share good practice and experience and ensure that no service operates in isolation. GMWSA is now formed of nine Member and Associate Member women’s centres having a presence in each of the 10 local authority areas across GM all of whom are collectively funded to deliver support services across GM to women either involved in the Criminal Justice System, or whose vulnerability and marginalisation leaves them at risk of offending, but all also have individual funding streams to ensure their provision reaches every woman in need of support.

Alliance members offer a full range of services to women who need support around issues such as domestic abuse, housing, mental health, substance misuse, education, employment, training, and confidence/self-esteem, all delivered with a trauma responsive approach. 

This post is open to WOMEN ONLY, exempt under the Sex Discrimination Act (1975) Section 7(2) and in accordance with our safeguarding procedures, will require a DBS check.

Purpose of the Role 

We are looking for a Chief Executive Officer to join GMWSA to transform the Alliance to meet future challenges around function and funding.

You will shape and implement the strategic direction of the Alliance, ensure the smooth running of the charity, provide leadership to staff, support the Board of Trustees to fulfil its strategic and governance duties and ensure the delivery of grants and contracts.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Direction

• Provide leadership and direction for the organisation and its staff in line with our vision.
• Clearly articulate and communicate GMWSAs vision, mission and values to staff, partners and others.
• Drive GMWSA’s strategy and business plan while establishing clear targets.
• Lead the development of innovative programs and services that align with GMWSA's mission.
• Ensure awareness of relevant current and changing legislation and good practice.
• Proactively build, maintain and leverage relationships with strategic partners, stakeholders and influencers to shape policy, secure support and ensure GMWSA’s voice is heard in key local and national forums.

Supporting the Board

• Responsibility for working with and advising the Board of Trustees with regard to strategic developments, delivery of grants and contracts, opportunities and challenges.
• Responsibility for working with the Board to develop the relationship with members.
• Support the Board of Trustees to ensure that the organisation is in all aspects legally and financially compliant and operating to best practice.
• Advise and work with the Chair and Board of Trustees in developing its structures.
• Ensure GMWSA has up-to-date policies on safeguarding, data protection and other regulatory requirements and that these are reviewed regularly and adhered to.
• Act as Company Secretary and Safeguarding Lead for the charity, undertaking appropriate training as necessary.
• Develop and maintain a risk management strategy to identify, monitor, and mitigate risks affecting GMWSA, including financial, legal, and reputational risks. 

External Affairs

• Promote and encourage multi-agency partnerships with third sector, statutory bodies and the funding and delivery of projects, following our code of ethics and strategy.
• Ensure effective participation in relevant local and regional networks and foster relationships with community leaders and stakeholders.
• Oversee the development of systems to measure the organisation's impact, ensuring clear, evidence-based reporting of outcomes to funders and stakeholders.
• Lead on using evaluation findings to drive improvements in services, delivery models and organisational strategy.
• Represent the work of GMWSA in publicity and media opportunities, with quotes and interviews, ensuring a consistently good public image and reputation. 

Finances and Fundraising

• Accountable for fundraising from a range of sources to deliver GMWSA’s agreed strategic objectives in the medium term and working towards an increased sustainability in the long term.
• Responsibility for liaising with funders, writing applications and applying for grants from various government funds, trusts and foundations.
• Responsibility for securing corporate partnership.
• Ensure grants are spent appropriately within aims of the charity, the grants’ terms and in accordance with Charity Commissioner regulation.
• Ensure effective grant management processes are in place across member organisation in order to deliver grants and contracts.
• Report to funders in a timely and accurate way.
• Oversee budget management.
• Oversee all financial reporting ensuring it is accurate and done on a timely and regular basis, including the annual accounts/annual report.

People Management

• Provide leadership, direction and motivation for the team of staff, ensuring supervision and appraisals are carried out regularly.
• Lead on embedding EDI principles and ensuring the GMWSA’s policies and practices reflect its commitment to antidiscrimination and inclusivity.
• Lead initiatives to strengthen internal infrastructure to align with long term strategic goals.
• Ensure robust professional development opportunities for staff fostering an environment of learning and growth. 

Digital Transformation

• Ensure GMWSA is compliant with funder requirements to become IASME accredited.
• Develop and lead a digital transformation strategy to improve internal processes, communication, and service delivery, making the most of emerging technologies.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Proven ability to think strategically and develop and implement long-term plans.
• Experience of leading organisational change and managing periods of transition.
• Experience of managing a dedicated team with a range of roles and responsibilities.
• In-depth knowledge of the charity sector, including relevant legislation, best practice, and compliance requirements.
• Strong understanding of financial planning, budgeting, and financial management, including preparation for year-end in line with Charity SORP.
• Proven track record of securing funding from a range of sources, including trusts, foundations, statutory bodies, and commissioners.
• Experience of managing commissioned services or programmes of work.
• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and risk management.
• Working knowledge of data protection regulations and responsibilities.
• Knowledge of national and regional policies relevant to our work, including a strong understanding of the VCFSE landscape in Greater Manchester.
• Understanding of the role of a Board of Trustees with experience enabling good governance and compliance.

Skills and Leadership Style

• A motivational and collaborative leadership style that fosters trust and enables people to thrive.
• Ability to develop and communicate a compelling strategic vision that inspires internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to represent the organisation with credibility and impact.
• Strong written communication skills for funding applications, reports, policy responses, and wider communications.
• Ability to build and sustain positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and strategic partners.
• Strong critical reasoning and listening skills; able to analyse and synthesise complex information and make sound decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, balancing short-term pressures with long-term strategic goals.
• Proven ability to lead service and organisational development, including improving systems and processes for greater efficiency and impact.

Values and Personal Qualities

• High level of empathy and understanding of the challenges experienced by the communities we support.
• Committed to the values, vision, and social purpose of the Alliance.
• A strong advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion, actively embedding these principles in our culture and practice.
• Personal resilience, with the ability to remain focused and effective under pressure.
• Open to alternative perspectives and committed to listening to diverse voices to inform decision-making.

Accountable to: The Board of Trustees

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £45,000 - £47,000 per annum dependent on experience.

Pension: 5%

Annual Leave: 25 days, plus bank holidays and the days between Christmas and New Year, rising by 1 day per year of continued service to a maximum of 30 days. 

The Youth Endowment Fund 

Research Lead –Local Violence Prevention

Reports to: Head of Guidance and Reporting

Salary: £55,000

Contract: 2 years fixed term 

Location: Central London, Hybrid* 

Closing date: Tuesday 15th July at 12pm

Interviews: Week commencing 28th July 2025

About the Youth Endowment Fund 

We exist 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.

At the Youth Endowment Fund, we are working to create lasting change. To succeed, we must build a world-leading body of knowledge on the violence that affects young people and how it can be stopped. This means producing rigorous, relevant evidence — through synthesis, data analysis and in-depth research into young people’s lives. But knowledge alone isn’t enough. We must make it accessible and actionable: showing what works, how services need to change, and how the systems around them must adapt. And we must partner with the people who can make change happen — across policy, practice and local systems — to turn evidence into impact.

About the role

The Research Lead will lead the development of YEF’s research, resources and recommendations in our neighbourhood focus sector.

We focus our efforts on seven essential sectors: education, policing, youth justice, youth sector, children’s services, health, and neighbourhood. “Neighbourhood” refers to our work supporting local partnerships – such as Violence Reduction Units (VRUs), community safety partnerships or the new Prevention Partnerships - and hyper-local approaches like our neighbourhood fund. 

Their primary responsibility will be to develop a series of actionable and evidence-informed guidance and resources for use by local violence prevention partnerships. This will include self-assessment tools for partnerships to assess their effectiveness, tools for understanding the nature of local violence problems and how they could be solved, and resources to support partnerships to identify and safeguard vulnerable children. Creating these resources will require the Research Lead to collect insights and evidence from across YEF’s work and develop YEF positions on fundamental questions about violence prevention. If successful, the Research Lead could have an outsized impact on YEF’s strategy and mission.  

These resources will support YEF colleagues to deliver our new ‘Area Leaders Programme’ (ALP). This is a new programme which you will help form. It helps local multi-agency partnerships to find and implement the best ways to prevent violence. YEF is working directly with partnerships, providing high-quality professional development, tailored advice and support, system mapping, and a national community of practice. The ALP focuses on strengthening five key elements of effective violence reduction:

1. Building strong and accountable partnerships
2. Understanding local patterns of violence
3. Identifying and supporting children most at risk
4. Improving safety in high-risk places
5. Sharing best practice across agencies

Following a pilot in four areas in 2024/25, the programme will expand to 20 more areas over the next two years. This will lay the groundwork for wider national initiatives, such as the Young Futures Prevention Partnerships, and support implementation of the Serious Violence Duty. The Research Lead will develop resources and guidance for the ALP. As the programme is delivered iteratively, they will work closely with YEF programme leads and local partnerships to test, refine, and improve materials before wider rollout.

The Research Lead will be part of YEF’s Research team. The Research team is at the heart of our efforts to learn what works and put it into practice. We do this by developing the YEF’s funding strategy and creating free, highly accessible research summaries and actionable recommendations for policy makers, commissioners and practitioners. We’re a high-performing team which values intellectual rigour and getting to the truth, compassion for children, ambition about what we can achieve and humility about what we know. We love to discuss the latest developments in research methods, but we’re not just interested in research for its own sake. We want research to lead to actual changes in outcomes for children.

Key responsibilities

The Research Lead will develop a portfolio of impactful projects.

· You’ll lead the research team’s work in our local neighbourhoods and partnerships priority sector. You’ll become the YEF’s expert in this area. You’ll make sure we understand the key issues, stay on top of the latest research and are connected to the right people.

· You’ll ensure we produce accessible, evidence-based resources and guidance that local partnerships can use to develop more effective strategies. You’ll work with YEF colleagues to test, refine, and improve materials before wider rollout

· You’ll set the YEF’s research agenda for your sector. You’ll make sure we invest in research that fills important gaps in knowledge and leads to important changes. You’ll ensure that our strategy and decision-making are informed by the best available research. This is a great opportunity to influence large amounts of funding and direct it towards the most impactful projects.

· You’ll develop great relationships with experts and represent YEF in external meetings and events. You’ll promote evidence-based policy and practice by speaking at conferences and events.

· You’ll lead the development of evidence-based recommendations in your focus area. You’ll draw on research and expert insight to identify potential changes to policy and practice. You’ll design and develop innovative and impactful resources which support the application of your recommendations.

· You’ll take on other responsibilities appropriate to your role. This could include leading the publication of YEF’s evaluation reports or writing ad hoc briefings and evidence summaries for the Government and other partners.

About You

You are this sort of person:

· You want to play a significant part in reducing the level of violence affecting young people. You care about having an impact. This might mean you’ve worked directly with young people at risk of becoming involved in crime, for organisations that fund or deliver relevant programmes, or have conducted research on this topic.

· You share our belief that an evidence-based approach is our best hope of preventing violence. You’re fascinated by research, but you’re not just interested in research for its own sake. You want to achieve actual changes in outcomes for children.

· You know a lot about violence prevention, especially local partnerships and structures like VRUs or Community Safety Partnerships. You know the key ideas and debates, recent policy developments and key people. You’re comfortable talking about this topic with experts.  There are many ways to acquire this knowledge. You might have worked in a local authority or local violence prevention organisation, conducted research on them or learnt about them during a degree.

· You’re a confident reader of research and have strong critical appraisal skills. You know when research can be trusted and when it can’t and can confidently articulate your views on the strength of research. You might have gained this expertise through your academic studies, research or professional experience.

· You have at least three years’ experience working in a role that required you to think about research. This could include a range of roles in policy, academia, funding or practice.

· You write in a way that people easily understand. You have that rare skill of writing in plain English. You have experience of translating complex research findings into plain writing that everyone can understand.

· You have excellent project and time management skills. You can work independently, quickly and to a high standard. You have experience of managing contractors or budgets.

· You are good with people. You’re comfortable working with a wide range of people, including senior academics and other research experts, children and their families, practitioners and policy makers. You’re able to provide constructive challenges when required.

· You learn fast but remain humble. You like learning. You’re very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know and that you can always learn more.

· You work well in a team. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You support your colleagues to produce excellent work.

· You’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, views and values.

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

It’s also 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. 

Hybrid Working Details  

The office is based in Central London. 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 interview stage.

To Apply 

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter, and complete the monitoring form click on "Apply for this" button by 12:00pm Tuesday 15th July 2025. 

When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter, within a maximum of 1000 words, covers the following questions below:

1. A clear example of a situation where you have translated research into actionable resources or recommendations.

2. A clear example of a situation where you’ve supported an external partner or colleague to apply research evidence to an important decision.

Interview Process 

Interviews will take place in the week commencing the 28th July 2025. 

There will be a task to prepare for in advance. 

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

• Four half days for volunteering activities

• 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.