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Local Quality Advisor - National Youth Agency

The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Local Quality Advisor to join our Youth Work Innovation & Development Team.
 
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £37,826 per annum
Remote: This role is homebased (within the UK) with occasional travel for staff residentials and other events.
 
What we do
 
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
 
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work
 
About the Role
 
Responsibilities will include:

• Support the Local Quality and Improvement Manager in delivering key Local Offer programmes, such as the Peer Review and Peer Network Programme, helping Local Authorities and organisations meet the needs of young people and fulfil their Statutory Duty (Section 507B).
• Assist in the coordination and delivery of traded services related to Quality Standards and Organisational Development, ensuring high-quality support for partners.
• Contribute to the development, quality assurance, and standardisation of NYA resources related to Quality Standards, working collaboratively across NYA teams.
• Promote NYA standards and resources to the sector, offering support and training to encourage adoption and effective use.
• Identify and deliver support to non-commercial requests, including those from VCSE organisations and Town and Parish Councils seeking information, advice, and guidance.
• Engage with the Local Policy & Partnerships Manager and the NYA Knowledge Team to gather and share sector insights, promoting knowledge exchange across NYA teams and the wider youth work sector.
• Support collaboration with Local Authorities and partner organisations to raise awareness of NYA programmes and encourage engagement with Quality Standards.
• Utilise NYA tools, including CRM and Project Management systems, to help generate timely and relevant performance and financial reports that inform decision-making and support effective programme delivery.

 
Our ideal Local Quality Advisor should have the following:

• Demonstrated experience supporting the delivery of programmes or projects within the youth work, education, or voluntary sector.
• Strong understanding of youth work principles and the statutory duties of Local Authorities (particularly Section 507B).
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, including Local Authorities, partner organisations, and internal teams.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to contribute to the development of resources and reports.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of work.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Competence in using digital tools such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and project management platforms. Experience of using project management platform (or similar) would be an advantage
• A proactive, flexible, and agile approach to working across multiple programmes, including attending events and responding to time-sensitive deadlines.
• Willingness to learn, adapt, and grow in a dynamic and evolving organisation.

 
Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.
 
Why Work for NYA?
 
NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
 
NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
 
A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
 
NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
 
We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.
 
How to Apply:
 
Please download our applicant pack to find out more about the role and requirements
 
To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Friday 18th July 2025:
 
A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
 
A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the About You section.
 
We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.
 
Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.
 
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
 
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
 
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
 
More about us
 
Discover more about the National Youth Agency and our work on our website.
 
Youth Work changes lives
 
Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.
 
We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.
 
REF-222459

Citizens UK 

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.

Our Sponsor Refugees team fits within our ‘Migrants and Refugees’ theme of work, which combines place-based and multi-issue organising through our Migrants and Refugees Organising (MARO) team, and effective national campaigns, alongside the pioneering community sponsorship of refugees. Staff joining Sponsor Refugees are joining a thriving team that works collaboratively with the wider Migrants and Refugees theme and with a range of other Citizens UK teams.    

Our MARO team fits within our ‘Migrants and Refugees’ theme of work, which combines place-based and multi-issue organising, with effective national campaigns, and the pioneering community sponsorship of refugees through our Sponsor Refugees team. Staff joining MARO are joining a thriving team that works collaboratively with the wider Migrants and Refugees theme and with a range of other Citizens UK teams.  

Living Wage Foundation 

The Living Wage is an independent movement of businesses, organisations and people who believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. The Living Wage campaign was launched by London Citizens in 2001 and aims to ensure low paid workers have enough money to get by and enough time for community and family life. 

The Living Wage is an hourly rate calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK that employers choose to pay on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage Foundation recognises and celebrates employers that pay the real Living Wage through an accreditation programme which awards the Living Wage Employer Mark. 

The independently-calculated rates are announced during Living Wage Week each November when we celebrate our growing network of Living Wage employers. There are now more than 15,000 accredited Living Wage employers across the UK which has secured pay rises for over 475,000 employees. 

The Living Wage Foundation is part of Citizens UK – a community organising charity which works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take a deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty. As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions in order to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies. 

Purpose 

At Citizens UK, our organisers and project staff work within communities to develop leaders, strengthen organisations, campaign for change and organise across difference. There are various project roles and operational, communication, finance and HR roles that support the organisation and project staff and organisers to deliver on this mission and work. This work is rewarding and can be challenging; it requires a personal commitment to inclusion, a willingness to listen and disagree respectfully, and an interest in working in an organisation where our staff, member institutions and leaders will come from a diversity of backgrounds and often hold views that may be very different from our own. More information about how we operate within this context and build trusted relationships across difference can be found on our website and is covered in induction. Onboarding and navigating this relational culture, and type of work, is supported by line managers and further training. 

The Living Wage Foundation has an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic team as an Operations and Data Officer. We are looking for a highly motivated and organised individual to help maintain, develop and continuously improve our data and systems. The role will be an integral part of the Living Wage Operations and Insight Team, providing technical support to ensure the integrity of our systems, and supporting with development projects. 

The Operations and Data Officer will need to be highly numerate and have great analytical skills to support our monitoring and evaluation functions, working with the Head of Operations and Insight on financial and budgeting management, reconciliation and forecasting for the Living Wage Foundation. The suitable candidate will be detail-oriented, be able to demonstrate their ability to seek out improvements and problem solve creatively and have experience working with Salesforce or equivalent CRM systems. 

Main Responsibilities 

Working as the Operations and Data Officer– LWF for Citizens UK, reporting to Senior Data & Operations Manager, LWF, your main responsibilities will include: 

Project Management 

Deliver work targets on time and to standard to support the Foundation’s data and systems: : 

•  Support the day-to-day operations and management of all systems within the Living Wage Foundation designed to enable the functioning of Living Wage accreditation schemes. 

•  Proactively seek out systems improvements to make our processes more efficient so the Living Wage Foundation continues to provide an excellent service to the Living Wage network. 

•  Provide operational support for all aspects of the accreditation and recognition systems, including identifying and fixing errors. 

• Maintain integrity of Salesforce database; identify and source incomplete information within the database; take responsibility for tidying, cleansing and backing up existing data. 

• Support maintenance of integrated systems, including syncing data to Act-On and the website. 

• Work with Operations and Data Manager to keep templates, forms and related communications materials up to date 

• Manage merchandise administration including email inbox, day to day queries, and Shopify administration. 

• Support Operations and Data Manager to manage budgets for external contracts (e.g. with developers and suppliers). 

  Learning and expertise 

• Keep up-to-date with functional good practice and technical updates to all our systems, including within the third sector. 

• Support with network data enquiries, including analysing data, creating Salesforce reports and dashboards for colleagues. 

• Work with colleagues to identify learning & development needs and support Operations and Data Manager to develop and deliver inductions, training and guidance to meet requirements. 

• Keep internal training manuals up to date to ensure the Foundation’s team can access clear and consistent information about our systems and processes. 

•  Support Operations and Data Manager to monitor the impact of internal trainings, support, resources and guidance – update and improve internal support offer as required. 

Communications 

• Create and write dashboards and reports to support the analysis of our performance. 

• Champion systems throughout the organisation and advocate for systems-based solutions. Offer ad hoc guidance to the team and help communicate any changes to systems. 

• Run systems surgeries for colleagues to answer ad hoc enquiries and support learning. 

Develop and manage external relationships 

• Communicate effectively with our external contractors (e.g. merchandise suppliers) to ensure contracts are fulfilled in a timely manner. 

• Help identify suitable new suppliers to meet organisational need. 

Develop and manage internal relationships 

• Support Operations and Data Manager to identify technical solutions to meet organisational requirements. 

• Monitor and respond to operations and data enquiries from colleagues. Work effectively with colleagues across Citizens UK, actively participate in the team and organisational wide events. 

Income and resources 

• Maintain Salesforce data integrity to support accurate and timely invoicing. Help ensure the integrity and safety of our data advising wider organisation on best practice where appropriate. 

• Support Operations and Data Manager to track expenditure for Shopify and merchandise suppliers. 

• Contribute to plans and proposals to grow sources of income or resources. 

Contribute towards Citizens UK’s strategic objectives 

• Responsibility for delivering agreed areas of the Foundation’s work plan. 

• To work collaboratively with the LWF team and across Citizens UK to ensure that we are meeting the expectations of our network and stakeholders. 

• Display self-awareness of DEI issues and good practice, considering impact on direct reports and stakeholders. 

• Understand how your role contributes to the purpose of the Foundation and the core mission of Citizens UK. 

• Implement Citizens UK’s and the Foundation policies, procedures, and values in own work and that of the team. 

Personal Specification 

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential 

Qualifications 

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification or experience (D) 

Experience 

• A minimum of 2 years proven, comprehensive experience in an operations role (E) 

• Experience of analysing business requirements and turning them into technical solutions (E) 

• Experience of providing technical support to a team (E) 

• Experience of administrating and updating Salesforce or similar databases, and using database integrations such as Zapier, QuickBooks, Form Assembly and email marketing platforms (D) 

Key skills and knowledge 

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret large quantities of data to evaluate and improve performance (E) 

• Interest in and good understanding of database and systems management and integration (E) 

• Ability to take in and interpret information and communicate in a succinct manner (E) 

• Demonstrable ability to find creative solutions to complex problems and implement new systems (E) 

• High levels of numeracy with strong attention to detail (E) 

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to juggle a wide range of competing demands (E) 

• Strong IT skills to include MS Office and database software (E) 

• Sound knowledge of data protection regulations and GDPR (E) 

• Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape in the UK (D)

Personal qualities & values 

• A proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude and a flexible approach to work demands (E) 

• A strong commitment to the Living Wage campaign and the principles of Citizens UK (E) 

About the application process 

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.

Interview date: W/C 4th August

Want to find out more about us and the role?

If you would like further information on the role, the organisation, or our commitment to addressing under-representation and the development and progression of all colleagues, we would be happy to answer any questions.

Join us for a 45-minute lunchtime webinar to learn more about working at the Living Wage Foundation/Citizens UK. Anyone can attend to find out more about the role, all enquiries welcome. In the past, candidates have found this a helpful space for understanding whether the role is right for them.

The webinar will take place on Monday 7 July from 13:00-13:45 on Zoom. Sign up here.