Area Team Manager (Children and Young People)

Brathay Trust; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused charity is seeking an Area Manager to lead change for young people in Bradford. The successful candidate will manage a multi-disciplinary team, oversee Early Help services, and ensure compliance with safeguarding standards. Ideal candidates will have strong management skills, experience in children's services, and a passion for youth empowerment. The role includes a competitive salary, benefits like a pension contribution, and the opportunity for flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

30 days annual leave

5% employer pension contribution

Cash Health plan

1 free night stay at the Brathay estate

Qualifications

• Proven experience in delivering Early Help programmes.
• Passion for putting children and young people first.
• Strong people skills with a clear understanding of boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team delivering Early Help services.
• Contribute to strategic development and partnership working.
• Oversee operations to meet contractual standards.

Skills

Experience in children's services

People management

Communication skills

Knowledge of safeguarding principles

Ability to manage staff effectively

Proactive and solution-focused

Job description

Are you ready to lead change for young people in Bradford and Yorkshire?

Brathay believes every young person deserves the chance to thrive. For almost 80 years, they've been delivering life-changing programmes that build confidence, resilience and skills for the future. From outdoor learning to community-based support, they empower children, young people and families to overcome challenges and unlock their potential.

It’s a charity with a big heart and a clear purpose : to inspire and enable people to make positive changes in their lives. As Area Manager across the Bradford region, you’ll work for a thriving charity - certified as a ‘Great place to work’ - that values collaboration, creativity and sustainable, long‑lasting impact.

Salary: £38,000

Location: Bradford office, with the opportunity to work up to 2 days per week from home

Contract: Permanent, 35 hours per week (FTE)

Benefits: 30 days annual leave (+bank) and 5% employer pension contribution, 1 free night stay at the Brathay estate each year and a Cash Health plan

What you’ll do

• Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team, delivering Early Help services for children, young people and families.
• Contribute to strategic development, continuous improvement and partnership working.
• Oversee operations, ensuring services meet contractual, safeguarding and quality standards.
• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and embed safe practice across all activities.
• Coordinate people and service delivery effectively, meeting KPIs and reporting metrics.
• Manage budgets, monitor performance and support income generation opportunities.
• Drive collaborative working with partners delivering Early Help support.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in children’s services, ideally delivering Early Help programmes.
• Passion for putting children and young people first in everything you do.
• Strong people and management skills: kind, compassionate and clear on boundaries.
• Solution‑focused, proactive and able to prioritise effectively in a dynamic environment.
• Confident communicator who thrives on collaboration and partnership building.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and ability to lead safeguarding responses.
• Ability to build partnerships and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Ability to manage staff efficiently and effectively, with a strengths‑based approach.
• Understanding of how to meet and deliver on contractual and organisational KPIs.
• Desirable: Knowledge of Bradford children’s services landscape and local context.

You’ll also need a full driving licence and flexibility to travel across the area.

What can we offer in return

Brathay believes in impact that lasts. You’ll be joining a team committed to enabling young people to feel like their best self and thrive in their communities. Brathay has a strong professional development offer, to ensure you keep growing too. You can be sure of a supportive culture where you’ll be empowered to do your best work.

Ready for your next adventure? We’d love to hear from you and tell you more.

To apply

All you need to do is send a copy of your CV or draft profile over to Amelia Lee as the first step. From there, we’ll be in touch with full application details if you have the skills and experience required.

Deadline: 9am on Tuesday 23rd December.

Interviews will be held mid‑January, after the festive season.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.