Network Director

OnSide Youth Zones; London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established charity is seeking a dynamic Network Director to join its senior leadership team. This role is pivotal in strengthening relationships across a national network of youth charities, focusing on engagement and collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing diverse teams, influencing stakeholders, and driving strategic initiatives that enhance the impact on young people. With a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, this organization offers a supportive environment where innovative ideas are encouraged. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Company matched pension

Employee Assistance Programme

Charity Worker discounts

Qualifications

• Experience managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to build effective relationships with Boards and senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team to support Youth Zones effectively.
• Drive engagement with under-represented groups of young people.

Skills

Communication Skills

Team Management

Project Management

Strategic Planning

Safeguarding Knowledge

Job description

Network Director

We are looking for someone brilliant to join the senior leadership team as the Network Director and lead on continuing to strengthen relationships as the Network grows.

Join a values-based organisation: passionate about young people and ambitious with the drive to create impact.

The role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and who loves working with others to build momentum and collaboration.

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: Network Director

Location: Hybrid (two days a week in either the Bolton or London offices (based in White City) combined with home-working and travel across the Youth Zone Network as required)

Salary: £75,000 - £80,000

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week (flexible working available)

Benefits: Agile working with flexibility in working hours; 25 days annual leave (calculated pro-rata) 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: 9am, Monday 12 May 2025

First stage interviews (in-person): Monday 19 May 2025

Second stage interviews (in-person): Tuesday 3 June 2025

There will also be a short, values-based phone interview around the second stage.

About the Role

A crucial role in the Network, you will need excellent communication skills to hold honest and respectful relationships with Youth Zone CEOs, senior leaders, Chairs and Trustees across the country. You will be as comfortable challenging Youth Zones as a critical friend as you are being creative, bringing fresh ideas and encouraging innovation to support changing priorities across the Network.

An experienced line manager, you will motivate and lead a multi-disciplinary team to be high performing in their support of Youth Zones, ensuring the focus is always to build capability in the Network. And, you will be supporting Youth Zones in achieving their own ambitions and targets for young people s engagement, aligned with the collective aspirations in our Network DNA. This will include more effective ways to increase engagement with under-represented groups of young people, such as girls and young women.

About You

You will have experience of holding highly effective relationships with Boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams, with the ability to influence to achieve shared commitment and direction.

You will also have experience of:

• Managing multiple work streams/projects at one time and meet various, demanding deadlines

• Effective, multi-disciplinary team management

• Working strategically to maximise engagement and drive high performance

• Safeguarding, volunteering, systems and/or impact measurement

• Working at Board level and an understanding of excellent charity governance

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 charity that believes all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose that fund and build state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound youth centres called Youth Zones in the country s most economically disadvantaged areas. We train the amazing people that run them and offer continuing support to Youth Zones nationwide through a 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 Engagement, Impact and Engagement, Community Engagement, Supporter Engagement, Director of Engagement, Director of Impact and Engagement, Director of Community Engagement, Director of Supporter Engagement.

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