Lead Youth Worker

KFC Youth Foundation; Acklam; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Employer pension

Private medical cover

Employee assistance programme

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

KFC Youth Foundation in Middlesbrough is seeking a Lead Youth Worker to guide and inspire a team delivering high-quality youth provision, ensuring every young person feels safe, valued and able to thrive.

Working with the Hub Manager, you will develop staff, foster partnerships, champion safeguarding, and keep young people at the heart of decision-making, shaping opportunities and positive outcomes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading youth work programmes.
• Proven experience managing staff and volunteers.
• Champions youth voice, participation and co-production.
• Strong safeguarding knowledge and professional judgement.
• Ability to build meaningful relationships with young people, colleagues and partners.
• Passion about inclusion, equality and creating opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-quality youth provision, shaping an outstanding experience for young people.
• Support and develop staff and volunteers to deliver best practice.
• Embed a strong safeguarding culture across the hub and partnerships.
• Collaborate with the Hub Manager to ensure young people stay at the centre of decisions.

Skills

Lead youth programmes

Staff management

Safeguarding knowledge

Building relationships

Inclusion & equality

Youth voice & co-production

Job description

Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive.

That's the belief that drives everything we do at the KFC Youth Foundation. Through our Middlesbrough Youth Hub, we're creating a vibrant, welcoming and aspirational space where young people can feel safe, be themselves, develop new skills, build confidence and access opportunities that help them achieve their goals.

Whether that's supporting wellbeing, building life skills, creating pathways into employment, developing leadership opportunities or simply ensuring young people have a place where they feel heard and valued, we're committed to helping young people shape positive futures.

We're now looking for an experienced and inspiring Lead Youth Worker to join us on that journey.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for an established youth work leader who is passionate about creating opportunities, developing teams and delivering exceptional support for young people.

Working closely with the Hub Manager, you'll play a key role in leading high-quality youth provision, shaping an outstanding experience for young people and ensuring our Hub continues to be a place where they can belong, grow and thrive. You'll lead a talented team of staff and volunteers, champion best practice, embed a strong safeguarding culture and help ensure every young person who engages with us receives the very best support and opportunities possible.

This is a role for someone who can balance strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery, someone who enjoys supporting teams to succeed, building strong partnerships and keeping young people at the centre of decision‑making.

What Makes Our Hub Different?

Our Hub is more than a building. It's a place filled with energy, possibility and ambition.

We believe young people achieve more when they feel they belong. That's why we've created a space where they can build confidence, discover new interests, access support, develop relationships and explore opportunities they may never have thought possible.

We don't believe in delivering services to young people. We work with them.

Young people's ideas influence what we do, how we do it and where we focus our efforts.

As Lead Youth Worker, you'll help create and protect that culture. You'll play a vital role in ensuring the Hub remains a place where young people feel welcome, respected, supported and inspired to achieve their potential.

We're Looking For Someone Who:

• Has significant experience leading youth work programmes and services.
• Has proven experience managing, supporting and developing staff and volunteers.
• Champions youth voice, participation and co-production.
• Has strong safeguarding knowledge and professional judgement.
• Can build meaningful relationships with young people, colleagues and partners.
• Is passionate about inclusion, equality and creating opportunities.
• Has the confidence and credibility to lead from the front.

Believes in the potential of every young person and is committed to helping them succeed.

Why Join Us?

At the KFC Youth Foundation, you'll be part of a team that genuinely believes in the difference great youth work can make.

Alongside a rewarding role, we offer:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Up to 9% employer pension contribution
• Private Medical Cover
• Employee Assistance Programme

Ongoing learning and development opportunities