Senior Change Manager - Youth Justice

Youth Endowment Fund; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A dedicated youth justice charity is seeking a professional to implement evidence-based practices to reduce youth violence in collaboration with services and police. The role focuses on supporting the Whole Area Model initiative, facilitating evaluations, and delivering valuable training to strengthen diversion practices. Candidates must showcase outstanding leadership experience in youth justice, capable of influencing change and fostering relationships within the community. This position offers a competitive benefits package and a chance to contribute meaningfully to societal safety.

Benefits

£1,000 professional development budget annually

28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

Flexible hours

Employee Assistance Programme

Contribution to pension

Death in service benefit

Qualifications

• Significant experience in leading behaviour, practice or policy changes in youth justice.
• Experience working with vulnerable children and violence prevention.
• Experience collaborating across various stakeholders in youth justice.
• Ability to support teams in adopting evidence-based practices.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of the Whole Area Model.
• Facilitate diversion self-evaluations with stakeholders.
• Deliver training on evidence-based practices.
• Develop relationships with youth justice professionals.
• Create practical resources for youth justice implementation.

Skills

Leadership in behaviour change

Collaboration with police and youth services

Analytical judgment

Excellent writing skills

Project management skills

Relationship-building

Knowledge of youth justice sector

Job description

Overview

We are making good progress building the evidence of what works within and around youth justice to reduce violence. This year, in conjunction with the Centre for Justice Innovation, we published Diversion Practice Guidance and have recently launched our new self‑evaluation tool for diversion practice (ORPIC). But the big risk is that we publish these resources and nothing changes. That’s where you come in. Your role is to work out the best way to make this change happen by getting youth justice services (YJSs) and police forces to adopt evidence‑based practice through our new change programme: the Whole Area Model (WAM). WAM helps police forces and youth justice services strengthen diversion practices by aligning their work with the 7 C’s: Culture, Contact, Custody, Criteria, Collaboration, Care and Checks.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the delivery of the Whole Area Model through activities such as:
• Facilitating completions of diversion self‑evaluations with youth justice services and police forces.
• Delivering training to youth justice, police and other relevant agencies about the evidence base or specific areas of diversionary practice and governance (e.g., scrutiny panels).
• Supporting the ongoing development of a National Diversion Network, which will contribute to a wider repository of diversion resources and evidence.
• Identifying and creating practical resources which help youth justice professionals and police officers put evidence into practice.
• Developing great relationships with senior leaders, youth justice workers and police officers, generating a strong understanding of key issues and needs in relation to youth justice matters, and building credibility and trust with the sector.
• Working out other effective ways to connect people with the evidence, then making those things happen, from virtual learning events to presentations.
• Building a culture where it is natural to perform well and support colleagues brilliantly.

Application Questions

• What personal and professional experiences shape your understanding of the youth justice sector and its role in preventing youth violence? (max 400 words)
• Can you describe a time when you successfully supported youth justice partnership leaders to improve their practice or systems? Please be specific about the scale and context of your involvement. (max 400 words)
• Describe your experience improving diversion for children. What actions did you take, what impact did they have, and what did you learn? (max 400 words)

Interview Process

This will likely be a one‑stage interview process. Interviews will take place the week of 26th January 2026. Please note: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

Benefits

• £1,000 professional development budget annually
• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Four half days for volunteering activities
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24‑hour 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 10 am – 4 pm
• Financial support including travel and hardship loans
• Employer‑contributed pension of 5 %.

Experience Required

• Significant experience in leading behaviour, practice or policy changes within a youth justice setting, demonstrating tangible change.
• Experience working in or around the youth justice service, preferably with children who are vulnerable to or involved in violence.
• Experience collaborating across police, youth justice, local authorities and other partners, with confident communication to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Supporting a youth justice team/service to reflect on and adopt evidence‑based practice in relation to diversion or wider youth justice activities.

Person Profile

• Fascinated about change and experienced at making it happen.
• Outstanding analytical judgment, emotional intelligence and an understanding of why people find change difficult.
• Deep knowledge of the youth justice sector and diversion specifically.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to translate complex information into plain English.
• Excellent project and time‑management skills, able to design and deliver high‑quality outputs such as reports and digital resources.
• Strong relationship‑building and communication skills, able to engage senior leaders, government ministers, youth workers and young people.
• Fast learner, humble, synthesises information effectively and prioritises action over credit.
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Applicants with lived experience of violence affecting children and young people are especially encouraged.

Your 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.

The Youth Endowment Fund

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is a charity with a £200 m endowment and a mission that matters. We exist to prevent children becoming involved in violence. Our mission is to find what works and build a movement to put it into practice. A big part of the movement that we need to build is in the world of youth justice. We need to inspire and connect with youth justice leaders across England and Wales to spread what works and make our country safer for some of our most vulnerable children. We are looking for someone to lead on making this happen.

Due to the nature of the programme, some national travel within England and Wales is required – up to five times per month. All travel costs can be reimbursed with flexibility for overnight stays if preferred.