Youth Engagement Manager

The Rainbow Project - Northern Ireland; Derry/Londonderry; On-site; GBP 33,000; Full time

Job summary

An LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization in Derry/Londonderry is seeking a passionate Youth Engagement Manager to lead the Rainbow Youth programme. The role involves managing a youth work team and implementing strategies that empower LGBTQIA+ young people. The ideal candidate should possess a relevant degree or certificate and have substantial experience in staff management, project oversight, and budget management. This position is critical in ensuring high standards of safeguarding and effective community engagement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years’ experience managing a youth work team or program.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Experience in leading and motivating teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the Rainbow Youth programme funded by the National Lottery.
• Develop a Youth Work Strategy Action Plan tailored for LGBTQIA+ youth.
• Ensure all activities comply with safeguarding legislation.

Skills

Management of staff

Equality and human rights understanding

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Budget management

Education

Degree in Community and Youth Work or equivalent

Certificate in Youth Work or equivalent

Job description

Hours per week: 35hrs

Contract: until 31 July ’28

Salary: £32,031

Location: The Rainbow Project's Foyle Office

This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for LGBTQIA+ young people and ensuring young people are at the heart of our work. The Youth Engagement Manager will have primary responsibility for the effective management and sustainability of our youth work services in the North West. The post holder will manage the development and delivery of Rainbow Youth, which works with LGBTQIA+ young people; supporting staff; building and sustaining relationships; and maintaining high standards of safeguarding at all times.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for overseeing and managing the National Lottery Community Fund funded, Rainbow Youth programme. working with the staff team to ensure outcomes are met within deadline and budget requirements.
• To deliver a peer research programme working with young volunteers to give insight into the lives of young LGBTQIA+ people while also supporting an external evaluation process for Rainbow Youth.
• Full line management responsibility for the Rainbow Youth staff team of two youth engagement workers based in the Foyle centre.
• To develop a Youth Work Strategy Action Plan in line with the needs of young LGBTQIA+ people in the North West, ensuring that the programme operates within power-sharing models of practice and that young people are key decision makers within the programme. Ensuring that all activity and engagement with young people complies with safeguarding legislation, policies and procedures.
• Act as the senior member of staff based in the Foyle Centre ensuring the smooth functioning of the centre, supporting the team based there and acting as an ambassador for the Rainbow Project in the North West.
• Work closely with the Deputy Director and Finance Manager to manage budgets and resources effectively, and working as a member of the Leadership Team to contribute to the good running of the organisation as a whole.
• Work Closely with the Deputy Director to ensure all quarterly and end of year returns are completed and returned within the timeframe set by the Deputy Director and Funder.
• With the support of the Fundraising and Partnerships Officer, identify and pursue sources of funding to ensure the sustainability and increase the capacity of Rainbow Youth and the Foyle Centre.

Demands

• The Rainbow Project addresses issues that can be viewed as political and/or controversial. The post holder will need to handle all issues astutely and diplomatically, and with party political impartiality.
• The post holder will represent the Rainbow Project professionally and effectively to external stakeholders at both a local and national level. This includes with local elected representatives; government departments; the media; community & voluntary partner agencies; and LGBTQIA+ communities.
• The post holder will be expected to handle a varied workload which may require a rapid response to external events. This will include evening and weekend work.
• The post holder will undertake occasional travel between Rainbow Project’s offices and to other locations as required.
• The post holder will undertake any other tasks that may be requested, commensurate with the nature and level of the post.

General responsibilities

• To work collaboratively as part of the Rainbow Project staff team to develop and achieve shared goals and objectives.
• To contribute to the general administration, good running and development of the Rainbow Project, while adhering to high standards of safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, equality and other organisational policies.
• Monitor your own continuing professional development and identify training, growth and development opportunities.
• To maintain good relationships with colleagues, volunteers, and other stakeholders, while also upholding high standards of professional accountability.

Person Specification

Essential

1. Educated to degree level in Community and Youth Work or working towards your degree, with 2 or more years’ experience in managing a youth work team/programme or Educated to a certificate level in youth work or working towards your certificate, with 4 or more years’ experience in managing a youth work team/programme.
2. Substantive experience of management and supervision of staff, youth workers and volunteers; including a proven ability to lead, support and motivate teams effectively.
3. A strong understanding of equality, discrimination, and human rights issues as they relate to LGBTQIA+ people and in particular LGBTQIA+ young people.
4. Good working knowledge and experience of working within participatory/power sharing models of practice with young LGBTQIA+ people.
5. Significant experience providing day-to-day project management and leadership of a service.
6. Demonstrable budget management, evaluation and reporting skills with the ability to effectively manage resources, evaluate outcomes and meet funding requirements.
7. Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability and flexibility to work cooperatively and collaboratively, rise above personal, ideological and other differences, build relationships and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and colleagues.
8. An ability to work on your own initiative and organise and develop concurrent work within an agreed budget including in fast changing situations where flexibility is required.

Desirable

1. Degree in Community Education, Social Work, Teaching or a similar discipline.
2. An ability to develop peer-research projects alongside marginalised communities, including training peer-researchers, data collection and analysis.
3. Experience of developing funding applications to maintain or extend programmes of work.
4. An understanding of intersectional equality issues and experience of working with groups of marginalised young people aged 12-25 individually and in a groupwork setting, including young people with learning disabilities and/or difficulties.