Programme Lead (West & East Midlands)
Salary: Starting Salary: £34,237-£36,853 depending on experience, skills and qualifications*
(see below for more details on remuneration)
About Voice 21
Voice 21 is the national oracy education charity. We exist to empower every child to use their voice for success in school and life. Our work transforms learning and life chances through talk by increasing access to a high-quality oracy education for those that need it most. Follow the links to find out more about why oracy is so vital and the impact Voice 21 has.
Your purpose
To lead professional development and school improvement programmes facilitating the Voice 21 approach in our Voice 21 Oracy Schools by delivering our high impact learning experiences and materials for teachers and school leaders. To be part of the team, designing and reviewing programme content.
Your opportunity
Tackle a vital challenge, with great people. Voice 21 exists to transform childrens’ learning and life chances through talk and we are aiming to be working with 2,000 schools a year by 2025. To reach this goal we recruit great people and give them real responsibility, training and support.
Output focused culture, with flexible working opportunities. We have an agile and flexible approach – our team can work when and wherever works best to deliver the requirements of their role. For staff working at home, we support them to create a workspace and provide technology that enables them to work effectively.
Real development opportunities. We believe in supporting people to develop the skills they need to be excellent – whether this means funding external training, finding a mentor to support them or giving them the time to learn from others in the organisations through our regular CPD sessions. We also offer paid study leave for team members taking part in formal studies outside of work.
Great benefits. 36 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays and Christmas closure period). Holiday entitlement increases linked to length of service, 5% employer contribution to pension, interest-free season ticket, cycle and technology loans, employee assistance scheme.
Remuneration. Our pay is a band and spine point approach where there is up to 7 years progression available (depending on starting point)
Your responsibilities
Quality programme delivery
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Lead high quality professional development and school improvement programmes in our Pathway programmes and Open Learning for groups of teachers. These may be delivered in person, online or in school.
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Deliver transformative consultancy support, working with teachers and school leaders to design and implement bespoke improvement plans for their oracy provision, including through in school and online consultancy support, and one-to-one advice.
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Build credibility and purposeful relationships with programme participants, both at programme days and touchpoints, and on an on-going basis to drive impact in our schools.
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Be responsible for participant learning and experience on your programmes, upholding high standards for all elements such as preparation, adapting to participant needs, content and rigour, on-going interactions and support, and participant feedback.
Learning content & programme development
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Proactively share insights and learning from the programmes you deliver, proposing and shaping solutions to enable Voice 21 to continually improve its programme offer.
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Apply and share expertise through varied outputs such as teaching materials, online learning content, resources, written or video outputs. Proactively identify and respond to opportunities or gaps and fulfil briefs or commissions.
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Contribute to the continual improvement of Voice 21’s programmes, through development and review cycles, based on first-hand learning from our schools, content expertise, programme insights and external research and evidence.
Team and organisational contribution
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Act as an ambassador for Voice 21’s national oracy expertise, communicating the value and impact of our approach at conferences, events and through publications.
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Embody and communicate oracy teaching and learning expertise within the organisation, acting as a resource for the wider team and making contributions to organisational priorities, projects, campaigns and events, outputs and publications etc.
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Continually and proactively develop your own and others’ expertise in Voice 21’s approach to a high quality oracy education, and use this to leverage impact for our schools through tangible learning outputs.
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Identify and carry out other tasks commensurate to the level and spirit of the role as required.
Your experience
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You are an excellent teacher (primary or secondary)
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You are passionate about teaching and learning, and the role of talk in learning. You have used talk to support learning in your classroom.
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You have experience leading whole-school change and inspiring teachers to embrace new approaches and ideas.
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You have a knowledge of a range of speaking and listening techniques and contexts for oracy, these could include: debate, dialogic teaching, storytelling, public speaking or communication and language development.
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You are a strong communicator both when working in a small team and when facilitating learning for large groups of adults.
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You are flexible, can think on your feet and can bring your own experiences to the work we do.
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You are highly-organised, look for solutions and can prioritise and manage a varied workload.
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You are enthusiastic, willing to learn and feel you would be energised by our mission. If you do not fully meet all the above criteria, but are happy to work towards developing into the role, we would be happy to consider your application.
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You are willing to travel nationally on a frequent basis (2-3 days a week) during term time; this will include regular overnight stays.
Application details
We are looking to hire someone whose location is well connected for reaching our schools in the West and East Midlands. Please send your most recent CV and a document answering the questions below:
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Tell us why you want to work at Voice 21. What is it about us and our mission that excites you? (Max. 400 words)
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Making direct reference to the job description, please tell us the three main reasons why you would make an excellent Programme Lead (Max. 400 words).
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Tell us about something you have achieved recently that you are proud of? (Max 200 words)
Closing date: Wednesday 30th April
Interview dates: First round phone interviews on Tuesday May 6th and & Wednesday May 7th
Second round online interviews for shortlisted candidates on Friday May 9th and Monday May 12th
Start date: August 2025
Terms: Permanent, subject to successful probation review at 3 months.
Contract: This is a full time post, but we would welcome applications from those looking for part-time or flexible working.
Location: Home-based with frequent national travel, including overnight stays, to work with schools and attend meetings. Applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a car they can use for work.
Questions: If you have any questions before applying for the role, please contact Catherine Pass
Valuing every voice
Voice 21 believes that every voice should be heard and valued. We are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Voice 21.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Salary: The annual salary for this position is a competitive £55,000, offered as a spot salary
Location: London Old Street (with flexible hybrid working options)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time 37.5 per week – we are also open to flexible/part time applicants
Closing date: Wednesday the 7th of May at 11:30pm
Please note that interviews will be taking place on Wednesday 21st of May. This will consist of a formal interview followed by a stakeholder panel interview on the same day.
Do you have a deep understanding of high-value fundraising and a proven track record in leading and motivating multi-disciplinary teams? Are you skilled at identifying and presenting funding opportunities, while building strong relationships to drive success? If so, we invite you to apply for the newly created role of High Value Operations & Stewardship Lead. Join us in Shelter’s Fight for Home and help shape and lead our fundraising strategy!
About the role
This is a brand-new role at Shelter, which will give the post-holder the opportunity to head up a new function which is key to support our bold ambitions to grow high value income and provide best in class donor stewardship and experience. You will have the opportunity to shape our High Value Partnerships Operations and Stewardship function, making it your own. It is a very exciting time to be joining us as we launch our new four-year strategic plan.
In this vital cross collaborative High Value Partnerships position, the role will involve leading and developing our team of subject matter experts in Prospect Research and Development, Fundraising Information and Cases for Support and High Value Events. You will be ensuring all three streams are working in a collaborative, supportive and dynamic manner, underpinning high value income growth and first-class supporter experience.
Furthermore, you will champion and embed best practice in high value fundraising operations, working to develop processes and systems that support fundraising and ensure that fundraisers are equipped with the tools and assets they need to be able to fundraise efficiently and effectively through every step of the donor journey. You will also oversee the implementation and development of a high value fundraising information and stewardship strategy and will ensure the effective translation of organisational plans and work into creative support approaches and communications. You will play a key role in developing and delivering our high value supporter experience, ensuring our donors understand the impact of their donation and feel inspired to donate again.
About you
We’re looking for a dynamic and experienced individual who has a strong understanding of high-value fundraising and a proven track record of leading and motivating multi-disciplinary teams, ideally within a fundraising operations environment. You will need to have the ability to identify fundraising opportunities within complex strategic plans and be able to effectively shape these into compelling presentations for potential funders to drive income.
Being a natural relationship-builder, you will excel at collaborating and influencing teams both within and outside of fundraising to drive success and achieve shared goals.
Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
About the team
The newly formed High Value Operations & Stewardship team will sit in the High Value Partnerships (HVP) sub-directorate which is part of Shelter’s Income Generation directorate. It’s an award-winning team that is responsible for all areas of high value income generation across philanthropy, trusts and foundations, statutory funders, corporate partners and legacies to power Shelter’s fight for home.
Shelter’s High Value Partnerships (HVP) team is an energetic group of around 50 talented professionals who collectively raise over £30 million each year through voluntary and statutory income. By harnessing the support, networks, influence, and expertise of our supporters, the team plays a crucial role in powering our mission to fight for home.
As our portfolio of high-value funders continues to grow—and with ambitious targets ahead—we’re building a dedicated operations function to act as the central hub for knowledge, insight, and coordination within HVP. This new function will lead enabling projects and drive collaboration across Shelter, ensuring our fundraisers have everything they need to secure transformational support.
How to apply
Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement. The supporting statement should include responses to the ‘About You’ points in the job description of no more than 350 words each. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviours below throughout your responses:
- We work together to achieve our shared purpose
- We enable decision making
- We create change and align behind our strategy
Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.
About Shelter
Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.
We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.
We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.
Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.
Safeguarding statement
Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.
Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.