Programme Manager

About Us

Unfold is led by the people we serve, and we get people where they want to be. We’re a bold, agile and growing organisation, with a friendly, energetic and welcoming team. We empower volunteers to support young people and families in Westminster, Kensington, Chelsea, and neighbouring boroughs. We're open to everyone but we target those who face the most challenges, including people from racialized groups, single-parent households, and people seeking asylum.

We have an ambitious growth plan, and we’re seeking a proactive Programme Manager to lead our Broadening Horizons mentoring programme and peer support groups for young people and families. We’ve made incredible progress in both programme scale and quality: Over the last five years our income has grown five-fold, our reach in mentoring has increased to more than ten times what it was five years ago, while our team has grown from 1.6 to 15 staff in that time. With nearly 60% of our income secured in multi-year grants, we’re in the process of developing our strategy for the next five years, envisaging continued growth, maintaining quality and impact while adding a social justice dimension to our role. 

About the Role

As Programme Manager, you will be at the heart of delivering our Broadening Horizons mentoring programme, which supports young people aged 10-25 and their families. You'll ensure that it reaches those who need it most while maintaining our high standards of quality and impact.

Managing a team of four Programme Officers, you will ensure that our mentoring and peer support initiatives run smoothly and effectively, while also developing specialised programmes to address the unique needs of groups such as young refugees, children with care experience, and those excluded from mainstream education.

Your role will include managing partnerships with local youth organisations, schools, and community groups, expanding our referral networks, and leading our Youth Advisory Council to empower young people in shaping the charity’s strategy.

As part of the Senior Management Team, you’ll also contribute to strategic planning, using data to inform decisions and drive service improvements.

An important part of this role involves working with your team to develop clear workplans that set productivity expectations and ensure the successful delivery of project outcomes. You’ll also oversee the professional development of team members, providing guidance and support to foster a positive and motivated team culture

Additionally, you'll act as an advocate for Unfold at external events, creatively communicating our service offerings to partners and stakeholders, and representing Unfold within the community to build strong and lasting relationships.

This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about making a tangible impact in the lives of young people

About You

At Unfold we value diversity in thinking and experience, and lived experience of some of the issues our service users experience will be an asset.  We strongly welcome applications from people from the global majority, women and other groups that are less often represented at senior levels.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in developing and managing projects for vulnerable children, young people, and their families.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of performance managing and motivating teams.
• Excellent organisational and multitasking abilities, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written), with the ability to connect with diverse audiences.
• Experience in developing programme strategies and workplans.
• A passion for supporting young people and families, with empathy for those facing challenging situations.
• Committed to social justice and Unfold’s mission, vision, and values.
• Confident public speaker with experience presenting to various audiences.

​Working at Unfold 

Holidays: 25 working days (along with additional Christmas closedown days)   

Pension: We offer generous pension provision: New staff are automatically enrolled for a pension after three months, and after six months we will match your contribution up to a maximum of 8%.   

Salary: We are committed to paying the London Living Wage in line with the Living Wage Foundation and review salaries annually.  

Team working: We are a small but brilliant team: we're supportive, diverse and we help each other out. There are always opportunities to get involved in different aspects of the organisation, or lead on new initiatives. 

Wellbeing - How we feel matters: Staff have access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, and our staff Wellbeing Champions support the delivery of our Wellbeing Strategy.  Staff can join free on-site yoga classes, monthly massages and regular ‘Drinks and Links’ sessions with the team and colleagues in similar organisations. 

Flexible working: We're happy to consider flexible working arrangements in line with the requirements of the role.  

Hybrid Working: We usually work from the office for at least two days a week between Tuesday and Thursday. Sometimes you may need to work from the office or other London locations on other days.

Ecofriendly, Modern Offices: We work in a beautiful, accessible, eco-friendly co-working space with a number of other charities, with plants, a leafy roof terrace, free hot and cold drinks, breakfast cereals and fruit. With comfortable spaces to read quietly or talk in a group, our workspace is somewhere you'll want to be. You can find out more about our on-site benefits by visiting the Fivefields website.