Director of Youth Work

XLP is a youth work charity working to create positive futures for young people and at the cutting edge of tackling poverty and educational failure in inner London. We deliver holistic, long-term work with young people aged 11 to 25 in schools and communities.

This is an opportunity to join a dynamic leadership team delivering a large variety of youth work projects across nine boroughs in London. Your role will provide effective and visionary leadership and strategic direction for our growing Youth Work team, currently made up of 50 youth workers and apprentices, helping to create a team and culture that listens to young people's voices and is committed to continuous learning and development. As a charity that has grown from £2m to £3m in recent years, this is a significant time for XLP as we look to professionalise our offer, and press into impact, line management, accountability and safeguarding.

You will lead on the processes, system and culture changes we require as a growing charity to ensure all activities are safe, carried out to an excellent standard and meet the budgetary and contractual requirements of the organisation.

The successful candidate will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and will sit on the XLP Executive Team, alongside a Director of People and Operations, a Deputy Director of Youth Work, and a Director of Fundraising and Comms, to ensure XLP’s overall strategic objectives and desired outcomes are met. ​

We’re keen to increase the diversity of our Executive Team and Senior Management Team. We particularly encourage applications from women and from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates.​

About you

Key Skills:

• Experience of working in senior leadership in an organisation at least of similar size and complexity and a track record of seeing strategic vision become a reality.
• Substantial understanding of youth work (with 11-18 year olds), particularly the difficulties facing and experienced by young people living in an inner-city environment.  
• Core knowledge of relevant national guidance for work with young people.
• Knowledge of relevant safe practices and processes for delivering youth work programmes.
• Substantial experience of strategic youth work programme design, development and evaluation, and impact management.
• Knowledge and experience of delivering projects in partnership with community youth organisations.
• Experience in building, developing, managing and leading teams effectively, focusing on results delivery.
• Demonstrable project management skills, with a track record of successful delivery.
• Experience of managing budgets.
• Experience in public speaking and delivering training.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and non-verbal), which inspire confidence, contribute to and further a culture of excellence.
• Work in sympathy with our values and approach to our work.
• Able to influence and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Organised, flexible, agile and responsive, with a focus on results.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Useful if you have:

• Qualification in youth work, or equivalent experience.
• Experience of leading child protection and safeguarding within a youth work context.

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave, with 3 additional days between Christmas and New Year
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing training and development
• Supportive and flexible work environment
• Diverse and inclusive culture
• Generous sick and compassionate leave policies
• Enhanced maternity leave policy

How To Apply

Please click the link to apply via our website. You'll be asked to complete a short form and upload a CV and personal statement. Applications close on Friday 12th July at 12pm (midday). Please note, we reserve the right to close applications early if a suitable candidate is found.