Youth Engagement Manager Edinburgh V547

Location: St Thomas of Aquins RC High School, Edinburgh

Contract Type: Fixed Term – August 2025 - June 2026

Hours: 21 hours

Salary: £15,375 (FTE £25,625)

DBS/PVG: PVG

Start Date: Aug 2025

Role Purpose

Brighter Futures works with pupils (aged 13-18), offering disadvantaged pupils struggling to engage with the regular school curriculum the opportunity to undertake a volunteering placement as well as the option of having a mentor. We support and empower pupils to gain skills and confidence in a new environment within the wider community, promoting a sense of belonging, whilst extending horizons and aspirations.

We are looking for a talented, dynamic, and compassionate Youth Engagement Manager to join our team in Edinburgh. The right candidate would be someone who can work flexibly and demonstrate an understanding and total commitment to our organisational values. This role will be working in partnership with St Thomas of Aquins R.C High School, and the member of staff will be expected to work within the school.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• To build relationships with secondary school pupils, particularly those on flexible timetables, who have complex and challenging barriers, acting in a non-judgemental way to support them through their Brighter Futures journey.
• Consistently role modelling and displaying Volunteering Matters organisational values.
• Deliver and develop the Brighter Futures Schools programme within St Thomas of Aquins R.C High School, meeting ambitious targets and milestones, ensuring all young people engaged achieve positive outcomes.
• Provide pre and post volunteering practical and emotional support to each pupil, helping to build their confidence and identify achievable goals as well as support the pupil to complete awards and qualifications linked to their volunteering.
• Engaging with current charity partners, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises and developing new ones in line with our Best Practice for under 18’s volunteering.
• Develop diverse, high quality and bespoke volunteer placements with third sector partners that reflect the needs and interests of pupils.
• Effective recruitment, selection, training, and ongoing support of a diverse pool of talented and dedicated volunteer mentors from a wide cross-section of the community.
• To maintain Volunteering Matters standards around quality and effective Volunteer Management.
• To manage all elements of a young person’s experience, from referral to completion of their journey, including managing the match with their mentor.
• To manage the risk assessment, safeguarding, quality assurance and audit processes as appropriate.
• Ensure monitoring, impact and evaluation information is collected and that Brighter Futures meets its agreed targets, reporting format and schedule.
• Administration tasks including maintaining effective and accessible records, the use of Microsoft Office, Teams, Zoom and other software such as Canva (used to develop relevant promotional material and information).
• To work with the wider school to help develop our Volunteer Champions program with S5-S6 pupils, as well as promoting Youth Social Action within the school.

This job description is intended to include the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but while some variations will be expected, these will be at an appropriate level for the role.

Skills / Knowledge Required

• Excellent knowledge & understanding of the life challenges and issues that young people face in Scottish society including an understanding of “The Promise” as well as understanding of trauma informed practice.
• An understanding of the Secondary education system in Scotland.
• An understanding of how to assess the needs of an individual using a person-centred approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including being able to have strategic conversations with partners and stakeholders one minute, and talk to an anxious or unsure young person the next.
• Excellent people skills with the ability to build professional, long-term relationships with various stakeholders, to influence and motivate others.
• Excellent organisational skills including strong attention to detail, the ability to manage a busy workload, and prioritise effectively.
• Excellent IT skills including the use of Office 365, Microsoft Teams and other software packages.
• A creative approach to problem solving, an ability to work independently and use own initiative.
• Ability to think on your feet, act quickly and respond to situations as well as demonstrate common sense and initiative.
• The post holder should be non-judgemental, competent, conscientious and self-aware.

Experience Required

• Experience working directly with young people, specifically those that have barriers or who face life challenges.
• Experience of working within a school or in partnership with one.
• Experience in all aspects of effective Volunteer Management (recruitment, training, support).
• Experience developing strong working relationships, with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience of project management, achieving goals, managing a busy workload and working to deadlines.
• Experience of measuring the impact of mentoring/volunteering, and understanding the results.
• Understanding of and full commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Qualifications Required

Relevant experience and values alignment is more important for this role than specific qualifications.

Location: A large part of your working week will be based at St Thomas of Aquins R.C High School or visiting our charity partner sites across the city. During school holidays you will have the opportunity to work from home. The postholder will require good internet access to enable remote working, and a suitable home office space. I.T. equipment and infrastructure will be supplied.

PVG

This role requires membership of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme. We will support you to become a PVG member if you are not already. Having a conviction will not necessarily cause a bar to employment.

Our Values & Way of Working:

In all that we do, we embrace a philosophy of ‘Freedom within a Framework’ and are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.

Diversity & Inclusion

Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments:

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the “Experience/Skills” section of this advert. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process.

Benefits

Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work), Unlimited Annual Leave, Employee Pension scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan, Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced sick and family leave. We are also open to discuss job share applications.

GDPR Statement

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to 6 months. We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.