Service Manager for Play and Youth Services in Bristol

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Bristol is at a pivotal moment. We are investing in a bold, city-wide ambition to ensure every young person has a safe place to go, someone they trust, and a community where they belong. We are creating a new Service Manager for Play and Youth Services to drive this vision; leading the further development of an inclusive and impactful Youth Offer for our diverse and creative city.

As the Service Manager for Play and Youth Services you will lead the co-design and delivery of Bristol’s new Youth Strategy, aligning local ambition with national policy and regional partnerships. You will build on partnerships in existence across the council, voluntary sector, health, police, education and communities, placing young people’s voice and influence at the heart of everything you do.

You will have a key role to play in driving innovation across our developing youth hubs, digital provision and targeted early help approaches, using insight and evidence to improve quality, impact and equity across the city. You will play a critical role in delivering Bristol’s shift towards a neighbourhood-based prevention model, ensuring young people can access the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

Bristol’s diverse voluntary and community youth sector works collaboratively with Bristol City Council to deliver our Youth Offer. We have strong partnerships and significant new investment, including Youth Futures Hubs, the 224 Youth Zone and in workforce development. But we know more is needed. Young people tell us they want more safe spaces, trusted adults and meaningful opportunities and we are determined to respond.

This role gives you the platform to rebuild and strengthen the city’s youth infrastructure, champion inclusion, tackle inequality, and help create a cohesive, ambitious Youth Strategy for 2027 and beyond. You will bring strong leadership experience in youth work, community services or prevention and a track record of delivering strategic change and partnership working with a passion for co-production and empowering young people’s voices.

You will have a deep understanding of the youth service sector, safeguarding and inclusive practice and the ability to influence across complex systems and drive measurable impact. If you are passionate about Bristol’s children and young people and in working collaboratively to ensure that all children and young people can thrive, belong and succeed, regardless of their background, we would love to hear from you.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below. To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

Closing Date for this role is: 14/06/2026

We're a Disability Confident employer. We value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For more information about the role or for an informal chat, please contact Lucy Watkins – Lucy.watkins@bristol.gov.uk

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.