Area Manager (Pathways for Progression) in Hastings

Be part of something transformational in Hastings:

CXK has an exciting opportunity for an experienced manager to lead Pathways for Progression, a pioneering youth-led project funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. The project will empower young people aged 15 to 18 to develop their confidence and leadership skills, influence local decision-making and help create more inclusive pathways into education, employment and training across Hastings.

You will coordinate delivery across the project’s three interconnected strands, manage and support the project team, oversee budgets, performance, evaluation and funder reporting, and ensure activities achieve their intended outcomes. You will also lead engagement with local employers, supporting businesses and young people to work together to improve career pathways, employment opportunities and inclusive recruitment practices.

We are looking for a motivated and collaborative person with experience of managing multi-strand delivery, developing effective partnerships and turning ideas into structured activity and measurable impact. You will be committed to genuine youth leadership, ensuring young people are not simply consulted but are supported to shape priorities, test approaches and influence local systems and services.

If you can combine strong project management with relationship-building, employer engagement and a passion for creating fairer opportunities for young people, we would love to hear from you.

CXK is a leading youth and careers charity supporting children, young people and adults across the South East. Registered Charity No. 1120755.

Job Purpose

• Lead and coordinate delivery across all three project strands, ensuring activities are effectively planned, resourced and delivered against agreed outcomes.
• Manage and support the project team, enabling Youth Leaders and Youth Ambassadors to shape, test and deliver activities safely and effectively.
• Lead employer engagement with local businesses and supporting their involvement in career activities, inclusive recruitment initiatives and opportunities for young people.
• Oversee performance, risk, safeguarding, financial monitoring, data quality and funder reporting, ensuring delivery meets CXK and grant requirements.
• Lead impact monitoring, evaluation and learning, using evidence and feedback to improve delivery and demonstrate the project’s achievements and wider influence.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Coordinate delivery across all project strands, ensuring activities are effectively planned, resourced and completed against agreed timescales, budgets and outcomes.
• Manage and support the project team through regular supervision, performance oversight and development, promoting collaborative and consistently high-quality delivery.
• Lead employer engagement, building relationships with local businesses and coordinating their involvement in career mapping, employer encounters and youth-led activities.
• Work with employers and young people to develop and test inclusive recruitment approaches, career resources, training and practical tools that improve access to employment.
• Enable Youth Leaders and Youth Ambassadors to shape project priorities, co-design activities, test approaches and influence local employers and decision-makers.

• Coordinate engagement with schools, colleges, community organisations and strategic partners to support participation, partnership working and wider system influence.
• Monitor project performance, expenditure, risks and delivery against agreed outcomes, implementing timely action to ensure progress meets expectations.
• Oversee accurate data collection, impact measurement and funder reporting, ensuring achievements, learning and participant feedback are clearly evidenced.
• Coordinate monthly learning cycles and the independent evaluation, using findings and feedback to adapt delivery, strengthen quality and share effective practice.
• Ensure all activity complies with safeguarding, data protection, equality, health and safety, financial controls and CXK’s quality requirements.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be required from time to time. The duties may be changed and/or varied to meet changing circumstances at the discretion of Management.

All appointees will be subject to an enhanced DBS Check.

Recruitment Timeline

Vacancy closing date: Monday 26th October 2026

Application review date: Tuesday 207h October 2026

Interview dates from: 5th & 6th November 2026

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