Programme Manager (Scotland) in Greater London

Change Please is an award‑winning social enterprise. Since launching from a single cart in Covent Garden in 2015, we have grown into an international business operating across four countries. Through the sale of our coffee to large and global organisations, we generate profit to fund barista training, living wage employment and holistic support for people experiencing homelessness. Our work enables individuals to access housing, therapy, financial wellbeing support and onward employment opportunities. We exist to do business better, partnering with organisations to turn social value commitments into measurable impact.

As we continue to expand our employment programmes nationally, we are looking for a Programme Manager (Scotland) to lead and develop our work across Scotland.

Role Objective

The Regional Programme Manager Scotland will lead the delivery and development of the Change Please Impact programme across Scotland, with a focus on Glasgow and Edinburgh. The role will manage the full trainee journey from referral through to training, placement, employment and sustained support, while building the local partnerships needed for the programme to grow.

Location

This role will be based within commuting distance of Glasgow and Edinburgh with travel to other locations across Scotland and Northern England likely. There will also be some travel to London occasionally involving an overnight stay. We recognise the importance of balancing work with personal and family commitments, and we will always aim to consider requests for flexibility wherever reasonably possible.

Reporting

This role reports to the Head of Impact, with regular interaction across the Impact and Support teams, as well as wider stakeholders across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day delivery of the Scotland Impact programme, ensuring a clear and consistent pathway for trainees across Glasgow and Edinburgh.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with referral partners, including charities, homelessness services, Job Centres, local authorities and community organisations.
• Manage referrals into the programme, assessing candidates for suitability, work-readiness, support needs, and the most appropriate next step.
• Work with referral partners to support candidates who are not yet ready, providing feedback, signposting, and guidance around future engagement.
• Coordinate the trainee journey, including induction, training preparation, attendance, rotas, practical work experience, and progression planning.
• Support the supervision and development of trainees undertaking placements within the Edinburgh WeWork site as well as manage the Lead barista trainer working at WeWork as well as any cover needed for absences.
• Maintain regular engagement with trainees, employers and Change Please colleagues to monitor progress, address challenges and maximise successful transitions into employment.
• Work closely with the London Impact team, training team, and wider Change Please colleagues to ensure the Scotland programme is aligned to our wider model and quality standards.
• Act as the key coordinator for trainee support in Scotland, working closely with Change Please's central Support Team, Safeguarding Leads and Training Team to ensure a consistent and joined-up approach across all trainees journeys.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are identified, recorded and escalated appropriately in line with Change Please safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Plan and deliver employability support, including CV writing, interview preparation, confidence building, presentation skills, and mock interviews.
• Develop relationships with work placement and employment partners, securing paid work experience, placements, internships, immersive work experience and permanent job opportunities.
• Assess trainees for onward employment or placement opportunities at the earliest appropriate stage, ensuring they are matched to the right pathway and employer.
• Provide ongoing support to trainees and employers during placements and onward employment, reducing support over time as individuals become more settled and independent.
• Provide supervision, guidance and support to local staff, contractors, volunteers or placement support resources as required.
• Support the identification of opportunities for programme growth and partnership development across Scotland.
• Manage agreed local programme activity and resources effectively, including trainee expenses, travel costs, local events or engagement activity where required.
• Represent Change Please professionally across Scotland, acting as a key regional contact for partners, employers, and stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate records of referrals, trainee progress, partner activity and outcomes to support reporting, learning and impact measurement.
• Produce regular reports on programme activity, outcomes, placements and impact measures to support organisational reporting, learning and funding requirements.
• Support the development and future operation of a Change Please training academy in Scotland, providing overall oversight of programme delivery, trainee experience, stakeholder relationships and site performance, while working closely with operational staff responsible for the day-to-day running of the café.
• Identify risks, gaps and opportunities within the Scotland programme, contributing to its continued improvement and growth.
• Coordinate support plans with internal specialists and external agencies where appropriate, ensuring trainees are connected to the most suitable services while maintaining professional boundaries and focusing on progression towards training and employment.
• Future management of a training provision in one of the large cities owing to future strategy.

About You

• Experience managing people, projects or local programmes.
• Knowledge of coffee, barista training or the hospitality sector.
• Understanding of employability, homelessness or third sector services in Scotland.
• Experience building relationships with referral partners, employers or local stakeholders.
• Ability to travel regularly across Scotland’s central belt, particularly Glasgow and Edinburgh, with occasional wider travel as required.
• Experience supporting people with barriers to work into training, placements or employment.
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice and professional boundaries when working with adults who may be at risk.
• Experience working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams and engaging effectively with specialist support services.

Package

• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: £37,000–£39,000 per annum, dependent on experience
• Working Pattern: 40 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
• Location: Scotland (with regular travel across Glasgow and Edinburgh, occasional travel to other locations and London)

A Note About This Role

This job description outlines the main responsibilities of the role but is not intended to be an exhaustive list. As a growing and ambitious organisation, Change Please operates in a fast-paced environment where priorities can evolve. We are looking for someone who is adaptable, proactive and committed to our mission, who is willing to take on additional responsibilities where reasonably required.

Equal Opportunities

Change Please is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities and are particularly keen to hear from individuals from underrepresented communities.

Safeguarding Statement

Change Please is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all clients, many of whom may be adults at risk. All employees are expected to share this commitment and to uphold safe, professional and responsible working practices at all times. The successful candidate will be required to undergo appropriate pre-employment checks, including references, right to work verification and membership of, or eligibility to join, the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme, where applicable.