Strategic Lead – Youth, Play and Participation

Strategic Lead – Youth, Play and Participation

Full-Time 63832 - 63832 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic initiatives to enhance youth participation and influence in Sandwell.
  • Company: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, dedicated to improving lives of children and young people.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and the chance to make a real impact.
  • Other info: Join a collaborative team committed to delivering the best outcomes for residents.
  • Why this job: Shape the future for young people and ensure their voices are heard.
  • Qualifications: Degree level education or equivalent experience in youth service leadership.

The predicted salary is between 63832 - 63832 £ per year.

Sandwell is committed to ensuring that children and young people live happy, safe, healthy and successful lives. We are ambitious about strengthening our youth offer, amplifying young people’s voices, and working with partners to deliver meaningful opportunities across our communities. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for shaping and delivering Sandwell’s strategic approach to Youth, Play and Participation. You will work across the Council and with partners to ensure children and young people can access high-quality informal education and leisure opportunities and actively influence the services that affect them.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide strategic leadership for Youth, Play and Participation, ensuring sufficient, high-quality provision across Sandwell.
  • Design and deliver borough-wide strategies that increase participation, youth voice and influence (e.g. Youth Council, Area Forums).
  • Lead commissioning and performance management of youth provision, including targeted programmes such as Holiday Activities and Food.
  • Build and maintain strong partnerships across statutory, voluntary and community sectors.
  • Ensure compliance with statutory duties, safeguarding requirements and health and safety standards.

Essential Requirements:

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent experience, including leadership of youth service provision.
  • Proven experience of leading large-scale services or programmes, including managing budgets and teams.
  • Strong track record of partnership working across multi-agency environments.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence across political and organisational boundaries.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of the Youth, Play and Participation sector and relevant policy and legislative context.

About You:

We are looking for an ambitious and values-driven leader who can drive change and deliver improved outcomes for children and young people. You will bring strategic insight, strong leadership capability and a commitment to partnership working. You will be confident operating in a complex political environment, able to build trust with elected Members, partners and communities, and passionate about ensuring young people’s voices shape the services they receive.

Our Offer:

At Sandwell, we are proud of our One Team approach, working collaboratively to deliver the best outcomes for our residents. We are committed to being inclusive, ambitious, accountable and customer-focused in everything we do. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence provision at a strategic level and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people across Sandwell.

Strategic Lead – Youth, Play and Participation employer: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment. With a strong commitment to the well-being of children and young people, employees have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while benefiting from professional growth, comprehensive support, and a culture that values ambition and accountability. Located in the vibrant West Midlands, this role offers a unique chance to lead strategic initiatives that shape the future of youth services in the community.

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Contact Details:

Kirklees Metropolitan Council Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Strategic Lead – Youth, Play and Participation

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We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Lead – Youth, Play and Participation

Strategic Leadership
Youth Service Provision
Partnership Working
Budget Management
Team Management
Communication Skills
Influencing Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!

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How to prepare for a job interview at Kirklees Metropolitan Council

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