Youth and Play Service Manager in London

Location: London

Schedule: Full-time

Salary Range: (Full time equivalent) - £59,526 - £74,040

Contract Type: Permanent

Why Southwark? In Southwark, we’re proud to be a borough that’s ambitious for its people and its place — and determined to tackle inequality and injustice. That commitment shapes how we work, how we lead, and how we serve our communities. Our Youth and Play Service is central to that ambition. It includes three youth centres and three adventure playgrounds, a large and diverse commissioning programme, and Southwark’s key youth voice structures — including the Youth Parliament and our borough-wide Youth Digital Hub — so young people can shape decisions and access positive opportunities.

Southwark isn’t standing still. We continue to invest in young people and the buildings that support them, with capital investment in youth centres and adventure playgrounds alongside strong commissioning and partnership work. For leaders in the sector, this is a chance to shape high-profile community assets and see your ideas translated into real, felt improvements for young people and communities. This is a role for someone who believes that every young person should feel they belong, be safe, be heard, and have access to positive activities and opportunities — and who wants to lead the systems, partnerships and services that make that real at scale. You’ll be joining a council that values openness, accountability and fairness, and that expects its leaders to help make Southwark more equal and just.

What You'll Be Doing

The Youth and Play Service Manager is a senior, borough-shaping leadership role. You’ll be responsible for developing and delivering Youth and Play Services across Southwark, aligning them with corporate priorities and driving continuous improvement. This is a strategic, outward-facing post. You’ll work with key partners across the council and beyond to embed learning from the London Youth Transformation pilot into service improvements — strengthening commissioning, quality assurance and impact, and building young people’s voice into design and decision-making. You’ll lead service planning and redesign and coordinate youth and play programmes so delivery is joined up and effective. You’ll be accountable for the safe, smooth day-to-day running of our direct youth provision, alongside commissioning and grant programmes, procurement activity, and significant capital investment programmes for youth and play buildings. You’ll oversee a portfolio of council owned assets, manage complex risks, and secure external funding opportunities. You’ll also provide professional advice to senior officers and elected members and deputise for the Head of Culture when required.

In this role, you will:

• Set the direction for Youth and Play and lead service improvement, including business planning, service reviews and change programmes that strengthen quality, consistency and outcomes.
• Align in-house delivery, commissioned provision and cross-council activity, building strong partnerships (schools, VCSE, health/public health and others) to deliver a joined-up offer.
• Champion youth voice and co-production, embedding young people’s lived experience in service design, delivery and wider council decision-making.
• Ensure the day-to-day operation of our directly delivered youth centres and adventure playgrounds is safe, well-run and compliant, with strong safeguarding, health & safety and risk management.
• Lead youth and play commissioning, grants and procurement, with robust performance, outcomes and contract management to assure quality, value for money and impact.
• Deliver and de-risk capital investment programmes for youth centres and adventure playgrounds, ensuring buildings are safe, welcoming, fit for purpose and future-ready.
• Source and secure external funding and income opportunities to support sustainability and growth of the youth and play offer.
• Provide clear, confident professional advice to senior officers and elected members on youth and play matters.
• Lead, support and develop your senior management team, creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.

What We're Looking For

We’re looking for a strategic, values‑led leader who combines strong system leadership with a deep understanding of what great youth and play services look like on the ground. You will bring:

• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent through relevant experience, alongside continued professional and leadership development.
• In‑depth knowledge of youth and play services, including current challenges, risks and opportunities, and experience of service redesign and innovation.
• Senior management experience within a large or complex organisation, with responsibility for staff leadership and substantial budgets.
• A strong track record of leading complex programmes and change in a political or partnership environment.
• Experience of commissioning, procurement and contract management, with the confidence to work with a wide range of providers.
• Sound financial management skills, including oversight of revenue budgets of £1m and capital programmes.
• Proven ability to build trusting, productive relationships and influence senior stakeholders across sectors.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including elected members.
• A leadership style that is inclusive, organised and resilient, able to manage competing priorities and uncertainty.
• A strong commitment to equity, inclusion and ensuring that no young person is left behind.

Recruitment Timeline

Closing date: 14 June 2026. Shortlisting: 18 June 2026. Interviews: 7 July 2026.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Benefits

Working for Southwark Council – Southwark There are shift enhancements for out of hours and weekend working associated with this post. Benefits include: 29 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, competitive pension scheme and excellent support for learning and development.

Reports to: Head of Culture.

Leads: Youth and Play Inclusion & Commissioning Manager and Youth and Play Operations Manager (2 direct reports).

Service scope: Youth (11–19; up to 25 with SEN), adventure playgrounds, youth centres, Youth Parliament, Youth Digital Hub, commissioning and grants, cross‑council youth programmes.

Accountability: Safe, smooth day-to-day delivery of direct youth provision; service leadership and improvement; partnership and system leadership; commissioning, procurement and performance/contract management; capital investment and risk across youth and play assets; external funding and financial oversight; senior advice to members and officers; deputising for Head of Culture.