Project Manager, Early Years (London)

£33,000 per year pro rata (0.5 FTE) / £16,500 per year. Part-time, 17.5 hours per week. Fixed-term contract for one year. Based in London SW8 / home and flexible working.

What you’ll be doing:

Supporting literacy in the early years is one of our key strategic priorities, ensuring every child starts school with language and communication skills ready to grow and learn at school. You will be responsible for delivering our early years programmes, which support children aged 0-5, their families and the early years practitioners and other professionals involved with their development. You will manage a variety of early years projects, which will involve training and supporting local practitioners across a range of settings, working with partners and volunteers to deliver events and activities directly to children and families, and ensuring our work meets key milestones and targets. Working with our Early Years Programme Managers, you will support the ongoing development and expansion of this work. You will also work collaboratively with colleagues in our communities and communications to deliver our Early Words Matter campaign, which aims to empower families, improve provision and strengthen systems. You will be contracted to our office in London, but this role is suitable for home and flexible working, with the majority of your work carried out from home if you would prefer. However, you will need to be available to travel to London for staff and team days, as well as to support project delivery and partnerships. This could be around a day a week on average, although at times it will be a lot less, and unfortunately, we are unable to cover travel costs for this.

What we’re looking for:

You will have recent experience of working in or with early years settings, or in an education or charity organisation working in the sector. You will also need a thorough understanding of early childhood development from birth to five, as well as excellent project management skills. Experience of event planning and delivery, as well as working with volunteers in the community, would be an advantage. This role is also subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with our safeguarding policy and safer recruitment procedures.

Why our work is so vital:

Literacy changes everything. It gives you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. It’s the key to knowledge, confidence and inspiration. It’s better results at school, and better jobs. If children grow up without the tools to communicate, without books to read or opportunities to write, it’s harder to get where you want to go. The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity helping people overcome these challenges and change their life chances through the power of words – reading, writing, speaking and listening. From first words, through school days to training, jobs and beyond. We work collaboratively in local communities, focusing our work in 20 areas of the UK that are facing the biggest challenges. We support schools, developing the most effective tools and techniques and providing resources and programmes to engage and inspire children. We campaign to make literacy a priority for politicians and decision-makers. We support vulnerable adults, people in the criminal justice system and young offenders’ institutions to build their literacy skills.

What we offer you:

Our team are passionate about our mission, and we have a strong and positive working culture, based on shared values and respect. We offer a range of flexible working options and promote a workplace where you can be yourself and contribute to our success, whoever you are. As well as a competitive salary, we offer benefits including a generous leave allowance totalling 39 days (including bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year), pension contributions of 8% of annual salary, a cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme and other health and wellbeing benefits.

Application details:

Our people are our most important asset, and we value and respect diversity in all its forms (seen and unseen). We particularly welcome applications from those from Black and Asian backgrounds, as well as candidates with disabilities and from the communities in which we work. We would like to increase the representation of these groups among our staff, as we know greater diversity will lead to an even greater impact for our work. To apply, select the Apply button shown. Closing date: 10am, Thursday 21 May 2026. Please note, we do not accept CVs. No agencies or recruitment sites. Registered charity no. 1116260 (England and Wales) and SC042944 (Scotland).