Director of youth development and outdoor learning

Role Description

Do you want to support young people to create better outcomes for themselves and for their communities? Are you passionate about youth development and outdoor learning?

Tall Ships Youth Trust is in year 4 of its 5-year growth strategy and you will play a pivotal part in making it a success. Our key focus as a charity is to empower young people to realise their full potential, supporting them on their journey to adulthood and for some, careers in the maritime sector and the blue economy.

This exciting role will create young people pathways across multiple voyage experiences in the unique ocean environment. Through a combination of outdoor learning and sail training frameworks you will engage educational and youth leaders, apprenticeship providers and sector corporate partners to establish multiple pathways for young people in the UK.

You will also lead Tall Ships Youth Trust on its journey towards appropriate Kite marks, accreditation and quality marks to establish our credentials in the youth development and outdoor learning sectors. Ultimately, attracting funding and support from government, public and private sources.

If you are passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people – who need our support now more than ever – we’d love to hear from you!

This role offers hybrid working, with attendance at our Portsmouth Hub expected two to three days per week.

Experience

• Extensive youth development, outdoor learning and education experience at a senior leadership level
• Experience of developing and implementing young people pathways, apprenticeships and employment opportunities.
• DoE Assessor and training plan development.
• Extensive Safeguarding, DBS and SEND knowledge, and framework implementation.
• Experience of budget responsibility.
• Effective listener, engager and relator to young people and adults from a diverse range of backgrounds and identities.
• Knowledge and implementation of GDPR, data privacy and data management best practice.
• Experience in sales, business development, or commercial income generation.
• Ability to balance charitable mission, impact and commercial sustainability in a client-facing leadership role.
• Experience of aligning business development and programme growth with fundraising priorities, including identifying opportunities in locations linked to geographically restricted funding.

What We Offer

• Salary: Up to £55,000PA (depending on experience)
• Flexible, hybrid working
• 25 days annual holiday entitlement, increasing with length of service, plus bank holidays
• An additional paid 30-minute wellbeing break per 7.5hr day
• Death in service insurance
• Opportunities to experience time on our vessels and see the impact of our programmes
• Discounted local parking permit and casual dress

Equal Opportunities

Tall Ships Youth Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the young people and communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone with the skills and experience for the role, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, and particularly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience relevant to the young people we support.