Inspire Address: Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9QX Salary: £30,398 - £42,724 per annum Hours: 37.5 hours per week Contract: Maternity / Paternity Cover (12 month fixed-term contract). Required from Mid-August 2026 Reference: 0751 Inspire i s seeking a Head of Services / Designated Safeguarding Lead. This is a key leadership role within Inspire, responsible for providing both strategic and operational oversight of all youth-facing services. You’ll lead 5 Service Leads across our core areas of: youth and community work wellbeing personal development skills employer partnerships. Working closely with the CEO and wider SLT, you’ll ensure our services are high-quality, impactful, and centred around the needs of young people. You’ll also act as our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), playing a vital role in maintaining a strong safeguarding culture across the organisation. You will be responsible for: line management responsibility of our team of service leads, creating a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement strategic oversight of service delivery, ensuring alignment with Inspire’s vision and strategic priorities budget responsibility acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring best practice and compliance across all services using insight, data, and youth voice to demonstrate quality and impact of services building strong relationships with funders, partners, and stakeholders contributing to organisational strategy and planning as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. You will need to: have experience leading youth-focused services and driving impactful delivery have management experience have strong safeguarding knowledge and experience be able to manage budgets, contracts, and funding relationships effectively be insight-driven, using data and feedback to improve services be able to build strong partnerships and work collaboratively have a genuine passion for supporting young people to reach their potential. About us At Inspire, we support thousands of young people each year to build confidence, develop skills, and move forward positively in their lives. Everything we do is shaped by our commitment to being led by youth, driven by insight, and growing with purpose. We are now looking for a Head of Services and Designated Safeguarding Lead (maternity/paternity cover) to join our Senior Leadership Team and continue leading our delivery across Suffolk during this period. We will offer you Join our fantastic team at Inspire and enjoy a range of benefits to enhance your own well-being, improve your work-life balance and most importantly make a difference to the lives of the young people we work with. Here is what makes us a great place to work: Career development: We invest in your future with access to training and opportunities for career advancement within the organisation Your birthday off! After a successful probation period you will be awarded an additional day’s leave to celebrate your birthday so you can enjoy your special day without having to worry about work Gifted leave: We understand the importance of quality time with loved ones and that is why we gift additional annual leave over the Christmas period to staff, allowing you to fully enjoy the festive break Annual leave and Pension contributions accrual: We recognise and reward your commitment. The longer you stay, the more annual leave and pension contributions you will accrue because loyalty deserves to be celebrated Childcare support: We understand and recognise the importance of family and that’s why we offer your children free places (aged between 5-11 years) at our holiday clubs, making it easier for you to balance your work and family life Uniform: We make sure you feel part of the team with a professional, high-quality uniform provided at no cost to you free parking: Enjoy the convenience of free car parking at all of our sites. We believe in equality, diversity and inclusion. We are committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all. How to apply If you’re ready to take on a senior leadership role where you can influence real change for young people, we’d love to hear from you. Please email your CV and covering letter to Andy Crump, CEO at andyc@inspirecharityuk.org Closing date: 5 pm, 8 June 2026. Interview date: 29 June 2026 and 7 July 2026.