ROLE PROFILE:
Chief Operating Officer

1

POST:

Chief Operating Officer

SALARY:

Competitive (to be agreed during recruitment)

LOCATION:
Warrington Youth Zone, Dallam Lane, Warrington, WA3 7NG

REPORTING TO:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

CONTRACT:
Permanent Contract 40 hours per week

BENEFITS:
3% matched contribution pension; 33 days holiday inclusive of Bank Holidays, Health Shield (Health
Care plan), Agile Working policy, Employee Assistance Programme

THE ROLE

APPLICATION PROCESS

External applicants – To apply, please complete
the application form and return with your CV to:
recruitment@wyz.org.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 11th January 2026

Interviews will take place:
Between 19th-21st January 2026

In addition, please do let us know of any
reasonable adjustments we can make to assist
you in your application or the selection process.

In accordance with our Child Protection and
Safeguarding procedures, this position requires
an Enhanced DBS check.

For information regarding how Warrington
Youth Zone processes your data, go to
https://warringtonyouthzone.org/privacy-
policy/

As a member of the SLT (Senior Leadership
Team) the Chief Operating Officer will work
closely with the CEO and Senior Managers to
ensure the Charity delivers the vision and
Strategic Objectives.   You will drive and execute
the Youth Zone’s operational plans and deliver on
the annual business plan.   You will take
responsibility for the offer to young people
ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of
the offer to young people.

WHAT SUCCESS WILL LOOK LIKE

The successful candidate, in the first 12 months,
will:
•  Build on the success of the current strategy

and delivery plan.

•  Deputise for CEO by engaging with a wider

set of external stakeholders.

•  Built relationships both internally and

externally in order to meet the Charity goals.
•  Have a strong understanding and contribution

to the Risk Register

•  Lead on proactively managing the team to

live the WYZ values.

•  Work closely with SLT to ensure the charity is

fully compliant with all relevant
requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Provide Strategic Leadership and management of every aspect of Warrington Youth

Zones Day to day operations in line with the direction of the CEO, requirements of the
Board of Trustees and the Strategic Plan

•  Provide strategic direction and offer proactive challenge and support to continuously

drive-up standards across

o  Service Delivery for children and young people.
o  Targeted Operations
o  Facilities

•  Actively manage and monitor budgets as assigned

•  Support the CEO to further develop and embed the Risk Register for Warrington

Youth Zone so the Senior Leadership Team and Board members can easily identify
major issues and ensure effective mitigation procedures are in place and regularly
reviewed

•  Work closely with the SLT to ensure the Charity is fully compliant with all relevant

reporting requirements and ensure necessary processes and procedures are in place
including.

o  Compliance with funding and contractual requirements
o  Compliance with reporting requirements to Board of Trustees
o  Conformance to Data protection legislation
o  Conformance of facilities and operation to Health and Safety legislation
o  Compliance with all HR Legislation

•  Be responsible for the line management of our Head of Youth Work and Head of

Targeted Programmes

•  To support the Facilities Team to ensure that the Youth Zone is maintained to the

highest standards at all times

•  To take a proactive lead in ensuring that Safeguarding is at the forefront of everyone’s
practice.  Ensuring that all team members and volunteers are aware of the importance
of being alert to safeguarding and child protection issues.

•  Act as one of the Organisations Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) following the

internal safeguarding policies, procedures and practice.

•  Be a role model for young people and present a positive ‘can do’ attitude

•  To assist with any promotional activities and visits that take place at or outside of the

Youth Zone

•  To undertake any reasonably required duties as instructed by the CEO in addition to

the role specific tasks and responsibilities

•  To adhere to all Warrington Youth Zones policies at all times with particular reference

to Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

•  To represent the organisation at various forums and events on a local, regional and

national basis in coordination with the CEO

•  Chair and coordinate the weekly Operations Meetings ensuring that the events taking
place at the Youth Zone on a daily basis are coordinated and communicated and
prevent diary clashes.

•  Coordinate projects and programmes in partnership with the Chief Executive to

ensure effective delivery.

•  To coordinate events run at the Youth Zone and by the Youth Zone in other locations

across the borough

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the experience, skills, abilities and attributes
listed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

REQUIREMENT

EXPERIENCE
Managing teams to excel in the social care sector using tools such as
OKRS or KPIs to maximise the impact of team members work
Proven track record of working in the Safeguarding arena and with the
ability and experience of acting as a DSL providing advice and guidance
to team members on Safeguarding issues
Ability and experience of managing people and performance issues
including managing disciplinary processes
Ability and experience of managing multiple workstreams
simultaneously to achieve the highest standards
Experience of championing Youth Voice and involving young people in
decision making processes
Understanding of the process and theory of Youth Work
Experience of using the CRM system Salesforce
Experience of operational management of a large multipurpose facility

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTRIBUTES
Understanding of grant funded programmes and the process of
applying for and securing funding through Grants and Trusts
Ability to calculate and compile budgets for projects forecasting and using
a full cost recovery model
Ability of managing budgets and forecasting and predicting
variances
Ability to manage health and safety issues and take remedial action
as required
Ability to manage complex safeguarding cases working across multiple
agencies
Ability to coordinate teams and meetings effectively with clear
communication and outcomes clearly identified at the end of each
meeting
Ability to plan new projects and programmes in respond to issues
which are identified
Have a ‘can do’ attitude with the ability to seek the solution rather than
focus on the problem
Ability to support fundraising events and activities

QUALIFICATIONS
Degree of equivalent in Social Work or Youth Work
Ongoing training in Safeguarding and Child Protection
Qualification in Leadership and Management

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Able to work evenings, weekends, school holidays and bank holidays as
required
Ability and flexibility to be a point of call on weekends, evenings,
schools’ holidays and Bank Holidays
To act as a key holder for the building taking responsibility for the
opening and closing of the building as required

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