Director of Youth Work and Impact
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About the role:
We are looking for an exceptional Director of Youth Work & Impact to lead our life‑changing work with young people.
As Director of Youth Work & Impact, you will shape and drive the entire youth work offer across both Youth Zones. You’ll lead programme development, ensure delivery is high‑quality and inclusive, and make sure our work has measurable impact on the lives of children and young people aged 8–19 (and up to 25 with additional needs) You will establish and oversee a robust Monitoring & Evaluation framework, to measure outcomes, track delivery against KPIs, and provide clear insights that inform strategic decisions by the CEO and Board.
Alongside this, you will lead safeguarding as Empower’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, manage programme budgets, and provide line management to senior operational staff. Through strong leadership, strategic planning and a commitment to high performance, you will ensure both Youth Zones deliver inspiring, impactful and safe experiences for every young person who walks through our doors, creating opportunities for them to have a voice and influence decisions that affect them
You’ll also be a visible leader across Greater Manchester — representing Empower Youth Zones at key events and meetings, strengthening partnerships and advocating for our work. This is a rare opportunity to be at the heart of a growing movement dedicated to giving every young person the chance to realise their full potential and thrive.
About Empower:
Empower Youth Zones is the charity that oversees the creation, management and sustainability of Youth Zones in Manchester and Salford. These include HideOut Youth Zone located in Gorton (East Manchester) which opened in 2020, and Salford Youth Zone located in Pendleton, which opened to young people in June 2025. HideOut and Salford Youth Zone provide children and young people aged 8-19 and up to 25 for those with additional needs with somewhere safe to go, something positive to do and someone trusted to talk to.
Youth Zones are purpose-built spaces fizzing with energy and crammed with incredible facilities. They are staffed by skilled and dedicated Youth Workers who truly believe in young people – helping them see what they could achieve, and giving them the skills, confidence and ambition to go for it. This is life-changing support that helps tens of thousands of young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to thrive.
HideOut and Salford Youth Zone are part of a national and growing network of Onside Youth Zones. There are currently 17 active Onside Youth Zones across the UK with 22 due to be open by 2026.
How to apply:
Please save the application as YOUR FULL NAME and submit your completed application by email, to recruitment@empoweryouthzones.org
Please include in the subject title the job title of the post you have applied for and your full name.
We review applications on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the role at any time.
Salary: £58,115 – £62,825
Hours: 40 hours per week (including some evenings and weekends)
Location: HideOut Youth Zone (Gorton) and Salford Youth Zone (Pendleton)
Closing Date: 14/05/2026
HideOut Youth Zone:
1 Queens Avenue,
Manchester,
M12 5PX
Salford Youth Zone:
51 Belvedere Rd,
Salford,
M6 5EJ
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