Salary: £40,000
30 days annual leave, 7.5% matched pension contribution
Full-time, permanent contract
Location: Portsmouth
Line manager: CEO (day to day line management) Head of Operations (HR line management)
Job Description
Purpose of role
The Project Manager will lead the continued development and delivery of the Life Chances Programme and related community projects. Working closely with the CEO and supported by the Admin Support Officer, the post holder will coordinate partners, funding, budgets, delivery and impact reporting.
The post holder will manage the full project lifecycle, from identifying opportunities and developing proposals to securing funding, planning delivery, monitoring finances, evaluating outcomes and reporting impact.
Working pattern and travel
This is a full-time role of 35 hours per week, based ideally at the Head Office in Portsmouth with regular time out of the office, travel around the UK and occasional weekend working.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
- Source, assess and develop inclusive opportunities for Naval children and young people across the Life Chances Programme’s Education, Outdoor and Creative themes.
- Manage the Life Chances portfolio from development to completion, evaluating and reporting how activities build confidence, wellbeing, life skills, educational success and a sense of belonging.
- Develop and maintain robust project plans, coordinating delivery partners to achieve agreed activities, milestones, outputs, outcomes and quality standards.
- Work across the Charity to ensure projects comply with safeguarding, due diligence, data protection, financial and operational procedures.
- Liaise with children and young people, parents and carers, and delivery partners to recruit eligible participants, assess suitability, allocate oversubscribed places fairly and manage waiting lists.
- Create and maintain accessible activity information and application processes; process applications accurately through the internal database and ensure participants and families receive timely joining instructions and updates.
- Keep activity information on the website accurate and current, and coordinate promotion through social media and partner networks to maximise reach and engagement.
- Lead and manage the Youth Council, ensuring children and young people help shape programmes and embedding their voice across the Charity’s work.
- Research and source high quality resources and complementary wellbeing initiatives that respond to the needs of Naval children, young people and their families.
Funding
- Liaise and develop positive relationships with Charity stakeholders and project funders.
- Fulfil funders’ monitoring and reporting requirements.
- Support the SLT in planning future project opportunities by contributing to the development of grant funding bids.
Finance
- Support effective financial management, decision making and value for money by developing, monitoring and reporting on project and core operating budgets.
- Maintain accurate financial records for all projects and the Charity’s core operations, including via the Charity’s internal CRM.
Other
- Work with the CEO, Digital Marketing Lead, and wider Charity Team to support the promotion of projects to diverse audiences.
- Any other duties as allocated by the line manager following consultation with the post holder.
- The successful candidate must be willing to attend occasional meetings and events across the UK which will include travel, weekends and overnight stays.
- Produce regular reports to Trustees at Main Board Meetings and other sub-committee meetings.
Person Specification
Essential skills and experience
- Project management qualification (e.g. APM, PMQ or PRINCE2) or equivalent experience.
- Experience of budget management and proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, with willingness to learn new systems.
- At least two years’ successful experience in fundraising, programme management, partnership working or a similar role.
- Strong networking, stewardship, influencing skills, articulate and persuasive written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong emotional intelligence and teamwork, ideally with experience managing complex, multi-partner projects and building partnerships with diverse external stakeholders.
- Initiative, strategic thinking and a creative, practical approach to problem solving and long term planning.
- Experience delivering complex projects to agreed quality, time and budget requirements.
- Experience identifying, securing and managing grant funding.
- Ability to develop and oversee detailed project plans, budgets and monitoring arrangements that support high-quality delivery, effective governance and demonstrable impact.
- Clean UK driving licence
Desirable skills and knowledge
- Experience in sourcing opportunities for children and young people
- Creative and practical approach to problem solving, strategic thinking and long-term planning.
- Ability to analyse project data, identify key findings and produce accurate, persuasive reports for funders, senior leaders and Trustees.
- Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly, accurately and appropriately to different audiences.
- Familiarity with the Royal Navy community and the Service charity sector.
Personal qualities
- Commitment to the Naval Children’s Charity’s values.
- Integrity, honesty and professionalism in all aspects of the role.
- Ability to treat everyone with respect, dignity and fairness.
- Willingness to take responsibility for actions and remain accountable.
- Collaborative and supportive team player.
This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. Duties may change from time to time to reflect the needs of the organisation. The document will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder as the role and the Charity’s services develop.
The Naval Children’s Charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff and associated professionals are expected to share this commitment.
Next steps
To apply, please complete an application form available from our website. Alongside the application form, candidates are asked to send in a letter/ personal statement setting out the values, skills and experience that makes you suitable for this role.
We hope that this candidate recruitment pack has piqued your interest in joining us and we would actively encourage you to have a pre-application chat if you would like to do so. To arrange please contact Sara Smith, Head of Operations sara.smith@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk.
Timeline for the recruitment process for this role is detailed below:
Deadline for applications Friday 6th November
In-person interview Tuesday 24th November
Location: Portsmouth
Applications will be assessed as they are submitted on a rolling basis and recruitment may be closed at any time.
We are committed to finding the best fit for our team and creating a fair, objective recruitment process. Therefore, as part of our selection process, shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete the following assessments provided by Thomas International:
- Personal Profile Analysis (PPA)
- Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEIQue)
- High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTI)
To find out more please visit: https://www.thomas.co/assessments/psychometric-assessment-aptitude-tests
Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, evidence of the right to work in the UK and an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
