About the Role
The Place-Based Programme Peterborough Lead – Children & Young People will lead the Peterborough place-based Children and Young People (CYP) system accelerator, which forms part of the PULSE project.
The role will ensure children and young people help shape local priorities, can access inclusive opportunities and are supported to progress into leadership and volunteering.
Reporting to the Head of Place, the postholder will lead and support staff within the CYP function, overseeing programme planning, coordination, delivery, monitoring and learning. They will strengthen pathways between schools, community settings, further and higher education, volunteering, youth leadership and employment opportunities across Peterborough.
As the thematic lead for children and young people, the postholder will ensure young people’s insight and lived experience inform system change, Test and Learn pilots, workforce practice, organisational learning and long-term investment decisions.
- Contract type: Full-time, 2-year contract, hybrid/field based
- Location: Hybrid including 2 days a week in the St Ives office
- Salary: £34,000- £36,000
Closing Date: 22nd September 2026
About Us:
Living Better’s aim across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is “To improve health, happiness and wellbeing by supporting people to be active”.
We do this by increasing opportunities to be active and participate in sport and physical activity throughout Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. We work by connecting, influencing, developing people and organisations to deliver high quality events and activities across local communities. Our finance function helps make this work possible by ensuring our resources are managed accurately, responsibly and effectively.
Key Responsibilities
Project Management
- Lead the PULSE CYP system accelerator, coordinating CYP-focused plans, workstreams and delivery activity across Peterborough.
- Lead or support the design, delivery and evaluation of CYP-focused Test & Learn pilots that respond to local priorities and tackle inequalities in participation.
- Strengthen transition routes between school, FE/HE, volunteering, youth leadership and employment opportunities.
- Contribute to Living Sport’s evolving place-based delivery model by bridging thematic CYP expertise with locality delivery.
People Leadership
- Lead, support and line manage the PULSE Youth Detached/Outreach Officer, providing clear direction, coaching and performance management to ensure effective delivery.
- Support staff, volunteers and partners to build capability in youth voice, inclusive practice and co-production.
- Identify young people with leadership potential and support their progression through Leadership Skills Foundation accreditation, volunteering and wider development pathways.
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Lead youth voice structures and ensure CYP insight drives the PULSE Listen, Prioritise, Align, Deliver and Learn cycle.
- Reduce CYP data gaps by improving participation tracking across schools and community settings.
- Ensure CYP insight contributes to ward-level briefs, appreciative enquiry, Ripple Effect Mapping, lived-experience storytelling, dashboards, case studies and quarterly learning cycles.
Operational Problem-Solving
- Identify and resolve delivery challenges, escalating issues where necessary to the Head of PULSE Partnership and supporting practical solutions to keep projects on track.
- Translate CYP insight into programme design, system priorities and operational decisions.
- Manage multiple workstreams autonomously while maintaining safe, professional and youth-centred practice.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain trusted CYP pathways linking schools, FE/HE providers, youth services and community settings.
- Work proactively with schools to embed inclusive, culturally competent, trauma-informed and youth-centred practice.
- Maintain strong relationships with youth organisations, INTs, PCVS partners and wider system stakeholders.
External Presentations
- Represent PULSE in local forums, education networks, youth-sector partnerships and district-level networks to support alignment, influence and collaboration.
- Communicate CYP priorities and learning clearly to senior leaders, young people, schools and community partners.
Thematic Expertise:
- Act as thematic lead for CYP participation, youth voice, youth leadership and inclusive pathways within PULSE.
- Strengthen a shared culture that values CYP leadership, co-design and equitable access.
- Share specialist learning across teams to support system change and collaborative place-based delivery.
Fundraising Input:
- Provide delivery insight, CYP feedback, case examples and innovation ideas to support future bids, partnership development and investment planning.
- Use insight from young people and partners to evidence need, impact and opportunities for future development.
Future Planning:
- Contribute to planning for future CYP activity, ensuring resources, workforce capability and partnership routes are aligned to emerging priorities.
- Support progression routes that help young people move from participation into voice, leadership, volunteering and wider opportunities.
Person Specification
Essential Requirements
- Ability to establish a working pattern that reflects the target audience needs ie that of children, young people, the community eg weekends, evenings
- Ability to work effectively from community venues, schools, partner locations and outdoor environments.
- Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evening and weekend work or other work outside normal office hours.
- Ability to travel regularly throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
- Access to a vehicle insured for business use.
- Full UK driving licence.
Skills and Attributes
- Proven ability to manage CYP-focused projects, partnerships or participation pathways and achieve measurable outcomes.
- Proven experience in project management, ideally within the charity or community sector.
- Demonstrates the ability to manage teams to deliver projects and achieve measurable outcomes.
- Evidence of people leadership, including coaching, performance management, and team development.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem‑solving skills.
- Ability to foster inclusive, collaborative, and outcome‑focused team cultures.
Knowledge and Experience
- Strong understanding of CYP development, youth work, education or sport pathways.
- Experience in programme design and co‑production with communities.
- Knowledge of place‑based delivery models and health/social inequalities.
- Skilled in monitoring, evaluation, and learning methods.
- Experience in managing budgets, contracts, and resources desirable.
Qualifications and Training
As an inclusive employer, Living Sport strives not to include minimum qualifications for non-vocational roles. We understand that not everyone has the same access to education and welcome other ways of demonstrating the requirements above – either through qualifications or experience that can demonstrate your ability to meet these requirements.
- Degree level education or equivalent in related field or qualified by experience.
- Good standard of written and spoken English.
- Confident in maths.
- Training relevant to project management, community development, or evaluation is desirable; further training will be provided where helpful.
Additional Information
- The role requires the ability and willingness to travel independently between multiple locations.
- • The postholder will be required to work flexibly, including occasional work outside normal office hours, such as evenings and weekends. Time off in lieu (TOIL) will be provided in accordance with organisational policy.
- • This is a hybrid and community-facing role with significant time spent working in community settings, partner organisations and local venues.
- • The postholder will be expected to work collaboratively across organisational, sector and geographical boundaries.
- • The role operates across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and requires regular travel to community venues, schools, partner locations, meetings and events.
- This Job Description is only intended as a guide to the range of duties involved and the postholder will need to be flexible and adaptable to undertake other duties that may be required from time to time appropriate to the level of the post.
Values and Behaviours Framework
Our values and behaviours framework will guide the behaviours and culture that make Living Sport an outstanding organisation to be part of and presents us for what we are, a charity that drives positive change. Our framework is essential to provide clarity on expectations and accountabilities for staff, for Living Sport to be an enjoyable and rewarding place to work, whilst collaborating effectively to achieve our strategic aims.
Our values are:
- Trust – We will treat each other with respect, creating a family that supports and cares for each other.
- Collaboration – We champion teamwork, with effective communication and accountability.
- Passionate – We approach our work with positive energy and innovation, celebrating success as we move.
- Inclusivity – We promote a culture of diversity and equality, striving towards access and opportunities for all.
- Outcome Focussed – We have a local and targeted approach to support our communities to improve their health, happiness and wellbeing.
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults
Living Better is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults participating in sports and physical activity from harm. For further information please consult the Living Better website www.living-better.org.uk
As part of our commitment to providing a safe environment for children, young people and adults at risk, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.