Programme Design Officer

Core Purpose

It’s an exciting time at Scouts. You will be part of a creative and collaborative team, working with volunteers and young people to create fun, practical programme ideas that develop skills for life. We use the expertise in our own team – and in others – to make sure that the Scout programme, activities and badges are inclusive, accessible, relevant, engaging and leaders feel confident in delivering it.

We want to support leaders to plan the best programme for their young people, so that they have the best chance at developing:

Skills for life,

Adventure,

Connectedness,

Leadership,

Wellbeing,

and Citizenship.

We do this by developing the programme in new ways, and also how to encourage leaders to engage with our website and digital activity finder. We take pride in working in a flexible way, sharing current ideas and testing new ones – not just on what we do, but how we do it. We are keen to learn from different backgrounds and learn together on new experiences, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can learn from you!

Key Accountabilities

Create (sometimes with other people) age-appropriate, resources for the Scout programme, which develops young people according to our Theory of Change.

Contribute to finding digital solutions to make it easier for volunteers to plan a high-quality Scout programme

Collaborate with the team to find ways to understand how volunteers use our resources, and how successful they are.

Collaborate with other teams to make sure programme resources are safe, inclusive, on-brand, well-promoted and encourage volunteers to use our resources on the website.

Establish relationships with external experts (such as other charities, youth or educational organisations) in areas relevant to our Theory of Change. 

Contribute to relationships with our external funders and partners to collaborate on programme resources.

Contribute to researching, creating and testing new ideas in delivering activities to young people.

Help prioritise work by thinking about what volunteers and young people need, what does the organisation need, and show the results of how effective the work is.

Play an active part in contributing to the success of the Programme Team as a whole, both in terms of tasks and helping colleagues to be at their best.

Person specification

Experience

Experience of creating activities for young people, of diverse backgrounds, preferably on a regional or national level. This doesn’t have to be Scouts, and we are interested in experience from other areas of youth work.

Experience of delivering activities in the youth sector, preferably to young people of Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds, or in underserved areas or with different learning needs. Interested in experiences overseas

Experience of researching, consulting with people of different backgrounds, and collaborating on ideas with others

Experience of working with agile methodologies (or any other collaborative, flexible, creative ways)

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Can write activities for young people that develop specific skills to be delivered in a non-formal setting by volunteers.

Can collaborate with volunteers, young people, and staff of different backgrounds to create resources.

Can develop relationships with internal staff, external companies or partners, and subject specific organisations to create resources.

Can find a way to understand a goal, and work alone or with others, to create resources in line with our values and mission, and on time.

Can create ways to collect and use feedback (e.g. speaking to people or online tools) to monitor use, and continuously adapt and improve resources for our volunteers and young people.

Can independently keep learning in relevant topics and share with others.

Can work in a digital-first way: using collaborative online tools, writing for digital platforms and appropriate handling of data.

Can give and receive constructive criticism with empathy and support.

Values & Personal Qualities

Passionate about creating activity resources that will give young people skills for life.

Enjoys working in a creative environment that values flexibility, relationships, diversity and fun, and willing to go the extra mile when needed.

Takes pride in creating high quality work within time structures.

Willing to contribute to a vibrant and supportive team culture, taking responsibility to help others be at their best.

Believes in empowering and collaborating with volunteers and young people, and values that working relationship.

Working at Scouts

Benefits

Holiday Entitlement: On top of your generous 25 days holiday we give you up to three extra days off between Christmas and New Year. And that’s not all, holiday goes up to 28 days after 2 years’ service and 32 days after 5 years’ service.

Looking after your health and wellbeing

Simply Health scheme: Optical, dental and many more appointments covered, as well as great gym and family days out discounts.

Sickness absence: Once you’re three months in, we have generous sickness pay, above the statutory.

Looking after your future

Generous Pension Scheme: We look after your future. You will be automatically enrolled into The Scout Association’s Group Personal Pension Plan, contributing 3% of your qualifying earnings. The Scouts will contribute double at 6% of your qualifying earnings on auto enrolment. You can increase your contribution at any point and we will double your contribution up to a maximum of 10% of your gross salary.

Looking after your family: Your loved ones will receive four times the basic salary if you pass away while employed by us.

Getting to and from work

Car parking: Yes, our parking is free at all sites. 

Minibus Service: When working at Gilwell Park, a minibus can collect you at various times from Chingford Station and drop you back at various times. 

We are proud to be a family friendly employer

Personal Days: Up to four personal days paid leave a year. 

Maternity/Paternity Leave: We pay maternity leave above the statutory minimum requirement.

Start and finish time: Employees can apply for some flexibility on their start and finish times of work.

Making your money go that little bit further

Scout Store purchases: You can buy Scout Store merchandise with a discount of 25% on certain items.

Online benefits portal: Our online benefits portal allows you to tailor make your own benefits package.

Developing yourself and others

Study and volunteer leave: Special leave includes paid leave for volunteering and study leave.

Scouts Structure

Apply

Please include a covering statement when you apply for this role.

Before making an application please ensure that you have read the Recruitment and selection policy.

In order for us to monitor the application of our Equal Opportunities policy, we would be grateful if you would also complete the Recruitment Monitoring questions on the Application Form.

If you would to discuss the role in more detail, please contact recruitment@Scouts.org.