Centre Manager - The Westfield Centre

Role Description

Department

This autumn we will be launching an exciting and inspirational new initiative - the Westfield Centre.

We are looking for an experienced, inspirational Centre Leader to run the centre, and be at the heart of this transformative service, providing educational enrichment and community-building activities to the Westfield ward in York.

The Westfield Centre will be a dedicated safe space, that children and adults can make their own, with a dedicated team who will deliver in-school, after-school and school holiday programmes that will support academic attainment, develop employability skills, provide cultural capital and open opportunities.

This centre is an exciting development in the city and marks a transformative moment, led by strong collaboration. The centre will have a strong governance structure that puts community members at its core and involves leadership from local schools and colleagues from Higher York, City of York council, York Cares and local businesses.

Although the post holder will be a University of York employee, they and the centre team will be delivering a collaborative initiative. The centre will sit within the University of York’s Access and Outreach team and be led by the Head of Access and Outreach, with sponsorship from the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Learning, Teaching and Students and the Vice Chancellor, among other city partners.

Role

The Westfield Centre is a community initiative, with people at the heart of it.

We are looking for an individual who is dedicated to opening opportunities and social equality. Crucially, you will have strong experience of working with young people, either through education or community youth work and building partnerships with community partners, including residents and parents.

This is a pivotal role and we are looking for an inspiring, passionate individual who will be the face of the centre in the community, and across all partners and stakeholders in York.  This individual must be a confident, strong leader, who shares our vision and feels as passionate as we do about co-creation and the power of education to transform lives.

The Centre Manager is the first centre role being recruited, and will work with the implementation team to support the set-up of the centre through to launch in autumn 2023.

The Centre Manager will then have responsibility for managing the centre and the team within it, leading the delivery and coordination of all centre activities.

This role is being offered on a two year fixed contract, however we are hopeful that extension into a permanent contract will be possible, pending secure funding and outcomes of the centre.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• Experience of delivering outreach or education activities to children and young people
• Experience of building successful relationships with community stakeholders
• Experience of leading and managing a team
• Excellent communicator
• Knowledge of UK education sector, especially an overview of KS2 and KS3 curriculum
• Experience of managing the safeguarding and behavioural challenges of children and vulnerable adults
• Understanding of relevant statutory policies such as the Equality Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, Disability Discrimination Act, Freedom of Information and particularly Safeguarding, etc.
• Understanding of the importance of inclusivity and supporting local need

Interview date: Monday 26th June 2023

For informal enquiries: please contact westfield-centre@york.ac.uk 

Condition of employment

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Consequently, all applicants will be asked to declare both unspent and spent convictions on their application form.

Appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork