School Project Lead

Job Overview

We are seeking a dedicated Project Lead to co-ordinate and oversee the delivery of a joint partnership programme initiated by The Rope Trust and delivered with nurseries, schools, and local voluntary/community sector organisations to relieve poverty and advance education in the Gainsborough area of Ipswich. Programme activities may include early years literacy and family learning, cost-of-living and debt signposting, enrichment clubs, breakfast/afterschool support, holiday provision, and targeted family outreach.

The role holder will lead day-to-day planning, coordination, and delivery of the partnership programme — ensuring high-quality, safe, and measurable outcomes for children, young people, and families experiencing disadvantage.

The Project Lead will be responsible for managing project timelines, resources, and stakeholder communication, ensuring all deliverables align with organisational goals.

Interviews for successful applicants will be held on Friday 28 November 2025

Duties

Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with nurseries, schools, VCSE groups, and community stakeholders in Gainsborough.
• Convene regular partner meetings; agree referral pathways, safeguarding protocols, and information-sharing arrangements.
• Represent the programme at local networks and forums.

Programme Planning & Delivery

• Co-design and lead termly partner meetings, aligned to the aims of poverty relief and educational advancement.
• Coordinate timetables, venues, staffing/volunteers, materials, and risk assessments including the completion of periodic reports by University of Suffolk.
• Ensure inclusive practices that engages families facing multiple disadvantages.

Family & Community Engagement

• Oversee outreach and referral processes; maintain a warm, stigma-free project.

GDPR

• Ensure compliance with GDPR/data sharing agreements and funder/Ofsted-related requirements where applicable.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact

• Gather data termly from nurseries/schools/VCSE and collate.
• Liaise with University of Suffolk on annual report, parental interviews and final report.
• Develop a simple outcomes framework (e.g., attendance, engagement, literacy confidence, school readiness, wellbeing, reduced hardship).Collect and analyse data and case studies; produce timely reports for trustees, funders, and partners.
• Use learning to iterate and improve delivery.

Key Skills Requirements

• Proven experience leading community, education, or family-focused projects within the VCSE or public sector.
• Strong partnership-building skills with schools, early years settings, and local organisations.
• Practical safeguarding knowledge (children and families) and confident in managing concerns.
• Excellent organisational skills: able to juggle schedules, partners, and data with attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills both verbal —confident facilitator with families and professionals - and written.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion; trauma-informed and strengths-based practice.
• Willingness to work flexibly to meet community needs, managing annual hours

Desirable Skills Requirements

• Lived experience or deep understanding of issues affecting families facing poverty.
• Qualifications in community development, education, youth/early years, or related field.
• Experience delivering literacy/learning activities, holiday food and activities, or family support.
• Data skills (e.g., simple dashboards/spreadsheets) and outcome evaluation.

Other Essential requirements

• Enhanced DBS (or willingness to obtain) and right to work in the UK.
• Full clean UK Driving Licence
• Access to own transport

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Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract

Contract length: 36 months

Pay: £5,850.00-£11,700.00 per year

Expected hours: 7 – 14 per week

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 21/11/2025

Expected start date: 05/01/2026