Job Overview:
This Youth Project Officer role focuses on leading the planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of innovative youth programmes for IMO Charity across Blackburn with Darwen. The role includes delivering both indoor and outdoor learning activities that are engaging, inclusive, well-structured, and designed to create measurable outcomes for young people.
You will play a key role in developing wider youth projects across the organisation, including partnership working, monitoring, reporting, and ensuring activities are high quality and impactful. A strong STEM background is highly valued, as the role requires using science-informed and evidence-based approaches to create hands on learning experiences that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
The position also involves supporting young people through youth-led learning, exploration, experimentation, and outdoor engagement, with a strong focus on understanding and connecting with the natural environment.
Main Objectives
- Design, deliver and coordinate inclusive indoor / outdoor youth engagement programmes.
- Act as a Youth Project Officer, supporting planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of youth projects.
- Deliver engaging, science-informed sessions for young people aged 5–18. Use innovative and creative approaches to engage young people.
- Work collaboratively with key partners to develop and maximise use of local green spaces.
- Ensure programmes are well-structured, outcome-focused, and responsive to young people’s needs.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Innovatively plan and deliver inclusive, engaging indoor / outdoor sessions that promote curiosity, exploration, and scientific thinking.
- Create safe, supportive, and stimulating outdoor environments to upskill and enhance development.
- Creatively use local natural spaces to deliver hands-on learning experiences.
- Encourage youth-led exploration and active participation during sessions.
- Develop clear session plans, project timelines, and delivery frameworks.
- Maintain accurate monitoring, evaluation, and reporting records.
- Contribute to measuring impact and outcomes of youth programmes.
- Work with partners and stakeholders to support effective project delivery.
- Contribute to continuous improvement through reflection and evaluation.
Safeguarding & Relationships
- Always adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Build strong, trusting relationships with young people, families, colleagues, and partners.
- Promote inclusion, equality, and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
General Responsibilities
- Carry out administrative duties linked to project delivery and reporting.
- Work collaboratively within a team to achieve shared outcomes.
- Manage time effectively across delivery, planning, and project work.
- Maintain high standards of professionalism and communication.
- Stay alert to potential hazards and take proactive measures to reduce or remove risks.
Person Specification
Lived experience is far more important than academic qualification to IMO Charity. Experience and a passion for youth work is our number one priority. You are required to have a minimum of 5 GCSE’s including English, Maths and Science to ensure you can successfully complete report writing and data input and analysis. A degree in natural sciences, geography or a similarly relevant and related field (Strongly Desirable)
Essential
Experience & Knowledge:
- Working professionally with young people in a youth work setting.
- Experience of leading outdoor learning programmes.
- Experience of designing age-appropriate outdoor learning programmes
- Having a good understanding of safeguarding practices and ensuring you know what to do when a safeguarding concern arises.
- Proven experience of increasing young people's engagement and achievement.
- Working collaboratively as part of a team and with external partners.
- Working to targets and deadlines. Working to clear policies and procedures.
Skills & Competencies:
- Assessing young people’s needs to tailor appropriate programmes.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong people management skills
- Strong time management skills.
- Trauma-informed, empathetic approach.
- Excellent writing skills
- Creating healthy, trusting relationships with young people; important for safety and engagement outdoors.
Role Requirements
- Understanding good youth work principles.
- Knowledge of the green sector and related industries, with a particular focus on employability skills and routes into careers in this sector.
- Committed to keeping up to date with wider guidelines and principles related to youth work.
- Ability to identify and challenge discrimination and discriminatory behaviour, taking appropriate action as necessary.
- Understanding issues affecting young people’s lives (including local context).
- A believer: a genuine passion for making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Desirable
- Ability to speak in more than one language besides English, with a focus on those languages commonly spoken within the South Asian community.
- Knowledge of working with young people with SEND & SEMH needs.
To Apply
Please send your CV and a cover letter to [email protected] by 12 June 2026
Your CV should include the names and contact details of two referees. It should also include your notice required from an existing employer.
Please thoroughly read through this document before applying as it contains the person specification. Your cover letter should specifically address your qualities and attributes, which are outlined in the Person Specification and linked to the duties and key responsibilities.
Finally, appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance. For an informal discussion, please call Umar Mulla on 01254 781310/07394 65392
Job Types: Part-time, Contract
Contract length: 12 months
Pay: £13.45 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
