Programme Manager (Dundee)

MCR Pathways is a transformational secondary school mentoring and talent development programme supporting care-experienced (CE) young people (including those previously), and other vulnerable young people experiencing disadvantage, to realise their full potential through education.

MCR was founded to reverse the education and life-chances outcome gap that exists between CE young people and their peers, and to achieve equality of educational outcomes, career opportunities and life chances for all young people. Focused on need, not label. Developed with and by young people over the past 14 years, MCR’s programme dramatically improves educational achievement, wellbeing and post-school destinations.

At its heart, MCR’s model is relationship-based mentoring that has evolved into an integrated programme supporting primary school transition and delivering weekly group work in S1 and S2. Young people from S3 upwards are carefully matched with a volunteer, trained mentor to meet one-to-one on a weekly basis. Young people also have the opportunity to access an offer of employment, college and university experiences.

MCR young people tell their stories far better than us. Hear them in their own words in these short films of young people who have participated in the programme, reflecting on how mentoring has helped them create better futures for themselves:

• Watch Emily's Story
• Bridges That Transform

We currently work with 72 schools across Scotland and are delighted that the Scottish government has recently announced £19.4 million funding to bring the programme to every secondary school in Scotland. These are really exciting times and we are looking for an exceptional Programme Manager to lead programme implementation and manage our school-based Coordinators across a group of Dundee schools.

The role is an exciting and varied one. As part of our Education & Schools team, you will lead the regional team of school Pathways Coordinators and be supported by our Mentor Services, Marketing and Digital teams.

For this role, you’ll need to be relentlessly driven to ensure all care-experienced and disadvantaged young people in the region are supported to find, grow and use their individual talents and that their education, employment choices and life chances outcomes are maximised. You’ll have experience of managing a team, be highly organised and ambitious to ensure all young people in scope have the opportunity to access the YST Dundee programme.

3 Part Remits:

• Lead on delivery of regional Reach & Development plans, and on facilitation of regional young person’s advisory board.
• Active Pathway Coordinator recruitment, support, training, management & motivation. Support school integration, ensuring full MCR model implementation & quality compliance, ongoing training & providing performance, impact & development feedback.
• Drive & support mentor recruitment, training, engagement & retention to the required numbers. Ensure young people are fully engaged and active participants in all aspects of the MCR model to the quality and target numbers required.

Please note, the role will be subject to a PVG check and two satisfactory references, one of which must be from your current or most recent employer.

MCR Pathways subscribes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) regarding disclosure & barring.

Click here to read the Programme Manager Person Specification.

Salary: Up to £27,000 - £31,500

Closing date: 5th August 2021, 12 noon

Interview date: 17th August 2021