The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award exists to support young people to build life-long beliefs in themselves; supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their passions, and discover talents they never knew they had.

Young people today are navigating an unprecedented combination of challenges. Our ambition is to ensure that every young person has the chance to build the essential skills, confidence, and resilience needed to succeed in both life and work. Through our bold Youth Without Limits strategy, we are committed to making the Award accessible to all especially those from underrepresented communities.

We are now seeking a Director for Wales to join our energetic and forward-thinking team. In this key leadership role, you will be instrumental in leading the delivery of DofE across Wales. The position combines operational leadership with strategic policy engagement, aligning our work with Welsh Government priorities and propelling our long-term growth strategy to broaden access and opportunity for young people.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Lead and inspire the Wales Team and delivery network, fostering a high-performing, inclusive culture.
Build strategic relationships across government, education, and voluntary sectors to champion accessibility and inclusion.
Deliver KPIs aligned with Welsh Government priorities and DofE’s strategic goals.
Ensure safeguarding and data protection compliance, placing young people’s safety at the heart of all activity.
Oversee licensing, quality assurance, and support for delivery partners and volunteers.
Manage financial operations and mitigate key risks.
Collaborate with UK-wide Directors to ensure strategic alignment and share best practices.
Drive cross-departmental collaboration across the DofE with a particular focus on collaborative working with Strategic Programmes, Quality and Compliance, External Affairs, and Fundraising teams.

Strategic Policy & Influencing

Represent DofE in national forums and advisory groups to amplify our voice and impact.
Align UK-wide strategy with relevant Welsh Government frameworks.
Influence policy agendas in education, youth work, skills development, and inclusion.
Strengthen relationships across youth and education sectors to enhance reach and sustainability.

Partnership Cultivation & Fundraising Support

Partner with the central fundraising team to support donor engagement and initiatives.
Cultivate relationships with Welsh donors, funders, and supporters.
Provide strategic insight to inform fundraising and partnership development.

What we are looking for:

Senior leadership experience with geographically dispersed teams.
Proven ability to lead and empower high-performing teams and volunteers.
Experience in policy engagement and influencing in Wales.
Track record in strategic partnerships and fundraising support.
Strong safeguarding experience and commitment to youth safety.

Skills & Knowledge

Collaborative decision-maker with a team-oriented mindset.
Skilled in stakeholder engagement across diverse sectors.
Deep understanding of Welsh political, educational, and cultural landscapes.
Commercial acumen and growth-oriented thinking.
Tech-savvy with CRM experience (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics).
Welsh language skills highly desirable; applications from Welsh speakers encouraged.

Personal Attributes

Results-driven and passionate about youth empowerment.
High integrity, positivity, and resilience.
Excellence-focused with strong interpersonal skills and a low ego.
Customer-centred and committed to continuous improvement.
Champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

How to apply and interview dates

If you feel excited by this role and believe you have the necessary skills and experience to become a valued team member, please go to our website and apply.

The deadline for applying for this role is: 18th November - Midnight

1st interviews will take place on: WC 1st December - to be held virtually

2nd interviews will take place on: 12th December - to be held in person at a location in Wales. (Venue will be confirmed at invitation)

N.B. additional interviews may be required.

If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if you would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us by email recruitment@dofe.org

Benefits

We offer excellent staff benefits including a generous pension contribution, an employee assistance programme, healthcare cash plan and volunteer leave. Also, 25 days holiday, plus Bank Holidays and an additional 3 days paid leave between Christmas and the New Year. Buy additional annual leave, benefits discount website, death in service benefit 4 x salary, incapacity benefit, generous family leave and sick leave.

The DofE are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All successful applicants will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. (e.g. DBS/PVG or similar), including references covering any gaps of employment/education, confirm eligibility to work in the UK and complete a health check.

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