UK Programme Support Team Leader
Join our UK Scouts volunteer team
Equal opportunities
Scouts is an equal opportunity recruiter. We're committed to diversity and actively seeking applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, in particular, Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.
About the role
The UK Programme Support Team Leader is a senior national volunteer leadership role responsible for shaping and coordinating support for volunteers delivering specialist parts of Scouts’ programme, including Air Scouts, Sea Scouts, and UK Support Teams (formerly National Scout Active Support Units). Working closely with the UK Lead Volunteer for Programme and the Senior Programme Delivery Manager, this role ensures that volunteers are empowered, skilled, and equipped to deliver high-quality programmes that contribute to the outcomes of Scouts’ 2026–2035 Strategic Plan.
You will help set strategic priorities, align resources, and champion best practice to ensure specialist provision is delivered effectively across the UK. Acting as a visible advocate for national programme support, you will represent Scouts internally and externally, supporting partnerships, projects, and events that enhance the volunteer experience and ensure programme impact for young people.
This is a voluntary leadership role that combines strategic thinking, people leadership, and a commitment to supporting volunteers so that Scouts can deliver outstanding experiences for young people.
Key tasks
- Lead the development and delivery of strategy for volunteer support in specialist programme areas, ensuring alignment with the 2026–2035 Strategic Plan
- Agree priorities for the UK Programme Support Team alongside staff colleagues, balancing strategic goals, volunteer needs, and organisational demands
- Sponsor or oversee major projects within specialist programme areas, ensuring outcomes align with the 2026–2035 Strategic Plan and programme delivery principles
- Act as a project contributor where required to support alignment, quality, and delivery
- Promote and advocate for national programme support through communications, presentations, workshops, and events
- Lead, motivate, and support UK volunteers, ensuring a positive volunteer experience and strong alignment with Scouts’ values
- Collaborate with staff, programme boards, volunteers, and external partners across the UK nations
Person specification
- Experience leading and managing volunteers, ideally at a national or regional level
- Experience contributing to or leading programme development or strategic initiatives
- Experience managing people or projects in a professional or voluntary capacity
- Experience working with diverse teams across wide geographical areas
- Experience preparing proposals or papers for senior decision-making groups
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and support others
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Confidence presenting publicly and representing Scouts in meetings and events
- Ability to chair meetings effectively and facilitate productive discussion
- Strong listening skills and the ability to provide guidance and challenge when needed
- Ability to manage complex priorities and cope with challenging situations
- Confident use of digital tools, including Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)
- Ability to quickly develop a working knowledge of Scouts’ structures, policies, and ways of working
- Approachable, supportive, and collaborative
- Strong commitment to Scouts’ values, Fundamentals, and Promise
- Strategic mindset combined with practical delivery focus
- Willingness to learn and undertake required training
- Sufficient time and flexibility to meet the commitments of a national leadership role
This role includes a range of tasks that need a realistic and ongoing time commitment, with flexibility around when those tasks are completed. If you already volunteer with Scouts, please take time to think about how this UK role would fit alongside any other roles you hold, and have a conversation with your current Team Leader before applying.
For some people, taking on a UK role may mean stepping back from, or handing over, another role so they can give each one the attention it deserves and have a positive and rewarding volunteering experience.
UK Programme Support Team
Scouts’ specialist programme areas are critical to ensuring that volunteers and young people have the best possible experience. The UK Programme Support Team Leader plays a central role in supporting these volunteers, helping them to deliver high-quality, engaging programmes across the UK.
By leading the Programme Support Team and working closely with staff and UK Volunteers, this role ensures that our specialist programme areas are aligned with the 2026–2035 Strategic Plan and delivered to a consistently high standard. If you are passionate about volunteer support, leadership, and making a difference for young people, this role offers the opportunity to have a real national impact.
- Lewis Dangerfield (UK Lead Volunteer for Programme)
Sound good?
Before making an application please ensure that you've read carefully read our vacancy informtion. In order for us to monitor the application of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, we'd be grateful if you'd also complete the Diversity Monitoring questions on the Application Form.
Questions?
If you'd like to discuss this role in more detail, please get in touch with:
Lewis Dangerfield (UK Lead Volunteer for Programme): [email protected]
Next steps
Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering with our team. You can apply for the role yourself by completing the Application Form.
A Search Group has been set up to guide the selection process. They will carefully review all applications and nominations and then invite selected applicants to the next stage, once internal checks are complete.
Interview date: TBC
Apply nowKnow someone who might be a perfect fit?
Use the Nomination form if you know someone that might have the skills and experience that we're looking for.
We'll get in touch with them and invite them to apply for the role.
Nominate someone for this roleLocation:
UK Programme Team
Closing date:
Fri, March 6, 2026, 9:00 AM