UK SOWA Strategy 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 SOWA Strategy Team Leader provides strategic leadership for the Scouts of the World Award (SOWA) in the UK. The role focuses on the development, quality, and sustainability of the SOWA programme, ensuring it remains relevant, impactful, and aligned with both UK Scouting priorities and WOSM expectations.
This role is responsible for shaping the Discoveries programme, strengthening mentor support, and acting as the key UK liaison with WOSM on all matters relating to SOWA. While the role does not directly deliver SOWA activities, it enables and supports others to do so effectively by setting direction, building capability, and maintaining strong international relationships.
This is an exciting opportunity to influence how young people across the UK engage with global citizenship, sustainable development, and international Scouting, ensuring SOWA continues to be a high-quality, values-led award that empowers participants to make a meaningful impact.
The UK SOWA Strategy Team is part of the wider UK International Team.
Key tasks
Programme Strategy and Development
- Provide strategic leadership for the UK SOWA programme, ensuring clarity of purpose, quality, and long-term sustainability.
- Lead the ongoing development and review of the SOWA framework, ensuring alignment with UK Scouting priorities and WOSM guidance.
- Identify opportunities to grow participation, strengthen impact, and embed SOWA within wider programme pathways.
Discoveries
- Lead the development, quality assurance, and evolution of the SOWA Discoveries offer in the UK.
- Ensure Discoveries are accessible, impactful, ethically grounded, and aligned with sustainable development principles.
- Support Counties and Nations to design and deliver high-quality Discoveries experiences.
Mentor and Trainer Support
- Provide strategic oversight and support to the SOWA mentor and trainer network.
- Ensure mentors are well-supported, confident, and equipped to guide participants through the SOWA journey.
- Contribute to the development of training, resources, and guidance for mentors and trainers.
WOSM Liaison and International Alignment
- Act as the primary UK point of contact with WOSM on all SOWA-related matters.
- Ensure UK practice aligns with global SOWA standards, guidance, and developments.
- Represent UK perspectives in international discussions relating to SOWA and global citizenship education.
Governance, Safeguarding, and Quality
- Work with safeguarding, safety, and governance colleagues to ensure SOWA operates within TSA policies, POR, and best practice.
- Support consistency, quality assurance, and learning across the SOWA programme.
- Gather insight, feedback, and data to inform continuous improvement.
Advocacy and Collaboration
- Promote and champion SOWA within UK Scouting and with external stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively with the UK International Team, Counties, and Nations to embed SOWA as a valued and visible award.
- Share learning, good practice, and impact stories to strengthen understanding of SOWA.
Person specification
- Understanding of the Scouts of the World Award and its purpose.
- Experience in programme development
- Understanding of sustainable development, global citizenship, and ethical international engagement.
- Experience of mentoring frameworks and supporting adults working with young people.
- Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into practical frameworks and guidance.
- Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, including working across UK and international contexts.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to support, motivate, and enable volunteers rather than directly delivering activity.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Confidence using digital collaboration and communication tools.
- Passionate about international Scouting, global citizenship, and youth empowerment.
- Collaborative, inclusive, and values-led.
- Curious, reflective, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Comfortable working with ambiguity and shaping new approaches.
- Committed to The Scouts’ values, safeguarding culture, and ethical practice.
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 SOWA Strategy Team
We are delighted to introduce the UK SOWA Strategy Team Leader role within the UK International Team. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about global citizenship, sustainable development, and ensuring young people have access to high-quality, meaningful international learning experiences.
As Strategic Lead, you will shape the future of SOWA in the UK, developing the Discoveries programme, supporting and empowering mentors, and strengthening our relationship with WOSM. Your work will help ensure SOWA continues to inspire young people, remain relevant in a changing world, and reflect the best of international Scouting
If you enjoy thinking strategically, building frameworks that enable others to succeed, and working at the intersection of UK and global Scouting, we would love to hear from you.
- Lauren King (UK Global Programme Team Leader)
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:
Lauren King (UK Global Programme Team Leader): [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 International Team
Closing date:
Fri, February 13, 2026, 9:00 AM