Overview

Assistant Director - Public Affairs and Partnerships at The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF). Reports to the Director of Change, with significant engagement with the Director of Public Affairs and Comms and CEO. Salary: £75,500 per annum. Location: Central London or Hybrid. Contract: 2-year fixed term – potential to extend. Open to 0.8 FTE for the right candidate. Closing date: Friday 26th September by 12pm.

About The Youth Endowment Fund

We’re here to prevent children and young people from becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice. We aim to build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people, through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We convert this into accessible content about what works and how delivery organisations can change practice and systems. We seek to work with the right people to make change happen across systems, policies and practice to reduce violence affecting children’s lives. Our present endowment must be spent down by April 2029, and we need someone who can lead on planning for the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on long-term planning for after the 2029 endowment and the narrative of what happens 2029–2039 to advance the mission; orchestrate cross-organisational knowledge and partner relationships to deliver an inspiring, fact-based plan.
• Build and maintain relationships across government, providing advice on what works to prevent violence; develop new relationships for the future.
• Ensure internal colleagues know ownership of relationships and that regular meetings are in place; manage a simple process to track relationships with minimal bureaucracy.
• Provide coaching and advice to YEF colleagues on pursuing system changes that reduce violence.
• Foster relationships with other organisations, funders, and researchers to pursue partnerships, co-funding and research opportunities.
• Identify opportunities, bring in colleagues, compile key information, write documents, and secure buy-in to enable progress.

As a senior member of staff you will also:

• Lead on culture and model the performance expectations and supportive behaviours needed for success.
• Contribute to strategy, drive results, and model the culture required for success.

About You

You are the type of person who makes things happen. You are organized, delivery-focused, and produce high-quality work under pressure. You work independently, understand complex issues quickly, and can translate them into clear plans. You are skilled at building and maintaining relationships, including with senior stakeholders, and you communicate with humility. You enjoy turning big projects into actionable plans with cross-functional teams and regular steering groups. You have a strong understanding of how government decision-making works and can navigate Whitehall or Westminster to achieve change. You write well and can summarize complex arguments for diverse audiences. You are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and you have a track record of building lasting partnerships. You are a team player, enjoy coaching others, and are comfortable with a small, motivated team.

We are particularly interested in applicants with lived experience of violence affecting young people.

Secondments: We welcome candidates who would prefer a 2-year secondment or career break, with the current organisation’s support in principle. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are applying as a secondee.

Hybrid Working Details

The office is in Central London. If based in London or nearby, you are expected in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. Remote workers living outside London should be in the London office 2 days per month. Flexible options will be discussed at interview.

To Apply

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter, and complete the monitoring form by Friday 26th September 2025. When applying, ensure your cover letter can answer (within a maximum of 1000 words) the questions provided on the application page.

Role Questions for Cover Letter

• Describe two paragraphs about something you made happen: what you were trying to achieve, how you organised it, and how you delivered it.
• Summarise your experience of working with or in central government and how decisions are made.
• Describe someone or an organisation you won over or built a strong relationship with and how you approached it.

Interview Process

This will be a two-stage process. The first stage interviews will take place the week of 13th October 2025. The second stage is currently scheduled for the week of 20th October 2025.

Please note: We do not sponsor work permits. You must provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Benefits

• £1,000 professional development budget annually
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 confidential support
• Volunteering days – 4 half days per year
• Death in service – 4 times annual salary
• Flexible hours – core office hours 10am–4pm
• Financial support including travel and hardship loans
• Employer-contributed pension of 5%

Data Privacy

Your personal data will be shared for recruitment purposes with HR, interviewers, and relevant managers. We will not transfer data outside the European Economic Area. If you are offered employment, references may be sought from former employers.