SHIFT Project Manager (Pan Sussex), AudioActive

The postholder will coordinate the SHIFT programme locally, ensuring staff are recruited, supported, and able to deliver targeted music-making mentoring for children and young people. They will also ensure all research requirements for the Randomised Control Trial (RCT) are followed. The role involves engaging schools and other settings to organise group, individual, outreach, and one-to-one mentoring sessions aimed at reducing youth crime.

Key responsibilities include promoting the project to schools, agencies, and statutory services, ensuring understanding of the RCT process, referral criteria, and expectations. The postholder will secure suitable venues with required equipment, maintain smooth referral pathways, and arrange alternative spaces during holidays to ensure continuity of service. They will ensure appropriate resources are available, monitor progress, deliver the project on time and within budget, and attend strategic meetings.

They will help recruit mentors, provide inductions and training, supervise and performance-manage the team, and ensure young people complete baseline questionnaires and are matched with suitable mentors within required timescales. The postholder will oversee mentor-mentee relationships, ensure operational procedures are followed for the full 18-week programme, and support mentors in maintaining communication, attendance, records, and outcomes. They must ensure safe working practices and adherence to safeguarding procedures.

For evaluation, they will ensure timely baseline assessments, accurate data logging, and support young people in completing follow-up questionnaires for the evaluation team. They must follow all organisational policies, report safeguarding concerns, take part in regular supervision, occasionally work evenings/weekends, and may support regional training or other AudioActive initiatives. The job description is flexible and subject to review.