Network Manager (Black Country Network)

Job Summary

The Network Manager will lead and coordinate the Black Country Network, supporting organisations working with children and young people. They will act as a connector and facilitator, embedding youth voice, strengthening collaboration, and driving social, cultural and civic impact across the region.

Job Description

Network leadership and programme delivery
- Develop and grow the Black Country Network, increasing engagement from organisations, practitioners and individuals working with children and young people.
- Identify, onboard and maintain relationships with organisations & practitioners aligned to programme strands

Research, mapping and relationship development
- Undertake research and mapping to identify gaps, emerging needs and opportunities within underserved and wider communities.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the children and young people sector in the Black Country to inform planning and delivery.

Partnership development
- Represent Powered by CAN in strategic forums and events at local, regional and national levels.

Youth participation & co-design
- Ensure the voices, needs and experiences of children and young people are embedded in strategic planning and programme delivery.
- Work alongside the Youth Management Board Manager to share learning and insight that supports the Board's development and delivery.

Governance, quality & risk management
- Establish governance and quality frameworks such as member expectations, terms of reference and codes of conduct.
- Lead and oversee risk management
- Ensure compliance with relevant policies and standards such as (safeguarding, data protection, equality ethical practices) across the Black Country Network.

Monitoring, evaluation & learning
- Work with external evaluators to support data collection and reporting
- Gather insight and learning across the network
- Use findings to improve delivery and strengthen ways of working across the Black Country Network, ensuring children and young people remain central to all activity.

General responsibilities
- Manage programme resources effectively and transparently.
- Contribute to a collaborative values-led team culture
- Contribute to continuous improvement and impact of the network.

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Job Requirements

1)Minimum 5 years' experience leading or coordinating complex, place-based programmes, networks, or partnerships in children, youth, community, cultural, or social justice contexts.

2)Experience researching, mapping, and analysing local ecosystems, identifying gaps, duplication, and opportunities, and translating insight into strategic, actionable plans.

3)Proven ability to broker relationships, build trust, enable collaboration, and deliver shared learning and collective impact across sectors.

4)Strong knowledge of systems thinking, youth participation, rights-based, co-produced approaches, and community-led practice.

5)Experience in partnership governance, programme management, monitoring, evaluation, and risk mitigation in multi-stakeholder environments.

6)Ability to hold a strategic overview of complex systems while also managing operational delivery.

7)Ability to navigate power dynamics between grassroots groups, statutory bodies and funders.

Job Responsibilities

1)Lead strategic and operational delivery of the Black Country Network, ensuring a connected, learning-led ecosystem.

2)Oversee programme strands, translating strategy into plans, outputs, and outcomes.

3)Grow and sustain membership, and broker partnerships across VCSE, cultural, youth, and public sectors.

4)Embed youth voice, co-design, and rights-based participation across all activities.

5)Establish governance, manage risks, safeguarding, and equality standards.

6)Monitor impact with evaluators and support continuous improvement.

7)Line-manage staff, manage resources, and represent Powered by CAN locally, regionally, and nationally.

8)Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in all activities.

9)Support professional development and capacity-building within the network.

10)Drive innovation and new approaches across programmes and partnerships.

11)Facilitate cross-sector collaboration to improve practice and collective impact.

Useful Links

Job Overview

Job Title: Network Manager (Black Country Network)
Salary: £30k-£40k
Hours: Full time
Artform: Combined arts
Role: Creative
Contract: Contract
Closing date: Tue, 12 May 2026
Location:

West Midlands

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Job: Network Manager (Black Country Network)

Organisation: Powered by CAN

Postcode: B70 8ET

How to Apply

Click the "Apply Here" Button on this listing to Apply for the Black Country Network; Network Manager Role.

Any issues with the Application form or if you have any questions regarding this role, please contact us at [email protected]

Deadline to Apply: 31st March 11.59pm

Contact name: Nana Dembele
Contact email: [email protected]

Apply now

About Powered by CAN

Powered by CAN is a twenty-first century youth organisation without walls. We support people aged under 35 in the Black Country and wider West Midlands to lead the change they want to see through the delivery of services, opportunities and experiences that contribute to every stage of their lives, in their spaces and places.

Find out more