National Safeguarding Operations Manager

The Scout Association

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Scouts and everyone are welcome here - all genders, races, and backgrounds. We give over 400,000 4–25-year-olds the skills they need for school, college, university, and the job interview: the skills they need for life. Right across the UK, we’re helping young people gain skills for life and find their place in the world. We help them speak up, play their part, and shine bright. Scouts is the place to be yourself and find yourself.

These are young people who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in, to do the right thing, and to think of others before themselves. At a time when communities sometimes feel divided, Scouts brings people together. We’re building stronger communities and contributing to a stronger society. All this is made possible by the generosity of our adult volunteers.

Now’s a challenging time for us all, but Scouts has never been more important - giving young people purpose, hope, and a place to belong. With the launch of Squirrels for 4–6-year-olds, and opening more units in even more areas of deprivation, we’re making more of a difference than ever.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced National Safeguarding Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day safeguarding and vetting operations across Scouting in the UK. This is a senior, influential role where you’ll shape practice, guide complex decision-making, and ensure the highest safeguarding standards are embedded across the Movement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational delivery of the safeguarding and vetting functions of the Scout Association
• Provide regular management oversight, supervision, and case direction
• Be responsible for the development of managers and wider team members, identifying relevant support and training needs where appropriate
• Contribute to the development of child, young people, and vulnerable adult safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring key policies are in line with current Government guidance and legislation.
• Oversee high-risk and complex cases, including representing the Association at high-level multiagency meetings as required.
• Oversee the maintenance of information sharing and recording systems to ensure records are appropriately stored, are accurate, and are able to be analysed.
• Taking responsibility and maintaining a culture of learning and reflecting on cases / significant cases of concern, and implementing relevant learning within the service,
• Use data tools and reporting processes to analyse workflows to identify trends to inform process changes, resourcing, policies, and training requirements.
• Provide witness statements on behalf of the Association in safeguarding criminal matters, and attend court as and when required.
• Oversee the Safeguarding team on call arrangements, to ensure all volunteers are able to access professional advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including responsibility for call escalation 365 days a year outside of office hours.
• Develop and maintain external professional Safeguarding contacts within statutory and similar voluntary organisations.
• Oversee the application of quality assurance frameworks to monitor casework practice standards.
• To ensure responsive and genuine engagement with internal and external stakeholders, which will provide both challenge and support.
• To work collaboratively with the National Safeguarding Development Manager to ensure there is a strong link between the two functions within the team, and that operational response work is informed by and informs training and development of both staff and volunteers.
• Any other duties as reasonably requested by the Head of Safeguarding.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience:

• Experience in managing a Safeguarding function
• Experience in providing effective case management and supervision
• Experience in using data and analysis to inform safeguarding practice.
• Experience of working with volunteers

Skills and Abilities:

• High-level interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to undertake assigned tasks within deadlines
• Ability to lead a team
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to make risk-based decisions
• Ability to work on own initiative

Personal Qualities:

• Committed to delivering a high-quality, customer-focused service
• Considerable discretion and independence to act under general guidance, but refers to higher levels for policy and professional decisions
• Show calmness under pressure with attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to keep sensitive information confidential
• Personable and approachable manner
• Open-minded, flexible and articulate

Compensation & Benefits

• 28-day holiday plus 3 days extra off  Christmas and New Year, 2 years of service, 32 days of Holiday
• Personal Leave per year: 4 days, volunteer leave per year: 5 days
• Sickness absence 3 months sick pay, simply health scheme
• Season ticket loan, scout store 25% discount
• Free car parking and minibus service
• Cycle to work scheme
• Perkbox discount scheme
• Personal Pension scheme 3% contribution and Scouts 6% contribution, and contribution 10% Gross salary.
• Family-friendly employer and pay Maternity and Adoption leave (13 weeks full pay, 13 weeks’ half pay, 13 weeks’ SMP)
• Paternity leave 4 weeks full pay
• Death Scheme pays four times the salary pay

Working locations

• Gilwell Park, Essex, United Kingdom
• Occasional national/international events requiring overnight stays.

How to apply

• Before making an application, please make sure that you’ve read the Recruitment and Selection Policy.
• Please submit your online application, including a CV and supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role by 23:59 pm Friday, 30th January 2026.
• To help us monitor the application of our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy, we’d be grateful if you'd also complete the Recruitment Monitoring questions on the Application Form.
• If you'd like to find out more to see if this role suits you, we'd be very happy to have an informal chat; please contact [email protected] to set up a call or virtual meeting.

Interviews

• Interviews will be held on Thursday, 19th February 2026, in person at Gilwell Park

Policies

The Scouts is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. We offer flexible working arrangements to support diverse needs and lifestyles, ensuring that our teams can thrive both professionally and personally. We welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life, believing that varied perspectives strengthen our innovation and community. Your unique experiences and ideas are essential to our success, and we look forward to hearing from all voices.

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