Early Years Development Manager (Level 2) (Maternity Leave Cover)

Organisation: Rise North East
Salary: £30,126 – £34,760  per annum
Location: Flexible / North Tyneside / County Durham
Contract type: Fixed Term (Full time)
Closing date: 22 March 2026
Interview date: 6 April 2026
Job Description: The Role

We are currently seeking an experienced, passionate and motivated Early Years Development Manager  to join us on a Maternity Leave Cover basis.

This is an exciting key management role within the Children and Young People’s (CYP) Team. The successful candidate will be responsible for continuity and maintaining the smooth running of our Early Years workstream, in addition to line management of our Outdoor Education Facilitator and project managing our existing early years areas of work, such as Step Outdoors, the Early Years Conference and wider workforce development opportunities to name a few.

You will support developing, leading and upscaling high-quality maternity and early years programmes and initiatives across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham, supporting the charity’s strategic priorities to empower people to lead healthier lives, tackle inequalities, and strengthen communities. 

The role focuses on project development and management, increasing physical activity levels, movement, active outdoor play and wellbeing for young children aged 0–5 and their families. Ensuring every child has the best start in life and supports families to thrive - particularly in communities experiencing the greatest health, social, and economic disadvantage. 

The Early Years Development Manager will work collaboratively with internal and external teams, building strong local, regional and national partnerships, co-designing inclusive, evidence based, needs led programmes and positive experiences. 

You will work with stakeholders to champion the voices of our youngest children, their families and professionals in the early years sector, working to shape local systems, policy, and practice by ensuring they meet regulatory standards and compliance within the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework (EYFS) ensuring strong outcomes for children and families.   

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about early childhood development and confident in leading change, supporting quality improvement and influencing practice and scale.  

We are interested in hearing from candidates who are motivated to improve outcomes for expectant mums, young children, their families and early years professionals. 

Additional experience in maternity and working with expectant mums, new parents and their babies within the first 1001 days would be highly valuable, to co-design, co-produce and drive forward a new key area of health and wellbeing work within this area.  

Purpose - The Early Years Development Manager will lead and deliver Rise’s work within the early years sector (pregnancy to age 5) across Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and County Durham, supporting the charity’s strategic priorities to empower healthier lives, tackle inequalities, and strengthen communities.

The role focuses on increasing physical activity levels, movement, active play and wellbeing for young children aged 0–5 and their families, expectant/new parents and the wider professionals that support them. Helping to reduce the inequalities gap and ensuring every child has the best start in life and supports families to thrive - particularly in communities experiencing the greatest health, social, and economic disadvantage.

The Early Years Development Manager will programme develop and project manage our early years workstream, building strong local, regional and national partnerships. Co-design inclusive, evidence based, needs led programmes and positive experiences. Championing the voices of our youngest children, their families and professionals in the early years sector in shaping local systems, policy, and practice ensuring they meet regulatory standards and compliance within the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework (EYFS).

Key Themes and Responsibilities - Lead Rise’s maternity and early years work, ensuring it aligns with organisational strategy and priorities. Build and maintain strong relationships with relevant partners across health, education, and community systems and represent Rise within regional and national forums.

Through partnership development, collaboration and influence, promote the role of physical activity, movement and active play as central to child development and family wellbeing.

Develop, implement and manage the co-design and delivery of programmes, training, events and place-based initiatives that promote active play, movement and empower the voices of young children and families.

Work collaboratively with internal and external colleagues to co-design, upscale and diversify Rise’s current and new programme offers for children age 0-5 and their families, expectant/new parents and the wider professionals that support them.

Ensure that all work is inclusive, diverse and evidence-led, meeting the highest standards of all safeguarding, equity and quality. The Early Years Development Manager will ensure that delivery promotes high standards and positive outcomes and contributes to sustainable changes in behaviour and system practice.

Research and map the local maternity and early years sector, fostering community links and engagement, understanding gaps in workforce development and provision for young children and families. Identify and develop new funding and partnership opportunities that will sustain and grow our maternity and early years offer.

The postholder will contribute to bid writing and business development proposals. Manage programme budgets and resources effectively to maximise impact and achieve value for money in line with the charity’s financial procedures.

Monitor programme effectiveness by using research, data and insight to inform learning, demonstrate impact and drive continuous improvement. Support with evaluation reports for funders and stakeholders, sharing key learning, case studies and successes. Contribute to building a strong evidence base that informs wider practice and influences policy.

Line manage, mentor and support colleagues to ensure the effective direction and delivery of our early years work and contribute to the development of organisational strategies and plans.

Participate in training and professional development, model Rise’s values and behaviours, and work flexibly as part of a collaborative, learning organisation. 

Any other duties as required, commensurate with the grade and remuneration of the post.
How to apply: Applicants will be interested to know that Rise is currently operating a 4-day working week, with full time employees gifted one day off per week (Fridays) but still paid a full-time salary. This reduces the working hours from 37.5 to 30 per week but is not a contractual entitlement. Trials have shown that a 4-day working week can reduce stress and burnout as well as levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues, but productivity levels are elevated. All applications must be submitted to recruitment@risenortheast.co.uk using the application form available on our website - https://www.risenortheast.co.uk/careers/job-vacancies/. Please note CVs will not be accepted. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact either Nathan Biddle (Senior CYP Development Lead) via email at Nathan.Beadle@risenortheast.co.uk OR Louise Laws (Strategic Lead - Children & Young People) via email at Louise.Laws@risenortheast.co.uk