Director of Services

Volunteer Centre; Leeds; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-based organization is seeking a Director of Services to lead the strategic and operational direction of its support services. This role requires a strong leader with a proven track record in safeguarding, quality assurance, and service development. The ideal candidate will have at least two years of senior leadership experience, be committed to trauma-informed practices, and possess excellent collaborative skills. If you are ready to make a significant impact in improving outcomes for vulnerable young people, we encourage you to apply. This position is based in Leeds and offers flexibility in working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years in a Senior Leadership position.
• Proven track record of maintaining the safeguarding.
• Experience in developing quality assurance systems.
• Ability to design and embed systems for compliance.
• Demonstrated success in building influential relationships.
• Ability to develop new services collaboratively.
• Strong skills in planning and coordinating work.
• Willingness to work in the office for at least three days per week.
• Deep understanding of stakeholder priorities.
• Commitment to trauma-informed practice.
• Knowledge of internal communications strategies.
• Experience in co-producing services with young people and others.
• Substantial experience in analysing data.
• Proven ability to create inclusive environments.

Responsibilities

• Providing leadership for GIPSIL’s support services.
• Lead on rolling out best practices across support services.
• Serve as the safeguarding lead and Ofsted Nominated Individual.
• Provide updates to the CEO and relevant committees about services.
• Manage risks in collaboration with the Senior Management Team.
• Ensure services meet quality standards and compliance.
• Develop quality assurance systems and practices.
• Oversee service budgets with relevant stakeholders.
• Lead on embedding trauma-informed practice.
• Develop methods to include young people's voices.

Skills

Leadership Experience

Safeguarding Expertise

Quality Assurance

Strategic Systems Development

Collaborative Leadership

Service Development

Operational Excellence

Flexible Working

Strategic Insight

Trauma-Informed Practice

Staff Engagement

Co-Production

Analytical Skills

Inclusive Leadership

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Senior Management Team as a Director of Services. In this role you will be responsible for the strategic and operational direction of the organisation and for providing leadership to the whole of GIPSIL’s services fulfilling our mission and core values and leading by example with a commitment to improving outcomes for those we support.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing leadership for GIPSIL and its support services, ensuring that they are delivered to the highest standards of quality and performance and ensure they meet all legal and contractual requirements.
• To stay abreast of any changing legislation and to lead on rolling out best practices across support services and the wider organisation as appropriate.
• To be the safeguarding lead and Ofsted Nominated Individual for the organisation.
• To provide the CEO, Management Committee, Sub-Committees and Management Team with regular updates about the services, including quality and performance.
• To contribute to the overall leadership and strategic direction of the organisation, managing risks in close collaboration with the SMT.
• To take overall responsibility, in collaboration with the SMT, for GIPSIL’s support services; collaborating with the Director of Development for contract compliance and to develop sustainable, impactful services.
• To lead in developing quality assurance systems and practices for support services to ensure that the organisation’s quality can be maintained and enhanced.
• To ensure that the organisation meets regulatory responsibilities and works within a model of good practice which is consistently evaluated and amended accordingly.
• To lead and provide effective line management to direct reports for services to ensure that they are provided with high support and challenge to enable safe and effective operation of services, learning is embedded across services, delivering positive outcomes.
• To work with the Board, SMT relevant budget holders to agree service budgets and ensure responsibility is devolved as appropriate whilst maintaining oversight, ensuring timely corrective action is taken as required in collaboration with the Finance Director.
• To lead on embedding trauma-informed practice internally; sharing best practice as appropriate.
• To work with the SMT and relevant colleagues to develop methods to collate and include the voices of young people to inform practice across all that we do.
• Deputise for the CEO and represent GIPSIL as necessary, in conjunction with other SMT members.

What We’re Looking For

• Leadership Experience: Minimum of two years in a Senior Leadership position, with a demonstrable ability to lead with clarity, purpose, and integrity.
• Safeguarding Expertise: Proven track record of maintaining the safeguarding of young people and those we support, including those with complex needs.
• Quality Assurance: Experience in developing and implementing robust quality assurance systems, aligned with Ofsted standards.
• Strategic Systems Development: Ability to design and embed systems that support high-quality service delivery and compliance.
• Collaborative Leadership: Demonstrated success in building positive, influential relationships across teams, partners, and stakeholders.
• Service Development: Ability to contribute to initiatives and develop new services in collaboration with relevant colleagues.
• Operational Excellence: Strong skills in planning, prioritising, delegating, and coordinating work to meet strategic deadlines.
• Flexible Working: Willingness and ability to be in the office for at least three days per week and to work flexibly to attend key strategic meetings in person.
• Strategic Insight: Deep understanding of stakeholder priorities and the evolving needs of those we support.
• Trauma-Informed Practice: Commitment to trauma-informed and reflective practice as a foundation for service delivery.
• Staff Engagement: Knowledge of internal communications strategies that foster connection, collaboration, and best practice sharing across diverse teams and locations.
• Co-Production: Experience in co-producing services with young people, staff, volunteers, partners, and funders.
• Analytical Skills: Substantial experience in analysing data and producing high-quality reports.
• Inclusive Leadership: Proven ability to create environments that promote team work, inclusion, equality of opportunity, and diversity.

Who We Are

GIPSIL is a community-based organisation providing housing, counselling, advice and support to young and vulnerable people at risk in Leeds.

As an organisation we are committed to the following principles in recruitment to ensure we can effectively achieve our aim of providing equal opportunities and safer recruitment;

• We recruit for potential, not perfection
• We are a values based recruiter
• We value lived experience as a demonstration of capability for a role
• We only utilise truly “essential” criteria in recruitment
• We are committed to safer recruitment practice

When we refer to Values we are talking about our organisational Values, found here .

Closing Date: 5th January 2026 at 12 noon

Interview Dates: W/C 12th January 2026 (First Stage) and W/C 19th January 2026 (Second Stage)

How to Apply

To apply for this role please complete an application form which can be found here .

Please visit our website to obtain the full job description and person specification which can be found here .

To arrange an informal conversation about this role please contact Julia Preston via email: [e-mail] .

Please note that GIPSIL will not accept CV’s or agencies.