Job Description

VOICE OFFICER (MATERNITY COVER)

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30,419 (FTE), pro-rata for part time hours 28 hours a week Part time, up to 12 months fixed term Maternity Cover Homebased (with some travel required for in person events) Closing date: Sunday 21st December 2025 Interview date: Thursday 8th January 2026

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it's falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.



The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That's why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.



We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time

ABOUT THE ROLE

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We're looking for a Voice Officer with experience of working with children, young people and their families and amplifying their voices to help create positive change to join our Voice Team.



The Voice Officer is a key member of the Voice Team, responsible for enabling Young Lives vs Cancer to shape the children and young people's cancer system with and for young people with cancer and their families. You will enable young people affected by cancer and their families to have a stronger voice inside and outside the organisation - not just to contribute, but also to challenge, giving the power to them to amplify their voice and make positive change.



You will work with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to deliver our Voice work to a high quality. Responsible for managing incoming enquiries and communications with our volunteer Voice Board Members, Voice Champions and Voice Hub network, working with the team to plan and run meetings and events both online and in person. With excellent organisational skills, you will help plan and coordinate our voice work, building strong working relationships with colleagues and our voice community with volunteer management responsibility for Voice Board Members and Voice Champions.



This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application an Enhanced criminal record check will be completed.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

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No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your 'day to day' isn't easy. Here are some of the main things you'll be doing, but you'll find more details in the job description.

Main responsibilities

Communication and Organisation

Delivering effective internal communication regarding the Voice team and playing a pro-active and leading role in Voice team meetings Supporting with correspondence, record-keeping and tracking leading on communications with our voice volunteers and internal communications Effective project management of voice activity - for example, planning events, setting goals and impact measurements for the activity, managing risks and reporting on progress

Voice Activities

Working with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to deliver the organisation's Voice approach, enabling children, young people and parents/carers to shape the organisation and the system it is situated within, maximising our Voice opportunities Delivery of the Voice Board so it is an effective model for the Board of Trustees to listen to and act upon the voices of young people with cancer, their parents/carers and siblings. Travel and occasional overnight stays to attend in person events with our voice volunteers. Developing and supporting the growth of our Voice Hub bringing voice opportunities to our wider community Act as the key contact and support for our Voice Champion Volunteers Working in partnership with the Voice Champions team on the development and dissemination of voice guidance and training for staff and volunteers across the organisation, designed to equip them so that they can confidently work alongside young cancer patients and their families Working with the Voice Manager and Head of Voice to ensure that we are able to amplify voices of all our beneficiaries across the whole of the UK, from the widest range of backgrounds and cultures

Working relationships and contacts

Volunteer management of our Voice Board Members and Voice Champions Team. Building and maintaining relationships and influencing others. Both internally working with colleagues to equip them to work alongside young people and families and externally working with young people and families to understand their views and opinions, ensuring that they feel heard as well as building connections with partners across the sector. Develop and sustain sector relationships, staying up to date with external developments in voice and participation and identifying opportunities for innovation and partnership
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Additional responsibilities

Alongside your specific job duties, every member of Team Young Lives needs to make sure they also:


Make safeguarding a priority Take care of your own health and safety and that of others Actively challenge injustice and inequality and promote Young Lives vs Cancer's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging agenda to create a better, more diverse and inclusive organisation. Ensure that you treat information and data professionally, using it only for the purposes that Young Lives vs Cancer has said it would; respecting the confidentiality and privacy of its supporters, service users and staff. Accept that you are personally responsible and accountable for ensuring you understand and adhere to all Young Lives vs Cancer policies and procedures Be an active team member, regularly attending team meetings and contributing to shared learning and development Undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by or agreed with your line manager.

WHAT DO I NEED?

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Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.



The key skills we're looking for in this role are:


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Experience

Experience engaging with and working alongside children/young people and/or parents/carers Understanding of the impact of cancer or health conditions on young patients and their families Experience using creative approaches to engage children, young people and parents, and present information in accessible ways Experience working within a team and building strong relationships with a range of stakeholders Experience coordinating or supporting events, projects or activities Experience supporting volunteers or working in a volunteer-involving organisation. Experience gathering and responding to feedback from diverse groups of people.

Knowledge and skills

Strong knowledge of safeguarding and risk assessment principles and practices and understand the need for confidentiality Demonstrate strong project management and organisational skills Collaborate with, and influence, colleagues and beneficiaries to support involvement and co-production. Excellent communication skills with ability to adapt own communication and influencing approaches according to the audience. Demonstrate sound written communication skills, including report writing, newsletters and writing for digital channels Work in genuine partnership with young people and families Understanding of oppression and the barriers that marginalised people face, and strong commitment to deliver anti-oppressive practices

Behaviours

Actively challenge injustice and inequality and promote Young Lives vs Cancer's Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Inclusion strategy to create a better, more diverse and inclusive organisation Demonstrate that Young Lives vs Cancer's values are at the heart of everything you do: Curious, Creative, Collaborative, Changemaking, and Courageous You're innovative and solutions-focused in the face of challenges and curve-balls You build sustainable internal and external working relationships and challenge silo working and 'single view solutions' You embrace technology and aim to think 'digital first' embracing virtual approaches to working together.

WHAT WILL I GAIN?

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For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you'll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here's how we do it:


Flexible working: we're open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development Generous annual leave allowance Great family/caring leave entitlements Enhanced pension Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website: https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk/careers/our-benefits/

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING

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At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation - or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don't just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.



We're on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren't there yet, and we're passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.



We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

ACCESSIBILITY

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We're committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we'll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.



Interviews will be taking place on Thursday 8th and Monday 12th January. They will include a brief presentation task and questions which we'll share ahead of the interview.


To arrange an informal chat, please contact Emma Wood on emma.wood@younglivesvscancer.org.uk.

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Category:

Policy, Communication & Voice

Job Function:

Policy, Influencing & Voice

Job Type:

Home-based

Location:

Home-based

Contract Type:

Temporary

Contract Length:

Up to 12 months maternity cover

Hours per week:

28

Salary:

30,419 FTE (Pro-rata for part time hours)

Closing Date:

21 December 2025

Interview dates start from:

8 January 2026