Academy Community Pioneer

The Co Operative Academies Trust, Manchester, M60 0AG

18 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  2 November 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  15 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other support role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £26,427 - £29,071 FTE (£13.70 - £15.07ph 36 hrs pw)

Academy Community Pioneer job summary

Academy Community Pioneer

Salary: NJC5 - NJC11 £26,427 - £29,071 FTE (£13.70 - £15.07ph 36 hrs pw)

Location: Various across our Trust

Working Pattern: Part-time | 0.2 FTE (1 day / 7.4 hours per week) | Flexible working, All Year Round

Reports to: Regional Community Development Manager

Are you passionate about making a real, lasting difference in your local community?

As Co-op Academies Trust we are looking for passionate, connected local champions to join us as Academy Community Pioneers!

We know that strong schools build strong communities - and strong communities support thriving children. In this unique and rewarding role, you will act as the vital link between our schools, local families, youth groups, and community partners. Working just one day a week (with flexible hours to suit your life), you’ll help turn community priorities into real action.

We have positions available across 3 of our Trust academies:

Co-op Academy Beckfield (Bradford)

Co-op Academy Walkden (Salford, Manchester)

Co-op Academy Smithies Moor (Kirklees)

What You’ll Do (The Role)

As an Academy Community Pioneer, you won't be sitting behind a desk all day - you'll be out in the neighbourhood building connections, listening to local voices, and bringing people together.

Understand & Represent Your Community: Use your local knowledge to identify what your school’s community needs most, focusing particularly on family support and youth engagement.

Bring the Community Plan to Life: Partner with the Regional Development Manager to design and deliver a tailored local action plan.

Build Powerful Partnerships: Connect with local Co-op food stores, Funeralcare branches, local authority teams, charities, and grassroots community groups to unlock support and resources.

Embed Support Culture: Help embed youth work and family support initiatives directly into the daily life and culture of the academy.

Champion Co-op Values: Promote local Co-op membership and collaborate across our wider Trust Community Pioneer network to share ideas and best practices

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need a traditional academic background to excel in this role - what matters most is your connection to the local area and your passion for helping others.

Lived Experience: You live in (or very close to) the community served by the school and truly understand its unique strengths, opportunities, and challenges.

Relationship Builder: You are friendly, approachable, and able to talk to anyone - from parents and young people to local business owners and charity leaders.

Proactive & Self-Motivated: You love taking initiative, solving problems, and managing your own flexible schedule.

Values-Driven: You align naturally with Co-op values - fairness, equality, solidarity, and working together to achieve more

Why Join Co-op Academies Trust?

Flexible Hours: Fits perfectly around family life, studying, or other part-time work.

Co-op Colleague Benefits: Enjoy discounts in Co-op Food stores, plus access to flexible benefits and credit union services.

Making a Local Impact: See the direct, positive results of your work right on your doorstep.

Network & Support: Full training, continuous support from your Regional Development Manager, and a strong network of fellow Pioneers across the Trust

How to Apply

Ready to shape the future of your local community?

To apply or request more information about individual school allocations, contact Elizabeth Garrity, Head of Community Development, at elizabeth.garrity@coopacademies.co.uk.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Co-op Academies Trust as an aware employer is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults as its number one priority. This commitment to robust recruitment, selection and induction procedures extends to organisations and services linked to the Trust on its behalf. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. We value variety and individual differences, and aim to create a culture, environment and practices at all levels which encompass acceptance, respect and inclusion. All our colleagues are expected to demonstrate a commitment to co-operative values and principles.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About The Co Operative Academies Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-co-operative-academies-trust

Why us?
Co-op Academies Trust is a place where you are part of something bigger, through a leading education and opportunities to serve our community, we are working together to make a better world.

From ages 3-19 Co-op Academies Trust supports students in Primary, Secondary and Special schools across the North of England, giving children the skills and experiences they need to succeed, no matter where they come from.

What makes our Trust unique is that we are sponsored by the Co-op Group. That close relationship means that we benefit from all the business expertise that has seen the Co-op grow to one of the most respected, successful businesses in the country.

Everyone in the Trust honours our fundamental commitment to the Ways of Being Co-op. They are our DNA; they represent our culture and reflect the rationale behind our decision-making. No matter what we do, they are how we do it.

Our ways of being are:

Be Yourself, Always
Show You Care
Do What Matters Most
Succeed Together
In 2025, we have 38 academies as part of the Co-op family, across 4 regions.

Our Values
Being part of the Co-operative Group, we are both guided and driven by the Co-op values which are embedded in everything that we do within our Academy - We strive to demonstrate the following ethical values in everything we do - they are our ‘Ways of Being’:

Succeed together

Do what matters most

Be yourself, always

Show you care

So, if you believe in our values, we would love to hear from you!

We offer a wide range of benefits and rewards to recognise the part you play in our success:
Benefits include:

You’ll get being a Co-op member, you’ll get a Co-op colleague discount card. This gives you a 10% discount in our Co-op Food stores.
Co-operative flexible benefits (discounted line rental and broadband package, family care advice and cycle to work scheme)
Discounted gym membership and leisure activities which includes discounts on Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life, Legoland etc), Virgin Experience Days, SuperBreak and many more
Co-operative Credit Union: save directly from your salary and receive a competitive dividend. Borrowers can benefit from very competitive interest rates & terms (in comparison with other high street lenders)
Co-op Funeralcare benefit
Season ticket and rental deposit loans
And More!

For more information about the Co-op Academies Trust, please visit: www.coopacademies.co.uk

The Trust is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnerships.

Head office location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Greater Manchester