Programme Manager - Accessibility

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Background

The Micro:bit Educational Foundation is a global not-for-profit organisation with the aim of bringing micro:bit inspiration to children around the world. Our mission to inspire every child to create their best digital future is delivered through a holistic offer of educational products, services and resources designed for teachers that appeal to a broad range of children including those who think tech might not be for them. Our work is grounded in the belief that an ability to understand, participate and work in the digital world is vitally important to a young person's life chances and we should allow as many children as possible to have the opportunity to expand their own digital world. Partnerships all over the globe have helped deliver the learning of digital creativity using micro:bit to over 44 million children globally and we aim to reach 100 million children impacted by micro:bit by 2028.

Specific to the project

The majority of our audience use the micro:bit with the coding tool MakeCode. This is a free browser-based tool developed by Microsoft in partnership with the Micro:bit Educational Foundation. While MakeCode supports coding using Javascript and Python, block-based coding, built on the Google Blockly platform, is the most popular and effective method for beginners. The (Google) Blockly platform is also the basis of other block-based coding tools such as Scratch and code.org.

Currently, Blockly cannot be navigated with a keyboard and is incompatible with screen readers, creating barriers for users with dexterity or visual impairments. The block-based coding accessibility programme of work will support Blockly in developing their keyboard navigation and screen reader solutions, and then work with developers to integrate these and related accessibility improvements into MakeCode. We will conduct research and gather insights from accessibility experts, teachers and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) to guide development and produce materials to help first time SEND users start using MakeCode with these new features. We will conduct monitoring and evaluation work to evidence the impact of this programme.

This role will take charge of developing and managing the delivery of the block-based coding accessibility programme, working alongside Google Blockly, Microsoft MakeCode and the internal team. You will build up a strong relationship with Google, working closely with our partnerships team and take the lead in determining how the program needs to be structured, developed and delivered.

This role will sit in the Operations team of the Foundation, but have vital day to day working relationships with the Product, Education, Partnerships and Tech teams.

This is a 2 day a week role fixed term contract ending in August 2026. If deemed a success and further funding is available there is potential for this project to run for subsequent years, although this is not guaranteed. There may also be opportunities to extend programme management into other key projects.

Ideally this role will be UK based but we will also accept applications from the US. The role may require travel.

Key Responsibilities

Work with Head of Product and the Operations Director to deliver the block-based coding accessibility programme:

• Lead the programme internally and externally for the Foundation ensuring alignment with our values and 3 year strategy
• Develop the programme activities working closely with external consultants and the Foundation team, and delivering key Foundation project documents

• In leading the programme to meet its goals (focusing on accessibility improvements) work within the Operations team and closely with:

1. The Product team, including Head of Product and user researchers
2. The Education team including the Chief of Learning and other key members of the education team
3. The Tech team, including developers
4. The team delivering our monitoring and evaluation plan to ensure we can evidence the impact of our solution
5. members of our partnerships team

• Build strong relationships with the Google Blockly team, the Microsoft MakeCode, our accessibility consultant, the CSAccess group and other accessibility experts and schools involved in user research.
• Ensure the programme meets its deliverables and KPIs, working with the Data Insights consultant to ensure these align with organisational frameworks
• Work with our Head of Marketing and Google to generate stories and case studies to share globally about our work
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation, including schedules, budgets, internal project management processes, progress reports and manage allocation of resources to ensure efficient implementation.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, proactively addressing issues to minimize impact on project timelines and objectives. Foster a team-oriented and communicative environment among team members and stakeholders to ensure clarity and alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Communicate project status, updates, and key milestones to stakeholders, senior management, and other relevant parties.

This is a general guide to the key responsibilities of this role, it is not exhaustive. Similarly, the amount of time that you spend on various aspects of the role may vary.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Belief in the Foundations mission to broaden participation in digital creativity reaching more girls and under-served groups.
• Experience in establishing and delivering multi-faceted programmes with multiple stakeholders, ideally globally
• Knowledge or experience of accessibility and inclusion programmes
• Excellent programme management skills including experience of developing and delivering budgets, programme plans, risk assessments and project updates
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with a wide range of people - e.g. teachers, third sector organisations, business leaders, colleagues, governments
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, relationship building and networking skills; able to work effectively at senior levels and influence others' priorities
• Ability to bring people with different skills and objectives united behind a common goal
• Ability to work independently and flexibly within a rapidly changing environment
• Experience of working in a global setting
• Ability to travel including to the UK, Europe or US (e.g. to meet with partners or to support research)

Preferred

• Experience within the education sector (K12 not Higher Education)
• Experience managing user research, include projects related to accessibility
• Experience of working on digital development projects working with developers
• Knowledge of the Edtech market
• Experience of having delivered projects/programmes which engage a young person audience.
• Experience of having worked with funders as a key stakeholder in programme development.
• Have embedded an evidence-based approach in delivery.
• Ability to demonstrate the micro:bit and talk about its place in education systems and curriculum

Desirable

• An additional language (Spanish)

Benefits

Salary

Salary is £19,333 - £23,333 pro rata at 2 days a week FTE £48,334 - £58,334

The Micro:bit Educational Foundation is a UK-based not for profit with the goal to inspire every child to create their best digital future.

One of the greatest benefits of working at micro:bit is knowing that the work you're doing is contributing to something positive, constructive and with beneficial social outcomes. The Micro:bit Educational Foundation offers the opportunity to include outreach activities in your work, these can include working with tech community groups, teaching with the micro:bit at code clubs and so on.

We are a small organisation with a large audience and reach. We thrive on creative problem solving and are open to new ideas and solutions. This gives each individual the chance to have enormous impact, as well as ensuring that your days will be diverse and the challenges complex.

Once probationary period is complete, contractual benefits include; group private medical and group life insurance plan, EAP plan, flexibility in working hours, flexible annual leave policy (taking at least 20 days a year not including national holidays) and pension arrangement.

If this sounds like you, please apply sending your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the role. The closing date for this role is 17th October 2024. This is a rolling recruitment and so we may interview and appoint earlier.