We're looking for an experienced, compassionate and resilient Service Manager to join our Vine Court Road service in Sevenoaks, Kent. £40,000.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression. Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here. Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day. Service Managers are responsible for the effective management of all contracts within their designated patch, including line managing the relevant front-line staff. Leadership and competence development in direct reports is a key responsibility of the role. Post-holders may also carry client group specialism responsibilities, linking in with other Managers and Head of Operations to ensure focused integration of specialisms across the whole organisation. The ideal candidate will have management experience and be based in commuting distance to Sevenoaks, Kent. There is an expectation to be in service for this role. All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship. What you'll do: Drive business planning activities within your contract, ensuring relevant and challenging objective setting and ongoing performance tracking, developing turn around action plans as may be necessary This role will also hold an accountability for staff tracker updates/management for the patch and income management for wider contracts. HR investigations for other contracts also form part of the wider role Using sound financial and accounting principles, manage contract budgets to deliver on corporate and local contract financial targets Successfully lead and motivate your team to ensure the championing of and maintenance of a positive local culture within your service Work to continuously improve staff competence, ensure ownership of all staff issues and speedy and effective conflict resolution Responsible for reporting all staff changes to HR and Payroll departments, as appropriate e.g. starters, leavers, additional hours etc. Responsible for maintaining quarterly staff succession plans Deliver effective, professional and commercially focused briefings and supervision meetings with staff and ensure that information, reporting & communications flow up/down is effective Responsible for managing and allocating customers to support staff (casework management) For a full list of job requirements, please visit Look Ahead's website About you: Ability to lead and motivate staff to deliver excellent services Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement Has a practical and logical mind Excellent organisation skills Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments Is confident with high levels of self-esteem Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour Able to work as part of a group or team as well as being self motivated What you'll bring: Educated to degree level or equivalent Experience of managing contracts and resources and delivering to budget and performance targets Experience of delivering to housing management performance targets Experience of effectively managing and developing staff to ensure delivery of services performance targets within contract Experience of successfully managing external partnerships to ensure successful delivery of services Holds relevant CMI/NVQ Level 4 or other Business/Management Qualification Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications About us: Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us. Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date. We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds. ADZN1_UKTJ