Job Purpose This role has been created to provide expert programme management and commissioning leadership to Denbighshire County Council?s Strategic Employment service, Working Denbighshire, following its appointment as one of three delivery partners for the Welsh Government ?s National Trailblazer programme.
The Government?s Get Britain Working strategy represents the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation, bringing together skills and health to get more people into work, and to get on in work, and the Government?s wider approach to devolution working with local authorities and the Welsh Government. The Working Denbighshire Programme Manager for Trailblazer will lead the planning, commissioning, and implementation of the Denbighshire Trailblazer Programme, within budget and in line with the Council?s policies, strategic aims, objectives and priorities.
The successful individual will be someone with a growth mindset, who can work creatively and collaboratively with key stakeholders and participants to ensure we advance our goal of creating a brighter future for the people of Denbighshire, Wales and the UK. They will have an open and transparent approach, a strong people focus, and an appetite for change and innovation. Combining high standards with responsive leadership, they will demonstrate a passion for employment and skills support and their value to the Welsh and UK Economy.
This programme will be delivered as part of an integrated ?Working Denbighshire? approach, which seeks to build resilient communities by coordinating support that helps people into work, removing barriers into or towards employment and maintaining their position or progress once in employment. This role will support the Service Manager to develop and implement its Employability and Skills service, ensuring services that are accessible, sustainable, and strategically aligned to address unemployment, poverty, and skills gaps across Denbighshire targeted particularly at people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to employment.
The successful candidate will work collaboratively with stakeholders to secure other grant-funding streams, and ensure streamlined, outcome-focused service provision, allowing the Working Denbighshire service to continue its impactful work and adapt to future challenges.
Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities 1. Strategic Planning and Commissioning Lead the development and implementation of the Trailblazer programme through the development of commissioning/grant funding strategies for employability and skills support services, supporting the development and delivery of pilots across Denbighshire.
Conduct needs assessments and analyse data to identify gaps in provision across the region and inform service design.
Ensure all provision including commissioned/grant funded services align with local, regional, and national strategic priorities.
Oversee the full programme lifecycle, including securing funds, planning, and implementation, supported through the Working Denbighshire Business Support Function to manage data and support the analysis of performance and quality.
Manage timelines, budgets, and resources to deliver projects within scope and on schedule.
Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure programme success.
2. Stakeholder Engagement Build and maintain strong relationships with service providers, community organisations, health, employers and government agencies locally, regionally and nationally.
Engage with key stakeholders to co-design services that meet the needs of the target audience.
Represent the service at meetings, forums, and events to promote partnership working.
Lead the development of a Communication and Engagement Plan supported by the Working Denbighshire Communication, Engagement and Participation function.
3. Funding and Sustainability Manage and monitor grant-funding streams to ensure compliance with funding requirements.
Identify opportunities for additional funding and write compelling grant applications.
Develop sustainability plans to ensure long-term service provision.
Develop Exit Plans where required.
4. Performance Monitoring and Reporting Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of all services, in-house or commissioned/grant funded across Denbighshire.
Secure training for delivery teams and employers across Denbighshire to ensure high quality employment and skills support for those who are economically inactive, including support for employers and their employees enabling people with disabilities, health conditions and/or caring responsibilities to thrive in their workplace.
Support the delivery of a consistent approach and act upon the findings for quality improvement provided through the collection of evidence and discussions with staff, participants and stakeholders.
Produce detailed reports for senior management, funding bodies, and other stakeholders.
Provide information and case studies to support the Engagement function of the Business Support team to ensure the commissioned services are effectively promoted.
Ensure continuous improvement by conducting research to inform programme development and the broader Working Denbighshire service, integrating feedback and lessons learned into future service delivery.
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS Degree or equivalent qualification in project and programme
management, public administration, business, or a related field.
Evidence of on-going professional development.
Trained in public sector procurement practices and grant compliance.
Qualifications such as PRINCE2 are highly desirable.
ILM Level 5 Diploma in Leadership
and Management
Commissioning qualification
Application
Form
Interview
Certificates
2. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Considerable proven experience in commissioning and delivering project / programme management where significant resources are involved including procurement, legal, financial and asset management
Experience in designing, implementing, and improving services based on community needs and data analysis.
Proficiency in using project management software and tools.
Competence in data analysis software and standard office applications.
Experience in identifying and mitigating project and service risks.
Programme Manager Programme Manager Programme Manager Programme Manager Programme Manager
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