Email your CV and an accompanying cover letter which outlines your suitability for the role to: yesinfo@yesmanchester.co.uk. ***Applications will not be considered until a CV and covering letter has been received.***
Employability Manager
Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer
Responsible For: Employability Coordinators and other employability delivery staff
Base Locations: YES Manchester Newton Heath (M40 2TP) and Collyhurst (M40 7GH), with outreach across Greater Manchester if required.
Contract: Full-time & permanent (interim role will be considered)
Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 days after five years’ service), your birthday off, death-in-service cover at three times salary (after probation), access to EAP, employer matched pension contributions up to 8.5%
1. Purpose
* To lead, develop, and inspire the employability team to deliver high-quality, person-centred services that empower unemployed and underemployed customers to achieve meaningful and sustainable employment.
* To maintain YES Manchester CIO’s position as the go-to employability provider in North Manchester while driving performance, innovation, and strategic growth.
2. Responsibilities
2.1 Leadership and Management
* Lead and motivate a team of Employability Coordinators and Digital Support Officers to deliver outstanding, customer-focused support.
* Provide supervision, coaching, and professional development to staff, ensuring they have the skills and tools to succeed.
* Oversee team caseloads, ensuring capacity is balanced based on workload rather than numbers alone.
* Foster a culture that reflects YES Manchester’s values and commitment to empowerment.
* Carry a small caseload of customers to support with capacity and demonstrate best practice.
2.2 Service Delivery Oversight
* Ensure employability programmes, job brokerage, skills development, and outreach activities meet targets and KPIs across multiple contracts and initiatives.
* Uphold and embed safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion standards across all services.
* Monitor and evaluate service performance, using data from the CRM and distance-travelled tools (e.g., WorkStar) to drive continuous improvement.
* Support customers’ progression by ensuring staff follow processes for registration, referrals, action planning, and data collection practices.
2.3 Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
* Build and maintain strong relationships with employers, training providers, referral partners, and funders.
* Represent YES Manchester at external meetings, events, and partnership forums.
* Promote opportunities for collaboration to expand provision and enhance customer outcomes.
2.4 Strategic Development
* Contribute to organisational strategy and service design.
* Identify funding opportunities and support bid writing or proposal development.
* Lead innovation to address challenges such as digital exclusion, economic inactivity, and multi-complex barriers to work.
2.5 Operational and Compliance Oversight
* Manage budgets and resources effectively for projects under your remit.
* Ensure compliance with funder requirements, policies, and procedures.
* Produce accurate, timely reports for the CEO, trustees, and external stakeholders.
* Maintain awareness of local labour market trends to inform services and advice.
* Support the maintenance of MATRIX accreditation and other quality standards.
3. Person Specification
(To be evidenced within CV / Covering letter and interview)
* Proven experience leading or managing employability or related services.
* Demonstrable success in achieving performance targets and quality standards.
* Experience supporting individuals with complex barriers into meaningful & sustainable employment.
* Strong understanding of employability strategies, labour market trends, and partnership working.
* Excellent leadership, communication, and influencing skills.
* Strong IT skills, including CRM systems, Microsoft Office, and Outlook.
* Ability to analyse data and use insights to improve performance.
* Values-driven, patient, and non-judgmental, with a commitment to empowering others.
* Ability to work on own initiative and collaboratively as part of a team.
* Understanding of Data Protection, Confidentiality, and Safeguarding.
* Level 6 or higher qualification in management, IAG/CIAG, or IEP.
* Management Qualification.
* Experience in recruitment practices and employer engagement.
* History of successful bid writing or fundraising.
* Networking and partnership experience, including presenting to external stakeholders.
* Full UK driving licence.
4. Quality and Culture
* Embed YES Manchester’s values in all aspects of leadership and service delivery.
* Promote empowerment over dependency, ensuring customers take ownership of their journey.
* Encourage team collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and a positive workplace culture.
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