Business Manager

Reed in Partnership; Chatham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Reed Pension Scheme

Management & Leadership training

Professional & Personal Development

Bi-annual pay reviews

Job summary

Reed in Partnership is seeking a Business Manager to lead and motivate a team of Employment Advisers, guiding performance and relationships with stakeholders to maximise employment outcomes. You will oversee daily operations, develop staff, and drive strategy to upskill communities and increase Restart referrals.

The role requires proven people management, a track record of hitting targets, and strong IT skills.

Qualifications

• Direct line management of a team
• Experience in sales, customer service or recruitment
• Track record of achieving targets personally and for the team
• People management including training, coaching, performance management and recruitment
• Strong administration and IT skills
• Assertiveness, resilience and good decision-making skills
• GCSE English Language at grade B or equivalent; Level 3 Diploma or A-Levels; Degree or relevant qualification

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team of Employment Advisers to support unemployed jobseekers into employment
• Oversee daily operations and manage office and individual performance against KPIs
• Develop staff through performance management, coaching and mentoring
• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to maximise Restart referrals and employment opportunities
• Take ownership and implement strategies to upskill local community members and overcome barriers to employment
• Monitor and manage performance to meet targets and KPI delivery

Skills

People management

Performance management

Coaching

Target achievement

Sales / Customer service experience

Administration and IT skills

Decision making

Assertiveness & resilience

Education

2 A-Levels or Level 3 Diploma

GCSE English Language grade B

Degree or relevant qualification

Job description

Reed in Partnership has been delivering public services since 1998. We are a British, family-owned company, whose mission has always been to positively transform people and their communities. This is reflected in our services, which we deliver to help people from all backgrounds and circumstances to change their lives for the better.Pay Range£35,500 - £43,000Job DescriptionDo you pride yourself on your ability to lead and motivate a team?Do you possess great people management skills and a passion for driving performance?Consider the role of a Business Manager at Reed in Partnership!Internal applications for this role close on 30/10/26Who we are:Reed's Employability Division aims to positively transform lives by helping individuals who are unemployed, economically inactive, or facing challenges such as health conditions, disabilities, or caring responsibilities to find sustainable employment. Through a wide range of tailored support services including one-to-one careers guidance, CV writing, interview preparation, and skills training, we have supported over 250,000 people on their journey into work.Our Restart Scheme, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), focuses specifically on supporting the long-term unemployed who are referred by their local Job Centre Plus. We provide them with up to 12 months of personalised support to enter or re-enter the workforce. What is the role about?The Business Manager is responsible for leading and motivating a team of Employment Advisers to support caseloads of unemployed jobseekers into employment, ensuring high-quality service delivery and adherence to performance targets. This role will require you to oversee daily operations, manage team development, and build strong relationships with stakeholders to maximise employment opportunities.Just some of your day-to-day responsibilities will include:Taking OwnershipImplementing strategies aimed at upskilling your local community members and overcoming barriers to employmentMonitor and manage office and individual performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).Working TogetherManaging, motivating, and directing staff, ensuring they meet and exceed performance targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Overseeing staff development, including performance management, identifying skills gaps, and coaching/mentoringMaintaining productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to maximise Restart referrals and participant employment opportunitiesBeing Fair, Open, and HonestManaging Profit and Loss reports and monthly financial forecastingWhat’s in it for you?A generous base salary (pro-rata for part time), and great flexibility with your working schedule, we offer training, development and progression opportunities. You will have access to the range of Reed in Partnership benefits, which include:25 days annual leave (pro-rata for part time) plus statutory bank holidaysReed Pension SchemeAward Winning Management & Leadership trainingProfessional & Personal Development FundsBi-annual pay reviewsThe Business Manager role offers immense satisfaction of leading a team that helps people overcome barriers and secure lasting employment, making a real difference in your community every day. At Reed in Partnership, our values—Fair, Open & Honest, Take Ownership, and Work Together—guide everything we do. Join us in delivering services that make a real difference.To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone with:Previous direct line management of a teamExperience in a sales, customer service or recruitment industryTrack record of working and achieving targets personally as well as managing team targetsExperience in people management including training, coaching, performance management and recruitment.Strong administration and IT skillsAssertiveness, Resilience and good Decision-making skillsA minimum of 2 A-Levels or an equivalent Level 3 Diploma.GCSE English Language at a minimum of a Grade B (or equivalent Level 2 qualification). OR achievement of a Level 2 in Literacy Assessment at interview stage OR International Equivalents.Desirable Criteria:Interest in people and willingness to learn.Knowledge of welfare/benefits system.Degree or relevant qualification. Degree topics may include; psychology, sociology, social care/science. Relevant qualifications would include Information Advice and Guidance NVQs, Brokerage Standard, Social Work qualifications or qualifications relating to welfare to work.Fluency in more than one languageWe aim to ensure that no candidate or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria.