CFO Evolution Service Manager

The Growth Company; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Growth Company is seeking an experienced Service Manager to lead the Creating Future Opportunities (CFO) contract across Liverpool and Warrington. You will oversee up to 18 delivery and support colleagues, drive contract performance, and ensure high-quality services that transform lives.

You will build strong partnerships with employers and stakeholders, use data to drive improvements, and maintain governance, quality and compliance across the service.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and people management skills.
• Strong track record of achieving performance targets and measurable outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and ability to present to partners and commissioners.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret performance and financial data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and report writing.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Resilient, proactive, results-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and support a team to achieve contractual targets and outcomes.
• Drive progression of participants into employment, learning and training opportunities.
• Manage contract performance, budgets, income targets and operational resources.
• Develop and maintain relationships with employers, referral partners, and local stakeholders.
• Ensure services meet compliance, quality and audit requirements.
• Monitor performance data, maintain data integrity and ensure information security controls.
• Identify and implement continuous improvements to systems, processes and service delivery.
• Maintain awareness of policy, labour market intelligence and sector developments.

Skills

Leadership

Performance management

Stakeholder management

Presentation

Analytics

Communication

Organisation

Resilience

Tools

Management Information Systems

Budgeting tools

Job description

The Growth Company (GC) are looking for an experienced Service Manager to lead the delivery of our Creating Future Opportunities (CFO) contract, ensuring high-quality services are delivered and contractual performance targets are achieved.

This role offers a unique opportunity to lead our two Activity Hubs in Liverpool and Warrington, playing a key role in transforming lives and reducing reoffending. Through creating safe, engaging environments, you will lead the team to support participants develop new skills, build confidence, and take positive steps towards sustainable futures.

As the leader of a team of up to 18 delivery and support colleagues, you will inspire high performance and ensure participants receive the support they need to achieve meaningful outcomes.

You will build and maintain strong partnerships with employers, commissioners, and local stakeholders, helping to create opportunities that make a real difference. Alongside overseeing service delivery, contract performance, budgets, and resources, you will use data and insight to drive continuous improvement, maximise impact, and ensure the highest standards of quality and compliance across the service.

CFO Evolution is a voluntary, seven-stage program aimed at reducing reoffending by providing tailored support and "Activity Hubs" for individuals in custody or on probation with complex needs. It focuses on rehabilitation through personalised one-to-one sessions, education, and employment support to help people move away from crime and engage with mainstream services.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and support a team of delivery and support staff to achieve contractual targets and performance outcomes.
• Drive participant progression into sustainable employment, learning and training opportunities.
• Manage contract performance, budgets, income targets and operational resources within agreed parameters.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with employers, referral partners, commissioners and local stakeholders.
• Ensure services are delivered to a high standard, meeting compliance, quality and audit requirements.
• Monitor performance data, maintain data integrity and ensure appropriate information security controls are in place.
• Identify and implement continuous improvements to systems, processes and service delivery.
• Maintain awareness of relevant policy, labour market intelligence and sector developments to support service growth and performance.

About You

• Proven leadership and people management skills with the ability to develop and motivate teams.
• A strong track record of achieving performance targets and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to confidently present information to partners, commissioners and other stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret performance and financial data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A resilient, proactive and results-focused approach to work.

Skills and Experience

• Previous experience managing teams within employability, justice, rehabilitation or related services.
• A proven track record of delivering contract performance and achieving key contractual outcomes.
• Experience managing budgets, income targets, expenditure and operational resources.
• A good understanding of the Justice Sector and interventions that support individuals to achieve positive outcomes.
• Knowledge of people management principles and employment legislation.
• Experience using management information and financial data to support decision-making.
• A strong understanding of local labour markets and employer engagement.
• The ability to demonstrate and apply The Growth Company's values in everyday practice.

We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits or visas. Therefore, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the UK.

Artificial intelligence can assist you during the application process, but every example and statement you include must be honest, accurate, and based on your own real experiences. If plagiarism is detected, meaning you present someone else's ideas or experiences, or AI-generated content, as your own, your application may be withdrawn, and internal applicants could face disciplinary action.

At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.

Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.

We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.

If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.

We also aim to make our recruitment process inclusive and accessible. If you need reasonable adjustments or have any general enquiries at any stage or the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] or call us on 0161 237 4447.

Examples include:

• Meeting the hiring manager or touring the venue in advance.
• Extra time for tasks.
• Interview questions shared beforehand.
• Accessibility software or equipment for assessments.

We're proud to support the Ban the Box campaign, which helps people with convictions access job opportunities. As part of this, we've removed questions about convictions from the initial application stage.

GC is committed to fostering a culture of flexibility and agile working. Many roles will increasingly support full agile arrangements. If you require more permanent flexibility, we encourage you to discuss this during your interview so your request can be considered early in the process.

All GC colleagues will work in line with the Health and Safety at work act and the GC Health and Safety Policy.