Connect to Work Manager

Gateshead Council; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Pension Scheme

Annual Leave 28-32 days

Flexible Working

Hybrid Working

Learning & Development

Health & Wellbeing

Cycle to Work

Car Scheme

Job summary

Gateshead Council is seeking a Connect to Work Manager to lead a high-quality supported employment service, delivering real social impact by helping residents gain sustainable careers.

You will work within the Education, Schools and Inclusion Service, coordinating with employers, the voluntary sector and DWP to drive performance and strategic partnerships while maintaining a strong focus on safeguarding and governance.

Qualifications

• Experience managing employment support, employability or supported employment services that deliver against contractual performance and job outcome targets.
• Strong knowledge of supported employment principles and the Supported Employment Quality Framework.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate teams, manage performance and drive improvements.
• Experience using performance, financial and customer data to manage delivery and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Manage successful delivery of Gateshead Council's Connect to Work programme, ensuring a high-quality supported employment service for participants and employers.
• Ensure delivery remains aligned to the Supported Employment Quality Framework and drive continuous service improvement.
• Drive achievement of contractual targets, including job starts and sustained employment outcomes.
• Lead and develop a team to deliver outstanding results and a great customer experience.
• Develop employer engagement strategies to promote inclusive recruitment and workforce development.

Skills

Employment support

Supported employment

Leadership

Data analysis

Partnerships

Budget management

Reporting

Job description

Who We Are & What We Stand For

Fixed Term Contract to 30th June 2029

Who We Are & What We Stand For

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Manage Delivery of a service that changes lives through employment.

The Education, Schools and Inclusion Service is committed to helping residents overcome barriers to employment and achieve sustainable, meaningful careers. Through the Department for Work and Pensions' Connect to Work programme, we support people with learning disabilities, autism and groups experiencing disadvantage to gain and maintain employment while working closely with employers to create more inclusive workplaces. As Connect to Work Manager and part of the Council's Working Gateshead Service, you will manage a high quality service that delivers real social impact, drives performance against ambitious contractual targets, and strengthens partnerships across the Council, local employers, the voluntary and community sector, the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Empower people. Influence employers. Deliver lasting outcomes.

What You Will Get To Do

• Manage successful delivery of Gateshead Council's Connect to Work programme, ensuring a high-quality supported employment service for participants and employers.
• Ensure delivery remains fully aligned to the Supported Employment Quality Framework, including leading fidelity assessments and continuous service improvement activity.
• Drive achievement of challenging contractual performance targets, including job starts and sustained employment outcomes.
• Lead, motivate and develop a team to deliver outstanding results and an excellent customer experience.
• Develop employer engagement strategies that support businesses to adopt inclusive recruitment, retention and workforce development practices.
• Monitor programme performance, budgets and grant funding to maximise impact, value for money and contractual compliance.
• Use data, trend analysis and scenario planning to identify risks, tackle underperformance and implement recovery plans.
• Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements are in place, including effective management of cases involving Multi- Agency Public Protections Arrangements.
• Develop and implement communication and engagement strategies to increase referrals and participation across Gateshead.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, DWP, local authorities, employers and community stakeholders.
• Represent Gateshead Council in contract management and partnership forums.
• Prepare and present reports for senior leaders, elected members and external partners.

Lead the Connect to Work programme and help more people build sustainable careers.

What You Will Bring

• Experience managing employment support, employability or supported employment services that deliver against contractual performance and job outcome targets.
• Strong knowledge of supported employment principles, the Supported Employment Quality Framework, DWP employment programmes and inclusive recruitment practices.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate teams, manage performance effectively and create a culture of continuous improvement.
• Experience using performance, financial and customer data to manage delivery, manage budgets, maximise funding opportunities and drive service improvements.
• Strong partnership-building skills with a track record of working collaboratively with employers, funding bodies, public sector organisations and community partners.
• Commercial acumen, experience of quality assurance processes and implementing solutions to address challenges and improve outcomes.
• Excellent communication, coaching and influencing skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly, produce high-quality reports and manage competing priorities effectively.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation

How To Apply

You can apply online using the apply now button below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications.

We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.

If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via

Please note:

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.