Surrey County Council is committed to the development of its workforce and as such this role is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council.
The starting salary for this role is £59,868 per annum based on a 36-hour working week. It is a 2-year fixed term post, with the potential for extension when funding is confirmed.
This is a unique opportunity to support Surrey County Council to establish and deliver an ambitious new Connect to Work supported employment programme as part of a national roll out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Responsibilities will include project management of the programme, including budgets, contract management and engaging with stakeholders. This role is ideal for those passionate about driving meaningful change and having local impact supporting people into employment through effective leadership.
The role is hybrid with at least one day a week in Woodhatch Place, Reigate (usually Tuesday). The job will require some travel to other locations in Surrey and occasionally further afield. The post reports directly into the Head of Economy and Growth Operations.
Rewards and Benefits
The Economy and Growth team focuses on sustainable economic development across Surrey, working as 'One Council' to grow a sustainable economy and ensure no one is left behind. We provide strategic services in business support, innovation, skills, and places for the benefit of Surrey's 1.2 million residents.
We collaborate with partners and major employers like Amazon, Asahi, WWF-UK, Samsung, and McLaren to champion and futureproof Surrey's leading regional economy, home to 110,000 businesses contributing £50 billion annually to the UK economy.
We have a highly skilled workforce, respected educational and research institutions, and an enviable location. We're home to world-leading sectors - including creative industries, cybersecurity, gaming, and health - who we're proud to champion and support.
The role will lead the establishment and delivery of the Connect to Work programme in Surrey which has a value of up to £3.6m annually, for up to five years. At peak, support will be provided to 900 participants via established employment support models, centred around Employment Specialists who will work with individuals and employers. The role will include assisting in the establishment of a new Connect to Work team within Economy and Growth, operationalising a detailed Delivery Plan and budget agreed with DWP, commissioning and managing contracts and engaging with stakeholders and employers. The role will drive the successful delivery of this significant new programme.
To succeed in this post, you will need substantial experience of managing and overseeing employment support programmes and the ability to provide leadership.
To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:
To apply, please send a copy of your CV and outline your experience and suitability for the role responding to these three questions:
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 07/05/2025 with interviews planned for mid-May.
We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
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Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.
We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.