Assistant Director - Employment, Skills & Inclusion

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority; Liverpool City Region; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

As the Assistant Director of Employment, Skills and Inclusion, you will lead strategic initiatives to enhance employment and skills across the Liverpool City Region. This role requires strong leadership and stakeholder management skills to drive complex programmes that benefit the community.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous holiday entitlement

Free travel around Liverpool City Region

Flexible and hybrid working arrangements

24/7 access to Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts at council-owned gyms

Bike to Work Scheme

Opportunities for coaching and mentoring

Qualifications

• Experience in leading and managing large teams.
• Track record of delivering complex programmes.
• Understanding of local government and public sector.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for employment and skills programmes.
• Manage relationships with Local Authorities and stakeholders.
• Drive commissioning and delivery of services.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Commissioning

Stakeholder Management

Job description

About the Role

As Assistant Director of Employment, Skills and Inclusion, you’ll be responsible for providing strategic leadership and managing our broad range of programmes that incorporate both direct delivery and commissioning. This role will utilize the CA’s devolved powers to provide and commission services across Adult Skills, Employment Support, Careers, and Inclusion. You will lead strategic development and delivery, working in partnership with Local Authorities and maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

About the person

This is a perfect opportunity for someone with experience in leading and managing large teams, driving the commissioning and delivery of complex programmes with funding and delivery targets, and building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders.

You should have strategic commissioning experience, a thorough understanding of the employment and skills landscape, a track record of delivering complex programmes, and overseeing the effective planning and delivery of various services and initiatives.

Additionally, a good understanding of local government and the wider public sector is essential, along with experience working closely with senior leaders.

Finally, you should share our passion for the Liverpool City Region and its 1.6 million residents, demonstrating our three key behaviours: LCR First, Action Focus, and Respect.

To support your application, please include in your personal statement examples of your experience with:

• • Proven track record of delivering functions related to skills, employment, and inclusion at a similar scale.
• • Evidence of navigating complex and high-profile political environments.
• • Ability to establish and run programmes across complex stakeholder environments.
• • Evidence of building effective, collaborative, cross-sector partnerships.

If you believe you meet the role description and our values, click on the link to apply and demonstrate how you meet the person specification.

About the organisation

The Liverpool City Region is renowned for its history, culture, and creativity. It is the birthplace of modern railways, public health, and international trade. Currently, its economy is undergoing a transformation through innovation in health and life sciences, digital and creative industries, and advanced manufacturing, contributing to an economy worth £35 billion annually.

The Combined Authority plays a central role in fostering this innovation-led economy. We aim to use our devolved powers and funding to create wealth and prosperity for all 1.6 million residents and the wider UK, investing in our economy, people, place, transport, and digital infrastructure. Our vision is for the Liverpool City Region to be: The best place to grow up, grow a family, and grow a business—where no one is left behind.

Staff benefits

• • Contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme between 5.5% and 12.5%
• • Generous holiday entitlement of 29 days, increasing to 34 days after 5 years, plus bank holidays and the option to buy 10 additional days
• • Free travel around Liverpool City Region with an All-Zone Metro card worth £1,450 per year, plus an All Zones Off Peak Trio ticket for your spouse or partner
• • Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• • 24/7 access to Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family, including free counselling
• • Discounts at council-owned gyms
• • Bike to Work Scheme
• • Opportunities for coaching, mentoring, apprenticeships, and professional qualifications, including paid membership fees and a £1,000 interest-free learning loan for non-job-related learning

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates who meet the essential criteria and declare that they: have a disability, are from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background, are a reservist, or have close family links to the Armed Forces, as part of our commitment to under-represented communities.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.