Education & Employability Manager

Luton Town; Luton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Luton Town is seeking an Education & Employability Programme Manager to oversee planning, delivery and evaluation of Youth education initiatives such as Premier League Primary Stars and related partnerships.

You will line manage staff, ensure contractual compliance and monitor funder outcomes, while developing inclusive learning pathways and driving growth across the portfolio. Flexible working and weekend coverage may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience managing education, youth development or employability programmes.
• Experience supervising staff and maintaining delivery standards.
• Ability to manage budgets, priorities and deadlines.
• Experience collecting and reporting programme data and outcomes.
• Experience with successful funding bids and programme development.
• Understanding barriers to education and employment for youth and adults.
• Ability to build relationships with schools, employers and funders.
• Strong written and verbal communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Understanding safeguarding responsibilities and inclusive practice.
• Proficiency with digital planning, recording and reporting systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning, delivery and evaluation of Education & Employability programmes.
• Line manage staff through supervision, performance reviews and training.
• Ensure delivery meets standards, funder outcomes and KPIs.
• Oversee partnerships, SLAs, reporting and quality assurance.
• Develop accessible learning pathways reflecting participant needs.
• Support progression into education, training and employment with evidence.
• Contribute to planning, funding applications and partnerships.
• Drive growth and identify new funding opportunities.

Skills

Education programme management

Staff supervision

Budget management

Data reporting

Funding bid experience

Stakeholder engagement

Safeguarding & compliance

Digital systems use (CRM)

Education

Relevant qualification or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Oversee planning, delivery and evaluation of Education & Employability programmes, including Premier League Primary Stars, Premier League Inspires, Building Futures, school partnership provision, and other funded initiatives.




• Line Manage, support and develop departmental employees and sessional staff through regular supervision, performance reviews, observations, training and clear allocation of responsibilities.




• Ensure delivery meets agreed standards, contractual obligations, safeguarding requirements, funder outcomes and organisational KPIs.




• Oversee school service-level agreements and funded contracts, including delivery schedules, staffing, reporting and quality assurance.




• Develop accessible, inclusive learning and employability pathways that reflect participants' needs, voice and aspirations.




• Support progression into education, qualifications, training, volunteering, work experience and employment, with appropriate follow-up and evidence of outcomes.




• Contribute to departmental planning, service improvement, funding applications and new partnership opportunities.




• Drive growth and development of portfolio of Education, Employability and Learning programmes, identifying new areas of work and funding streams.

Other responsibilities

• Manage delegated programme budgets, monitor expenditure and support accurate financial forecasting and value for money.




• Maintain accurate and timely records of attendance, engagement, participant outcomes and progression using approved Trust systems, including Salesforce, Abler and relevant programme platforms.




• Produce high-quality monitoring returns, funder reports, management updates, case studies and impact evidence to agreed deadlines.




• Review programme performance regularly, identify delivery risks or underperformance and implement timely improvements.




• Ensure programme risk assessments, venue arrangements, consent and other operational procedures are completed and reviewed.




• Apply the Trust's safeguarding, health and safety, data protection, equality, diversity and inclusion policies, escalating concerns promptly through agreed procedures.




• Work with colleagues to communicate programme opportunities, celebrate achievements and refer participants to other appropriate Trust or partner services.




• Contribute to staff recruitment, Induction, professional development and effective deployment of resources.




• Undertake occasional direct delivery, site visits and evening or weekend work where operationally required.




• Carry out other reasonable duties consistent with the level and purpose of the role.

Skills, Experience, and Qualities

Essential:

• Experience managing education, youth development, employability or related community programmes, including planning, delivery and evaluation.




• Experience supervising or line managing staff and maintaining delivery standards.




• Ability to manage budgets, competing priorities, deadlines and contractual requirements.




• Experience collecting, analysing and reporting programme data, outputs and participant outcomes accurately.




• Experience of successful funding bids and programme development.




• Understanding of barriers to education, training and employment faced by young people and adults.




• Ability to build productive relationships with schools, employers, funders and community partners.




• Excellent written and verbal communication, including clear reports and professional stakeholder engagement.




• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and commitment to inclusive, safe practice.




• Confident use of digital systems and spreadsheets for planning, recording and reporting.




• Relevant qualification or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.




• Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evening and weekends.

Desirable:

• Experience of Premier League Foundation or other football club charity programmes.




• Experience managing service level agreements or education partnerships.




• Knowledge of employability pathways, vocational qualifications, employer engagement and sustained employment outcomes.




• Experience with Salesforce or equivalent CRM and monitoring systems.




• Mentoring, teaching, youth work, careers guidance or coaching qualification.




• Current first aid and safeguarding training, or willingness to complete required training promptly.




• Experience of using Salesforce to monitor and report on participation and impact (D)

Additional Information

• Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK