Employability Services Manager

Sport 4 Life UK; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Sport 4 Life UK is seeking an Employability Services Manager to lead the delivery and performance of our employability services, overseeing mentoring and employer partnerships. You will combine people management with clear accountability, ensuring services meet commitments while focusing on young people's progression.

The role reports to the Operations Manager, with responsibilities for planning, mobilisation and day-to-day delivery, safeguarding, data protection and quality assurance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading employability, employment-support or mentoring services.
• Experience managing contracts or funded programmes.
• Line-management experience with clear development plans.
• Ability to use performance data to identify challenges and improve outcomes.
• Strong relationships with employers, partners, commissioners or stakeholders.
• Understanding of safeguarding, data protection and quality assurance.
• Experience managing budgets, resources and competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, mobilisation and day-to-day delivery of employability services.
• Manage and develop the Mentoring Team Leader and Employer Partnerships Lead.
• Deliver person-centred mentoring and employment support for young people.
• Monitor performance, budgets and resources; identify risks and take improvement action.
• Strengthen relationships with employers, delivery partners and stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate reporting and evidence of delivery and outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Performance data analysis

Stakeholder relationship building

Safeguarding & data protection

Education

Management/Employability/YW/Careers guidance qualification

Job description

Start date: As soon as possible, subject to notice period

Help shape our next phase of growth

Good leadership creates opportunities - for the people you manage and the young people they support.

Sport 4 Life UK is entering an important phase of growth. We’re looking for an Employability Services Manager who can turn that ambition into high-quality services, a supported and effective team, and meaningful employment outcomes for young people.

We empower young people aged 11-29 across the West Midlands to find work and shape successful futures. This is an opportunity to bring your experience and ideas to a charity where you can see the difference your leadership makes.

About the role

Reporting to our Operations Manager, you’ll lead the delivery and performance of our employability services, overseeing mentoring and employer partnerships.

You’ll combine supportive people management with clear accountability, ensuring our services meet their commitments while keeping young people’s needs and progression at the centre of delivery.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the planning, mobilisation and day-to-day delivery of employability services.
• Managing and developing the Mentoring Team Leader and Employer Partnerships Lead.
• Overseeing person-centred mentoring and employment support that helps young people progress into sustainable work.
• Monitoring performance, budgets and resources, identifying risks and taking action where improvements are needed.
• Strengthening relationships with employers, delivery partners and other stakeholders.
• Ensuring accurate reporting and evidence of delivery and outcomes.
• Maintaining high standards of safeguarding, data protection and quality.
• Using performance data and feedback to improve services.

About you

You’ll bring experience of managing employability, employment-support or mentoring services, alongside the ability to lead people and deliver results.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Experience of managing contracts or funded programmes.
• Experience of line-managing staff, setting clear expectations and supporting their development.
• The ability to use performance data to identify challenges and improve outcomes.
• Strong relationship-building skills and experience of working with employers, partners, commissioners or other stakeholders.
• An understanding of safeguarding, data protection and quality assurance.
• Experience of managing budgets, resources and competing priorities.
• A commitment to helping young people overcome barriers and achieve their potential.

Experience of commissioned employment contracts, outcome-based funding, youth employability and employer partnerships would be beneficial. A relevant qualification in management, employability, youth work, careers guidance or a related discipline is desirable.

Why Sport 4 Life UK?

Our values - Changing Lives, Team, Quality and Progressive - guide how we work.

You’ll join colleagues who care about young people and support each other to do their best work. As our services grow, you’ll have the opportunity to strengthen delivery, develop your team and help more young people take their next step towards employment.

Applications close on 29 October 2026, with interviews scheduled for 3 November 2026.