Employment & Skills Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job description

Job title: Employment & Skills Manager
Ref: 40811
Division: People
Location: Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB
Contract type: Permanent
Full/Part-time: Full-time
Salary: Competitive salary from £52,000 to £65,000 per annum, depending on experience
Job grade: C
Closing date: 30/04/2025

The Employment and Skills Manager will support the Head of Emerging Talent and Skills in the successful delivery of the People Skills Framework 2030. They will lead the Employment and Skills team, set clear objectives, identify areas for development, and ensure the successful delivery of the Skills delivery framework.

The role holder will lead the activity for widening participation by maintaining and growing a network of external stakeholders that support those with multiple barriers to access employment and ensure delivery of results in achieving agreed outcomes, commitments, and KPIs. The role holder will work closely with the Engagement & Partnership Manager, Apprenticeship & Graduates Manager, and the Resourcing team to create a pipeline of quality candidates that act as a referral source for vacancies as well as our mid to long-term talent pools.

What you’ll be doing as an Employment and Skills Manager

• Collaborate closely with the internal team, such as the Emerging Talent, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Learning & Development, and Resourcing teams to deliver the People Skills Framework 2030 in a unified and effective manner.
• Support and educate hiring managers on best practices for inclusive hiring and emerging talent programmes.
• Collaborate with the Engagement & Partnership Manager to align programme delivery and talent pools with workforce renewal plans.
• Partner with the Apprenticeship & Graduates Manager and team to ensure effective candidate pipelining and cohesive delivery of emerging talent, apprenticeship, and graduate programmes.
• Work closely with local organisations and skills forums to align untapped talent pipelines with workforce renewal plans and implement best practices for removing employment barriers.
• Work with education providers to ensure accessible pathways across regions that support evolving workforce renewal needs.

Working pattern: 36 Hours

What you should bring to the role

• Effective engagement skills with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Understanding and experience in skills development and accessing untapped talent through community-based pathways.
• Hold a strong understanding of barriers and underrepresented groups.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the vocational sector including education, community, regulatory requirements, and adult skills budgets.
• Strong understanding of social mobility and ability to create social value employability pathways based on business needs and community landscape.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £52,000 to £65,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Annual Bonus.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of your and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers, and life assurance.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.