National Work Options Manager

Hft; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days’ annual leave

Access to award-winning training

Wellbeing support services

Wellbeing support

Mobile discounts

Life assurance & referrals

Family-friendly policies

Job summary

A leading charity organization in the UK is seeking a National Employment Manager to lead the development of supported employment opportunities across the nation. The role involves strategic leadership, building partnerships with various stakeholders, and ensuring the delivery of sustainable employment programmes for individuals with learning disabilities. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in supported employment and a proven track record of managing dispersed teams. This position offers a dynamic role within a meaningful mission to empower individuals.

Qualifications

• Experience in supported employment or welfare-to-work programmes.
• Proven ability to manage remote teams.
• Understanding of SEND provision and employability challenges.
• Project management and service development experience.
• Understanding of SEND provision, employability challenges, and funding landscapes.
• Excellent communication, reporting, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Willingness to travel nationally and work flexibly.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and growth of supported employment opportunities nationally.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with stakeholders.
• Provide management and support to Regional Managers.
• Provide management and support to Regional Managers and local service leaders.
• Oversee project planning to ensure quality and outcomes.
• Deliver growth plans linked to external funding and sustainable models.
• Support professional development and retention of Job Coaches nationwide.
• Audit local projects and provide feedback and improvement plans.
• Monitor performance, drive results, and set targets.
• Contribute to national marketing and communications.

Skills

Supported employment experience

Project management

Excellent communication

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Education

Degree-level education or relevant professional qualification

Job description

Our mission is simple: the best life possible. We believe people with learning disabilities should be able to live within their communities, with real choice, opportunity, and support to achieve meaningful employment and independence. We are passionate about creating inclusive employment pathways that enable people with disabilities to thrive — and we’re looking for a National Employment Manager to help drive this ambition forward across the UK.

The Role

As National Employment Manager, you will lead the development and growth of supported employment opportunities nationally. You’ll work closely with regional teams, commissioners, education partners, employers, and national stakeholders to deliver high-quality, sustainable employment programmes that achieve outstanding outcomes for people with learning disabilities. This is a strategic, outward-facing role combining leadership, partnership development, performance oversight, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new supported employment opportunities across regions
• Lead national strategies to ensure programmes meet KPIs and contractual expectations
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with employers, commissioners, education providers, and national organisations
• Provide management and support to Regional Managers and local service leaders
• Oversee project planning to ensure consistent quality and strong employment outcomes
• Deliver growth plans linked to external funding and sustainable programme models
• Support professional development and retention of Job Coaches nationwide
• Audit local projects, providing constructive feedback and improvement plans
• Monitor performance, embed a results-driven culture, and set clear targets
• Contribute to national marketing and communications alongside central teams
• Champion innovation and best practice in supported employment

About You

You will be a confident leader with strong experience in supported employment or welfare-to-work programmes, ideally with national or multi-site responsibility. You’ll be comfortable working remotely, influencing at senior levels, and building partnerships across diverse sectors.

Essential experience and skills

• Degree-level education or relevant professional qualification
• Experience in supported employment, Project SEARCH, or welfare-to-work programmes
• Proven ability to manage remote or geographically dispersed teams
• project management and service development experience
• Understanding of SEND provision, employability challenges, and funding landscapes
• Excellent communication, reporting, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Willingness to travel nationally and work flexibly

What we offer

• 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Access to award-winning training and career development
• Flexible pay options via Wagestream
• Wellbeing support including Digital GP, counselling, and mental health services
• Discounts on mobiles, life assurance, and referral rewards
• Family‑friendly policies and return‑to‑work bonuses

If this sounds like the kind of role where you can thrive, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and play a vital role in empowering learning disabled adults to live the life they choose.