Operations Manager

Forward Trust; Dartford; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

25 days annual leave (+ bank holidays)

Job summary

The Forward Trust is seeking an Operations Manager to lead the Connect to Work contract across Medway and Gravesham. This full-time, permanent role (35 hours/week) will oversee IAG, pre-employability, and employability services, driving impact and growth.

You will champion IPS fidelity, governance, and high-quality delivery while coaching a high-performing team and building strong employer partnerships to create sustainable employment outcomes.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years’ managerial experience in the employability sector.
• Experience in leading IPS standards, quality assurance, and coaching.
• Proven ability to drive results through performance management and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational management of IAG, pre-employability, and employability services.
• Ensure IPS standards are met through coaching, audits, and quality assurance.
• Drive performance management, KPI monitoring, and contractual compliance.
• Contribute to budgets, bids, and business growth opportunities.
• Line-manage a high-performing team, fostering development and accountability.
• Strengthen employer engagement and deliver job fairs, workshops, and inclusive recruitment initiatives.
• Build and maintain partnerships across prisons, NHS trusts, local authorities, and community providers.
• Oversee caseloads and workflows to ensure efficient delivery and strong participant outcomes.
• Uphold safeguarding, compliance, and governance, keeping services safe and effective.

Skills

Leadership

Performance management

Contract delivery

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Strategic planning

Job description

Operations Manager

Location: Medway

Salary: £37,716 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent

Are you a passionate leader ready to drive impact in employability services? We’re looking for a dynamic Operations Manager to lead, performance-manage, and grow our Connect to Work contract in Medway and Gravesham. This is a full-time role (35 hours/week) for someone with at least 3 years’ managerial experience in the employability sector. You’ll be at the heart of our senior leadership team, championing high-quality delivery, IPS fidelity, and strong community partnerships. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and love turning strategy into results, this is your next challenge.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead operational management of IAG, pre-employability, and employability services.
• Ensure IPS standards are met through coaching, audits, and quality assurance.
• Drive performance management, KPI monitoring, and contractual compliance.
• Contribute to budgets, bids, and business growth opportunities.
• Line-manage a high-performing team, fostering professional development and accountability.
• Strengthen employer engagement and deliver job fairs, workshops, and inclusive recruitment initiatives.
• Build and maintain partnerships across prisons, NHS trusts, local authorities, and community providers.
• Oversee caseloads and workflows to ensure efficient delivery and strong participant outcomes.
• Uphold safeguarding, compliance, and governance, keeping services safe, effective, and accountable.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven leadership in employability, skills, IPS, or community services, with at least 3 years managerial experience.
• Expertise in performance management, quality assurance, and contract delivery.
• Strong relationship-builder with employers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Highly organised, analytical, and able to juggle multiple priorities.
• Committed to empowering individuals into sustainable employment.
• Knowledge of IAG, ESFA/DWP compliance, apprenticeships, and local economic strategies.
• Desirable: experience in social enterprise or understanding of mental health, disabilities, and recovery services.

You’ll have the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives while working in a supportive, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment. This is an opportunity to lead a team that values impact, innovation, and excellence, and to champion employment success across the community.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits -

• Flexible working
• Support for Families - We support our employees through every stage of family life by offering enhanced maternity and paternity pay for eligible employees who have completed 26 weeks’ continuous service, alongside family-friendly policies and a supportive, inclusive workplace.
• Training and development opportunities
• Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme - Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.