Project Manager

i4 Recruitment; Norwich; On-site; GBP 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A local charity focused on employment support is seeking a Project Manager to lead the Connect to Work programme in Norwich and North Norfolk. The role involves project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and team management. Ideal candidates have significant project management experience and a solid understanding of challenges faced by those with disabilities. This full-time position offers a salary of £37,338 per annum and the possibility of a four-day work week after six months.

Benefits

25 days leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working hours

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Significant project/programme management experience (3+ years).
• Experience with IPS-fidelity supported employment is essential.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead project mobilisation including staffing and training.
• Build partnerships across Primary Care Networks and stakeholders.
• Manage a team of Employment Specialists and provide coaching.
• Monitor performance and prepare reports for stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Employer engagement

Leadership

Partnership building

Job description

Connect to Work Project Manager

Location: Norwich based - with some travel to North Norfolk required

Hours: 37 per week - subject to Four Day Week scheme following 6-months in post

Contract: 5-year programme (2025-2030)

Salary: £37,338 per annum

Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays

Application Deadline: 21st October (midnight)

Interview Date: Monday 27th October (Including evening interview slots to accommodate availability)

Reports to: Support Services Manager

About the Role

You will lead the end-to-end delivery of Connect to Work (CtW) across Norwich and North Norfolk - mobilising the project, building partnerships, leading the team, and delivering exceptional performance in line with IPS fidelity and the Service Specification. Connect to Work is a voluntary programme delivering the evidence-based Supported Employment model 'place, train, and maintain', helping disabled people and those with health conditions overcome complex barriers to employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead project mobilisation including staffing, induction, training, systems and venues; implement Specialist Support Framework with provider onboarding and SLAs
• Build productive partnerships across Primary Care Networks, NHS/ICS teams, social care, VCSE networks, JCP/DEAs generating referrals and integrated support
• Lead employer engagement strategy, cultivate business networks and anchor institutions; secure commitments for inclusive recruitment and sustained employment
• Line manage c10 Employment Specialists providing coaching, case management reviews and supervision in line with IPS standards and charity protocols
• Own performance plan and trajectory for referrals, starts, employer engagement, job starts and sustainments; monitor provider performance under SSF
• Oversee accurate MI, case records and dashboards; analyse trends to target activity and improve outcomes; prepare high-quality reports for stakeholders
• Hold contingency caseload when required; provide complex case support and cover during staff absence
• Establish programme governance with NCC including contract/performance meetings; maintain risk register with mitigations and ensure compliance
• Lead marketing and communications for CtW; represent programme locally and influence decision-makers
• Ensure IPS fidelity through file audits, practice observations and targeted CPD; maintain safe practice across safeguarding, lone working and health & safety

About You

You have significant project/programme management experience (3+ years) with full life-cycle responsibility, ideally within employment support or adjacent public/VCSE services. Proven experience delivering or managing IPS-fidelity supported employment is essential, along with strong understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and barriers/strengths of people with health conditions and disabilities. You have extensive employer engagement experience including senior-level account management, excellent leadership and people management skills, and outstanding partnership skills across NHS Primary Care/ICS, social care, VCSE and DWP/JCP.

About Future Projects

Future Projects is a Norwich-based charity dedicated to tackling poverty, exclusion, and disadvantage. We are a Real Living Wage, Disability Confident, and Four Day Week Gold Standard employer.

Additional Information

• Highly mobile role requiring delivery across community venues, primary care settings and partner premises
• Significant expectation of evening and weekend working to meet participant and service needs
• Enhanced DBS check (adult workforce; adults' barred list) and right to work in the UK required
• Programme delivery until 2030