Service Manager

AWD online; Eastbourne; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days’ annual leave + bank holidays

5% employer pension contribution

Healthcare Cash Plan

Life Assurance

Job summary

AWD online is seeking a Service Manager to lead a high-impact domestic abuse service across East Sussex. You will oversee safeguarding, risk management and multi-agency collaboration, delivering safe, effective services while managing a skilled team.

The role includes governance, finance, and strategic influence to sustain service delivery and continue improvement. Hybrid working and a commitment to continuous development are required.

Qualifications

• Experience in domestic abuse, safeguarding or public protection fields.
• Experience leading or managing teams supporting high-risk or vulnerable people.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day service delivery, team supervision, professional development and high-quality outcomes.
• Oversee safeguarding, complex risk management, case review and information-sharing arrangements.
• Monitor outcomes, service performance, governance and continuous improvement.
• Build partnerships across safeguarding, criminal justice, housing, health, social care and local authorities.
• Represent the service at strategic forums and multi-agency meetings to enhance domestic abuse responses.
• Strengthen coordinated approaches and promote accountability in behaviour change.
• Produce performance information for commissioners and funders, ensuring data protection and regulatory compliance.
• Provide financial oversight and contribute to service sustainability.

Skills

Domestic abuse experience

Safeguarding knowledge

Public protection frameworks

Multi-agency partnership

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Risk management

People development

Job description

Service Manager

Lead a high-impact service tackling domestic abuse at its source, combining safeguarding, public protection and behaviour change. This hybrid role suits a confident leader with relevant service management, complex risk and partnership-working experience.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Operations Manager, Safeguarding Manager, Service Delivery Manager, Domestic Abuse Manager, Public Protection Manager, Programme Manager, Support Services Manager, Team Manager

Benefits include 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, a 5% employer pension contribution, healthcare cash plan, life assurance and professional development.

SALARY: £37,080 per annum + Benefits

LOCATION: Hybrid - East Sussex (extensive travel across Rother, Wealden, Lewes, Hastings and Eastbourne)

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Fixed-Term Contract for up to 12 months initially, with a possible extension of up to a further 36 months, depending on funding

WORKING HOURS: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with some evening and weekend work required and participation in an out-of-hours management rota

JOB OVERVIEW

This is a rewarding opportunity for a Service Manager to lead a specialist intervention focused on reducing harm and improving safety for victims, survivors and children.

The Service Manager will shape safe, effective delivery across East Sussex, leading a skilled team and working closely with safeguarding, criminal justice, local authority, health and social care partners.

With responsibility for performance, governance, finance and continuous improvement, the Service Manager will also influence local strategy, strengthen multi‑agency practice and support future service sustainability.

DUTIES

• Service Leadership and Delivery: Lead day-to-day service delivery, team supervision, professional development and high-quality outcomes

• Safeguarding and Risk Management: Oversee safeguarding, complex risk management, case review and robust information-sharing arrangements

• Performance and Quality: Monitor outcomes, service performance, audit activity, governance and continuous improvement

• Partnership Working: Build effective relationships across safeguarding, criminal justice, housing, health, social care and local authority partners

• Strategic Representation: Represent the service at strategic forums, partnerships and multi‑agency meetings, contributing to local domestic abuse responses

• Systems Change and Practice: Strengthen coordinated approaches, pathways and protocols while promoting accountable behaviour change practice

• Reporting and Compliance: Produce performance information for commissioners, stakeholders and funders, ensuring data protection and regulatory compliance

• Finance and Sustainability: Provide financial oversight and contribute to service development, sustainability and funding opportunities

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

• Previous experience within domestic abuse, safeguarding, public protection or a related field

• Experience leading or managing teams supporting high-risk or vulnerable people

• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, risk management and public protection frameworks

• Experience of multi‑agency partnership working at operational and strategic levels

• Experience influencing stakeholders and building effective relationships

• Strong understanding of domestic abuse, its impact on victims and families, and behaviour change approaches

• Experience presenting, training and communicating with audiences

• Strong leadership, decision‑making and people‑development skills

• Ability to manage complex risk and safeguarding concerns calmly and effectively

• Full UK driving licence, access to a vehicle and ability to travel extensively across East Sussex

• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusive practice, accountability and evidence‑based improvement

DESIRABLE

• Experience working with perpetrators of domestic abuse

• Experience attending or chairing MARAC meetings

• Financial management, commissioning or budget management experience

• Experience securing funding or contributing to service growth and sustainability

Why This Role Matters

This is more than a management position

It's an opportunity to lead work that directly contributes to breaking cycles of abuse, protecting vulnerable adults and children, and creating safer communities.

You’ll shape services, influence systems and support a team that is delivering meaningful change every day.

When you join the team, you become part of an organisation where Care, Curiosity, Integrity, and Personal Leadership are at the heart of everything they do. These values shape their culture, guide their decisions, and underpin their commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those they work with.

BENEFITS

• 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service

• Birthday off each year and option to buy additional annual leave

• 2 paid volunteer days each year

• 5% employer pension contribution, matched by a 5% employee contribution

• Healthcare Cash Plan

• Life Assurance Cover at 3 times annual salary

• Annual Salary Review

• Refer a Friend Scheme

• Benefit Hub access with retail discounts and savings

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Additional voluntary benefits

• Ongoing learning, professional development and training opportunities

• Supportive working culture focused on wellbeing and success

This role requires an Enhanced DBS Check

JOB REF: AWDO-C15383