Service Manager for Services for Young People

Herts Legal Service - Hertfordshire County Council; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council is seeking a Service Manager for Hertfordshire Services for Young People in Stevenage, with a hybrid working pattern and county-wide responsibilities.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team, drive performance, manage contracted services in schools and colleges, and work with partners to deliver high-quality youth work, careers guidance and work-related learning.

Qualifications

• Degree or higher education qualification in a relevant field
• Strong leadership and current relevant successful operational performance management experience
• Recent management experience in formal or informal education settings
• Paid or voluntary work experience relating to the Service priorities
• Thrive in a fast-moving multidisciplinary environment - deadlines, at pace
• ICT competent including data and performance analysis
• Full UK Driving Licence and daily access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team across Stevenage and North Herts
• Drive a culture of high achievement and continuous improvement
• Provide countywide strategic lead responsibilities for service priority areas
• Oversee contracted services in schools and colleges incl. careers guidance and work-related learning
• Engage and negotiate with a wide range of partners

Skills

Leadership

Performance management

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Data analysis

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field

Tools

Excel

Data analysis tools

Job description

Job Introduction

Job Title: Service Manager for Hertfordshire Services for Young People
Starting Salary: £63,471 progressing to £71,045 per annum
Hours: 37
Location: Stevenage / Hybrid (travel and work across county)
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Children's Services

About The Team

Our vision is to meet the needs of young people who face challenges in education, their community or home life, to ensure a successful transition to adulthood.

Hertfordshire Services for Young People supports young people to achieve their potential by delivering high-quality youth work, careers education, information, advice and guidance, as well as work-related learning and work experience opportunities. We review and maintain Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for young people aged 16 and over, ensuring they receive the support they need post year 11.

The service works in schools, colleges, community venues and young people's centres, using a variety of approaches and methods during the day, evenings and weekends.

About The Role

Responsible for a multi-disciplinary team of Careers Education IAG Advisers, Youth Workers, EHCP Coordinators, Employment Training Advisers, and other professionals across Stevenage and North Herts.

You will have recent and relevant expertise in delivery operational performance, with a proven ability to drive a culture of high achievement and continuous improvement.

As a member of the senior leadership team, you will have countywide strategic lead responsibilities for one or more service priority areas.

In addition to core funded work, the team delivers contracted services in schools and colleges including careers guidance and work-related learning.

You will demonstrate strong leadership; be innovative, flexible, motivational, have good attention to detail, work at speed, and can engage and negotiate with a wide range of partners.

Essential

About you

• Degree or higher education qualification in a relevant field
• Strong leadership and current relevant successful operational performance management experience
• Recent management experience in formal or informal education settings
• Paid or voluntary work experience relating to the Service priorities
• Thrive in a fast-moving multidisciplinary environment - successfully achieving deadlines, at pace.
• ICT competent including data and performance analysis
• Full UK Driving Licence and daily access to a vehicle.

Desirable

• A National JNC qualification in Informal Education / Youth Work or a Level 6 Careers Guidance qualification, demonstrating professional expertise in Youth Work and or Careers Education.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Community Services Level 14 job profile. Please locate this via: Job profiles - Community services

Interview Date

Stage 1 Interview = Monday 19th October (virtual)

Stage 2 Interview = Tuesday 20thOctober (Hemel Hempstead Young People's Centre)

To hear more about this opportunity

please contact [e-mail] for an informal discussion about the role.

We are changing

Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.

LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident

We are proud to be Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving Required

You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.

Attached documents

• SfYP Service Manager Job Info April 2026 v2.pdf