Workforce Manager

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Generous annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee benefits

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

Chesterfield Borough Council seeks a Workforce Manager to lead and develop a trades workforce delivering repairs, maintenance and compliance across the housing stock. You will drive performance, plan resources and collaborate with HR and unions to ensure safe, high-quality service.

The role requires strong leadership, excellent people management and a proven ability to sustain a high-performing culture while meeting service demands. A competitive salary and extensive benefits accompany the post.

Qualifications

• Significant management experience in a trades/maintenance/operational setting.
• NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in a relevant trade or technical discipline.
• Health and Safety qualification such as IOSH Working Safely or equivalent.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of trades employees and trades assistants (12–25 staff).
• Plan and deploy workforce resources to meet service demand across repairs, compliance and capital programmes.
• Manage performance, conduct, attendance and staff welfare with a fair, supportive approach.
• Drive continuous improvement, training, and staff development.
• Control staffing budgets and support value for money in service delivery.
• Collaborate with HR, Trade Unions, and service colleagues to resolve issues.

Skills

People management

Leadership

Communication

Planning

Performance management

Problem solving

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

IOSH Working Safely or equivalent

Management qualification

Full UK driving licence

Tools

UK driving licence

Job description

Closing date: 20 September 2026

Candidates must possess the necessary right to work authorisation to enable them to work for Chesterfield Borough Council. Regrettably, we are unable to provide sponsorship or assume sponsorship of an employment visa at this juncture.

An exciting opportunity has arisen as part of the Housing Property Services (HPS) reshape for a motivated and people-focused individual to join the service as a Workforce Manager.

This is a key leadership role, responsible for managing and developing a team of trades employees delivering repairs, maintenance and compliance services across the Council's housing stock.

About The Role

As the Workforce Manager, you will take responsibility for leading, managing and developing a team of Trades Employees and Trades Assistants, ensuring they are supported, motivated and equipped to deliver high-quality services to our customers.

Working closely with operational managers and wider support services, you will play a critical role in creating a positive and high-performing culture, while ensuring workforce resources are effectively deployed to meet service demand across repairs, compliance and capital programmes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, motivating and supporting a team of approximately 12 to 25 employees to deliver high performance and excellent service outcomes.
• Creating a positive employee experience through strong communication, regular one-to-one meetings and visible leadership.
• Managing performance, conduct and attendance, ensuring a fair, consistent and supportive approach.
• Identifying learning and development opportunities and supporting staff to achieve their full potential.
• Planning and deploying workforce resources effectively to meet changing service demands.
• Driving a high-performance culture, recognising achievement and constructively addressing performance issues.
• Leading workforce planning, recruitment, succession planning and employee retention initiatives.
• Managing staffing budgets and supporting value for money across service delivery.
• Using data and performance information to inform decision-making and drive service improvements.
• Working collaboratively with HR, Trade Unions and service colleagues to resolve issues and improve outcomes.
• Supporting continuous improvement, service modernisation and the effective use of digital systems.
• Providing operational support to ensure services are delivered safely, compliantly and to the required standards.

This is a varied and rewarding role requiring strong leadership capability, excellent people management skills and a commitment to delivering high-quality, customer-focused services.

About You

• Has strong people management and leadership experience, ideally within a trades, maintenance or operational environment.
• Is confident managing performance, supporting employee wellbeing and addressing issues constructively.
• Can effectively plan, prioritise and manage competing demands within a busy service environment.
• Has excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Is proactive, organised and solution-focused in their approach.
• Is committed to delivering excellent customer service and continuous improvement.
• Has an understanding of repairs, maintenance and compliance services and how they contribute to successful service delivery.

You will be able to inspire and support your team while balancing operational priorities and contributing to the ongoing development of Housing Property Services.

Qualifications And Experience

• Significant management experience and/or a recognised management qualification.
• NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in a relevant trade or technical discipline.
• A Health and Safety qualification, such as IOSH Working Safely or equivalent.
• A full UK driving licence.

Experience within a social housing or local authority environment is desirable but not essential.

In Return We offer

• A competitive salary.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to an attractive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• A range of employee benefits.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.

Informal discussions

If you would like an informal chat about the role before applying, please contact Dave Poole, head of housing property services at [e-mail] or Heather Spink, HR Business Partner at [e-mail]. (Please note that both contacts may be on annual leave during part of the advertising period, but will respond as soon as possible.) For further information, please view the job description and person specification attached.