At YES Manchester, we help people across Greater Manchester find meaningful, secure and well-paid work.
And now, we’re looking for a new Employability Manager to lead our talented team, build strong partnerships and shape services that make a real difference.
Deadline to apply: 22nd October 2025 at 9am
(Please note – We may close this advert earlier than the stated deadline if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Early applications are strongly encouraged, as shortlisting and interviews will take place throughout the process)
Read the full job description below:
Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer
Responsible For: Employability Coordinators and other employability delivery staff
Base Locations: YES Manchester Newton Heath (M40 2TP) and Collyhurst (M40 7GH), with outreach across Greater Manchester if required.
Salary: £32,000
Contract: Full-time & permanent (interim role will be considered)
Hours: 35hrs p/w Monday-Friday (flexible working considered)
Benefits: Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 days after five years’ service), your birthday off, death-in-service cover at three times salary (after probation), access to EAP, employer matched pension contributions up to 8.5%
1. Purpose
- To lead, develop, and inspire the employability team to deliver high-quality, person-centred services that empower unemployed and underemployed customers to achieve meaningful and sustainable employment.
- To maintain YES Manchester CIO’s position as the go-to employability provider in North Manchester while driving performance, innovation, and strategic growth.
2. Responsibilities
2.1 Leadership and Management
- Lead and motivate a team of Employability Coordinators and Digital Support Officers to deliver outstanding, customer-focused support.
- Provide supervision, coaching, and professional development to staff, ensuring they have the skills and tools to succeed.
- Oversee team caseloads, ensuring capacity is balanced based on workload rather than numbers alone.
- Foster a culture that reflects YES Manchester’s values and commitment to empowerment.
- Carry a small caseload of customers to support with capacity and demonstrate best practice.
2.2 Service Delivery Oversight
- Ensure employability programmes, job brokerage, skills development, and outreach activities meet targets and KPIs across multiple contracts and initiatives.
- Uphold and embed safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion standards across all services.
- Monitor and evaluate service performance, using data from the CRM and distance-travelled tools (e.g., WorkStar) to drive continuous improvement.
- Support customers’ progression by ensuring staff follow processes for registration, referrals, action planning, and data collection practices.
2.3 Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships
- Build and maintain strong relationships with employers, training providers, referral partners, and funders.
- Represent YES Manchester at external meetings, events, and partnership forums.
- Promote opportunities for collaboration to expand provision and enhance customer outcomes.
2.4 Strategic Development
- Contribute to organisational strategy and service design.
- Identify funding opportunities and support bid writing or proposal development.
- Lead innovation to address challenges such as digital exclusion, economic inactivity, and multi-complex barriers to work.
2.5 Operational and Compliance Oversight
- Manage budgets and resources effectively for projects under your remit.
- Ensure compliance with funder requirements, policies, and procedures.
- Produce accurate, timely reports for the CEO, trustees, and external stakeholders.
- Maintain awareness of local labour market trends to inform services and advice.
- Support the maintenance of MATRIX accreditation and other quality standards.
3. Person Specification
(To be evidenced within CV / Covering letter and interview)
Essential:
1. Proven experience leading or managing employability or related services.
2. Demonstrable success in achieving performance targets and quality standards.
3. Experience supporting individuals with complex barriers into meaningful & sustainable employment.
4. Strong understanding of employability strategies, labour market trends, and partnership working.
5. Excellent leadership, communication, and influencing skills.
6. Strong IT skills, including CRM systems, Microsoft Office, and Outlook.
7. Ability to analyse data and use insights to improve performance.
8. Values-driven, patient, and non-judgmental, with a commitment to empowering others.
9. Ability to work on own initiative and collaboratively as part of a team. 10. Minimum IAG/CIAG/IEP Level 3 11. Understanding of Data Protection, Confidentiality, and Safeguarding
Desirable: 1. Level 6 or higher qualification in management, IAG/CIAG, or IEP. 2. Management Qualification
3. Experience in recruitment practices and employer engagement.
4. History of successful bid writing or fundraising.
5. Networking and partnership experience, including presenting to external stakeholders.
6. Full UK driving licence.
4. Quality and Culture
- Embed YES Manchester’s values in all aspects of leadership and service delivery.
- Promote empowerment over dependency, ensuring customers take ownership of their journey.
- Encourage team collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and a positive workplace culture.
We are able to provide a wide range of services thanks to the help of our partners
