Supported Employment Operations Manager

This is a 5 Years Fixed Term/Secondment Opportunity. Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there; we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

Are you a purpose driven, and strategic leader passionate about driving positive outcomes in supported employment? We’re seeking a highly motivated Supported Employment Operations Manager to lead our Connect to Work Team.

• Provide operational leadership, including day-to-day management of front-line employment specialists, developing, and delivering employment support strategies aligned with organisational priorities.
• Forge influential partnerships with training providers, employers, and multi-agency stakeholders to expand opportunities and strengthen referral pathways.
• Oversee the development of tailored training programmes addressing labour market gaps, ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Act as a subject expert to senior leadership, delivering strategic briefings and deputising for the Head of Employment Pathways.
• Direct the implementation of Supported Employment and IPS models, ensuring fidelity and evidence-based practice.
• Drive a performance-led culture, working with the Commissioning and Performance Team for robust monitoring and impact measurement.
• Cultivate high-level stakeholder relationships across sectors, engaging NHS, employers, and DWP.
• Work closely with the councils comms teams to develop communications strategies, overseeing promotional materials and engagement campaigns.
• Represent the programme at borough-wide events, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and influencing policy.
• Provide strategic oversight of the team, ensuring operational excellence and responsiveness to sector demands.
• Lead team meetings to drive alignment with political, commissioning, and labour market priorities, fostering agility and innovation.
• Manage and mentor Employment Advisors, embedding a high-performance, customer-focused culture.
• Ensure effective caseload management through data analysis and performance monitoring, focusing on achieving targets.
• Oversee supervision of co-located staff, ensuring integration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Champion cross-departmental collaboration, fostering a joined-up approach within ESAL services.

If you are a purpose driven, strategic leader with a deep commitment to empowering individuals through employment and possess the skills to drive operational excellence and strategic development, apply for this impactful position.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values, so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s. To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency-based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 02 July 2025 (22.59). Interview and assessment date: W/C 14 July 2025.

For further details or an informal chat please contact anna-renee.paisley@hackney.gov.uk.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included, and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk.