Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead service development projects and enhance delivery for children's services.
- Company: Join Rochdale Children's Services, a forward-thinking organisation making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, generous leave, and staff recognition awards.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that supports children and young people to thrive in their community.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and experience in service redesign required.
- Other info: Modern office location with excellent transport links and supportive team culture.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
This is an exciting opportunity to join The Safeguarding & Quality Assurance Team at Rochdale as a Service Manager for Service Development & Support. You will be part of Childrenâs Servicesâ senior management team based on Floor 4 of Number 1 Riverside.
The role of the Service Manager is to lead on designing, implementing and improving support services that meet the evolving needs of the operational workforce. The role is central to driving innovation, supporting operational teams and ensuring services are efficient, effective and sustainable. You will provide an operational and strategic function within the service, accountable to the Head of Safeguarding for the delivery of effective service provision, strategic plans and priorities.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Lead service development projects to enhance delivery and outcomes.
- Provide strategic support to operational teams, ensuring compliance and best practice.
- Analyse performance data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to coâproduce solutions that meet user needs.
To be successful in the role, you will require strong leadership skills with experience in service redesign and improvement, excellent communication skills, and stakeholder engagement abilities with the ability to think strategically and deliver operational excellence.
Why join us?
You will be part of a forwardâthinking organisation committed to delivering exceptional services and making a real difference in peopleâs lives. Here at Rochdale Childrenâs Services, we are committed to supporting our children and young people to live in a borough where they can grow, get on and live well.
Everyone at Rochdale Childrenâs Services plays a valued role in achieving the best outcomes for children, and we work closely to support and deliver real positive progress as part of our Raising Rochdale ethos. We always have lots of great things happening in our borough, and we never stand still, so this is a great time to join our team and succeed at Rochdale.
We offer lots of training and supervision alongside help and guidance to build positive relationships with colleagues.
We reward you with great benefits:
- Highly competitive salary
- Affordable car leasing scheme
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Attractive pension
- Staff recognition awards and celebration events
- Supported leadership
- Town centre parking scheme
- Up to 34 days annual leave with an option to buy more
- Staff discount at popular retail and leisure sites
Work in a modern, awardâwinning building, conveniently located next to the Metrolink, bus exchange and a short walk from Rochdale train station. Youâre also a 10âminute drive from the M62 corridor.
What our colleagues say:
Rochdale Council is a great place to work, and managers are supportive, approachable and listen to their ideas. Here are some further comments:
- We work in friendly, supportive teams.
- There are lots of easy to access training opportunities to learn.
- We are based right in the town centre office, next to M&S and close to local services.
To apply, please upload your CV together with a supporting statement that provides evidence of how you meet the essential requirements of the person specification. Please include reference to your qualifications that are specified on the person specification within your CV/supporting statement. Please ensure you anonymise your CV and supporting statement.
If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the 'About You' or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application.
Appointment to this post is subject to DBS and background checks.
Closing Date: 27th January 2026
Interview Date: 5th February 2026
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role at this stage.
Service Manager - Service Development & Support in Rochdale employer: Rochdale Council
Contact Detail:
Rochdale Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ€«
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Service Development & Support in Rochdale
âšTip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those already working at Rochdale. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral!
âšTip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in service development and support. Show us youâre not just a candidate, but someone whoâs genuinely passionate about making a difference in childrenâs services.
âšTip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear about times youâve led projects or improved services. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
âšTip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows youâre serious about joining our team at Rochdale.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Service Development & Support in Rochdale
Some tips for your application đ«Ą
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Service Manager. Highlight your leadership skills and experience in service redesign, as these are key for us at Rochdale Children's Services.
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Use it to provide clear examples of how you meet the essential requirements from the person specification. We want to see your passion for improving services!
Anonymise Your Documents: Donât forget to anonymise your CV and supporting statement before submitting them. This helps us ensure a fair recruitment process, so it's super important!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rochdale Council
âšKnow Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of Service Manager and the key responsibilities outlined in the job description. Familiarise yourself with service development, strategic support, and performance data analysis. This will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your expertise.
âšShowcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences that highlight your leadership abilities, particularly in service redesign and improvement. Think about times when you've successfully led a project or initiative, and be ready to discuss how you engaged stakeholders and drove innovation.
âšEngage with the Ethos
Rochdale's ethos is all about making a real difference in people's lives. Be prepared to discuss how your values align with this mission. Share your passion for supporting children and young people, and how you can contribute to the positive progress of the borough.
âšAsk Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few insightful questions ready to ask. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the organisation. You might want to inquire about the current challenges the team faces or how success is measured in this position.
