At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage services to support families through neonatal care with compassion.
- Company: Spoons, a Greater Manchester charity dedicated to supporting families.
- Benefits: £40,000 salary, 28 days leave, training opportunities, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Join a passionate team and help shape the future of our services.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in families' lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in service management, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 40000 £ per year.
Spoons is a Greater Manchester charity supporting families through neonatal care and beyond. We're looking for an experienced Service Delivery Manager to help lead our services, support our team and ensure families continue to receive compassionate, high-quality support when they need it most.
The role: As Service Delivery Manager, you’ll lead the day-to-day running of Spoons services. That covers our family support team, peer support and volunteering, community groups and play sessions, therapy and counselling, and online support networks. Your job is to make sure every family gets safe, compassionate, high-quality support, from admission to the neonatal unit and beyond.
You’ll line manage our Family Support Coordinators, Community Group Coordinator and Service Support Coordinator, giving them regular supervision, clear direction and the support to help them develop, manage challenges and adapt as our services evolve. You’ll also oversee our volunteer and peer support programmes and lead recruitment and induction for the service team.
Reporting to the CEO, you'll lead on day-to-day safeguarding, health and safety, operational risk and compliance, including data protection. You'll also monitor operational budgets, build strong relationships with NHS Trusts and community partners, coordinate funded projects and use feedback and data to continually improve our services.
About you: You’ll be an experienced service manager who cares about getting things right for families and for the people delivering support. You'll be confident managing staff, making decisions and balancing competing priorities. As a small charity, we're looking for someone who can combine strong leadership with a practical, hands-on approach and adapt as our services develop.
You’ll bring:
- experience of leading and managing services in the charity, health or community sector
- proven experience of line managing staff, including supervision, performance management and supporting a team through change
- a track record of improving services using feedback, data and learning
- experience of safeguarding, risk management and maintaining quality and compliance standards
- confidence managing operational budgets and resources within agreed limits
- strong organisational and project management skills
- excellent communication skills and the ability to build good relationships with staff, volunteers and partners
- a working knowledge of health and safety and data protection responsibilities
Experience of working with NHS partners or of volunteer-led or peer support services would be a real plus. So would lived experience of neonatal care, or a strong understanding of its impact on families.
What we offer: Lived experience is at the heart of Spoons and shapes how we support families. You'll be joining a small, dedicated team who care deeply about the families we work with. Working closely with the CEO, you'll have the opportunity to support and develop our team, strengthen our services and help shape how Spoons grows, while making a real difference to families experiencing neonatal care.
This is a full-time, 12 months fixed-term position, subject to continued funding. Hybrid working is available, with travel across Greater Manchester.
You will receive a salary of £40,000 FTE and benefits include:
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, plus our Christmas closure (pro rata)
- a work laptop and mobile phone
- training and development opportunities
How to apply: Please refer to the job pack for more information.
Closing date: Wednesday 18 November 2026 at midnight
Interviews: Wednesday 2 December 2026
Please note a satisfactory enhanced DBS check will be required for the role.
By applying for this role, you are stating that you are eligible to work in the UK. Spoons is unable to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.
Spoons is committed to being a fair and inclusive employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and appoint on merit. We want all candidates to shine in this process, so please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make sure the application process works for you.
Service Delivery Manager employer: Spoons
Spoons is an attractive employer due to its commitment to providing compassionate support to families in need. Employees have the opportunity to make a real difference while enjoying a supportive work environment that promotes growth and development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Delivery Manager
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Spoons.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Spoons.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Spoons.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Spoons. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Service Delivery Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Spoons. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Service Delivery Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Spoons
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Spoons. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
