Assistant Delivery Manager - Skills Operations in Birmingham

We are recruiting two Assistant Delivery Managers Skills Operations to join the Contract Management Unit within the Employment, Skills, Health and Communities Directorate. This is an opportunity to play a hands-on role in shaping how WMCA-funded employment and skills programmes are delivered across the West Midlands. You will help ensure public funding delivers quality and measurable impact for residents, communities and the regional economy, while meeting the highest standards of quality, compliance and assurance.

Working closely with delivery providers and internal colleagues, you will provide operational and people leadership, deliver effective contract and performance management and drive continuous improvement across a portfolio of funded programmes. Reporting to the Delivery Manager, you will support the day-to-day operational management of programmes, with responsibility for performance, compliance, risk and financial oversight. You will line manage a small team of Skills Delivery Officers, supporting their development and wellbeing, and act as a point of escalation for delivery risks, issues and challenges. You will also manage relationships with delivery providers, building strong partnerships, supporting improvement and addressing underperformance where required.

This role is well suited to someone with experience of government-funded programmes who enjoys working at the intersection of delivery, data and people, and who has strong attention to detail and is confident using data and insight to inform decisions, reporting and assurance.

What you will be doing:

• Support the Delivery Manager to ensure programme delivery aligns with WMCA priorities, strategies and targets
• Provide line management to a small team, supporting performance, development and wellbeing
• Act as a point of escalation for delivery, performance, compliance and financial risks
• Manage relationships with delivery providers, promoting effective partnership working and continuous improvement
• Ensure programmes are delivered in line with contracts, delivery plans and funding conditions
• Identify, assess and mitigate delivery and financial risks
• Coordinate contract change controls
• Produce performance and financial reports, including forecasting and analysis
• Use data and insight to support planning, performance management and assurance
• Chair and contribute to meetings within the Contract Management Unit
• Prepare and present reports and updates for senior management boards and governance forums
• Maintain accurate records and documentation to meet audit and assurance requirements
• Draft correspondence requiring senior-level approval
• Support the management of contract challenges, working with legal and corporate services where required
• Identify opportunities for senior-level or political engagement and support case study development
• Contribute to external communications and provider engagement activity

What's essential:

• Experience of contract and performance management
• Experience working with skills, employability or other government-funded programmes
• Knowledge of funding requirements and assurance processes
• Experienced in producing performance or funding returns and managing claim submissions
• Line management experience
• Strong stakeholder management skills, working effectively with internal and external partners
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, including budgeting and forecasting
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills
• Strong report-writing skills, including working with complex data
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• A proactive, adaptable and solutions-focused approach

Location: The location for this role is Summer Lane with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

How to apply:

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:

• Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
• Build your Profile. Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
• Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
• Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Anonymised Applications: Your uploaded CV won't be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It's your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI): We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application. Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting.

Reasonable adjustments: If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team.

Salary and benefits: We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK)
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more)
• Statutory days
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers
• Costco membership through the WMCA
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA? WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home. We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Creating an inclusive workplace: WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We're a Disability Confident Employer with Leader status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria. We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould. We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying.

Right to Work in the UK: Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).