Economy, Skills & Employment Manager in Birmingham

Please apply through our website or contact us for an application form.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities for Economy, Skills & Employment Manager

NBER Board support

• Provide effective coordination and programme support to the NBER Board, including forward planning, agendas, high-quality papers, performance reports, action tracking and follow-up with partners.
• Maintain a strong understanding of national, regional and local economic, skills, employment, regeneration and investment policy, identifying implications and opportunities for North Birmingham.

Spatial Investment Strategy implementation

• Support the implementation of the North Birmingham Spatial Investment Strategy, converting its priorities into a clear, phased delivery plan with defined outcomes, owners, milestones and dependencies.
• Ensure spatial investment activity is connected to employment, skills, enterprise, transport, housing, public realm and community priorities, and embeds social value, equality and environmental sustainability.
• Establish proportionate governance, risk, performance and reporting arrangements, escalating barriers and recommending practical action to maintain delivery momentum.

Employment, Skills & Enterprise Programmes

• Lead the design, mobilisation, delivery and continuous improvement of employment, skills and enterprise programmes, ensuring they respond to resident need, labour-market demand and commissioner requirements.
• Work with the Head of Programmes & Partnerships to ensure succession planning of funded activities and development of bids and tenders
• Manage programme contracts, delivery plans, outputs, outcomes, evidence and reporting, maintaining high standards of compliance, quality and audit readiness.
• Ensure services support people facing barriers to work, including young people who are not in education, employment or training, economically inactive residents and other priority groups.
• Oversee effective participant journeys, referral pathways, employer engagement and positive progression for participants and ensure integration with flourishing community services
• Use performance and labour-market intelligence to identify gaps, inform service development and investment decisions.
• Develop strategic relationships with employers, developers and business networks to identify workforce needs, vacancies, work experience, apprenticeships, sector pathways and inclusive recruitment opportunities.
• Work with schools, colleges, universities and training providers to align local provision with current and emerging employment sectors and ensure accessible progression routes for residents.
• Promote co-production and ensure resident, business and community insight informs programme design.
• Lead, motivate and manage the Employment and Enterprise Team, establishing clear objectives, caseload and performance expectations, supervision, professional development and a culture of accountability and learning.
• Performance-manage delivery partners ensuring clear agreements, quality and timely delivery.
• Provide accurate and timely reports to the Head of Programmes and Partnerships, Senior Leadership Team, trustees, commissioners and funders.
• Promote WLCA’s values and commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, safeguarding, social value and community-led change.
• Undertake other duties reasonably consistent with the purpose and level of the role, including occasional evening or weekend work.

Experience expected for Economy, Skills & Employment Manager

• Substantial experience of leading of one or more of the following - economic development, employment, skills, enterprise, regeneration or place-based programmes in an urban setting, with demonstrable results
• Experience of developing and implementing strategies and multi-partner delivery plans, translating priorities into clear actions, milestones and outcomes
• Experience of managing externally funded contracts, budgets, performance, risk, compliance and reporting
• Experience of leading and developing staff and performance-managing delivery partners, consultants or suppliers