WORKS Manager

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Job description
Full Time, Permanent
Start date - To be agreed subject to notice period.

Bristol City Council's Employment, Skills and Lifelong Learning team is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to take on the role of WORKS Manager. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of the innovative Bristol WORKS programme-designed to improve outcomes for young people across the city through high-quality, inclusive Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG).

What will I be doing?

You will take strategic and operational responsibility for the Bristol WORKS programme, leading a talented team and working closely with a wide network of employers, education providers, and regional stakeholders. You will ensure that all initiatives are inclusive, impactful, and aligned with the needs of young people, employers, and funders.

You will also:

• Manage contracts and sub-contracted delivery partners, ensuring compliance with grant agreements and funding conditions.
• Lead on the submission of timely and accurate reports to funders, including the Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA), and other regional and national bodies.
• Oversee business and financial planning, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement at local, regional, and international levels.
• Shape the strategic direction of the programme, ensuring alignment with regional skills priorities and the evolving needs of employers and young people.

What do I need to have?

You will bring significant leadership experience in education, employment or skills development, with a strong track record of delivering impactful programmes and managing complex stakeholder relationships.

You will have:

• Excellent financial and project management skills, including experience managing contracts and reporting against grant agreements.
• A deep understanding of CEIAG, the Gatsby Benchmarks, and careers in the curriculum, with a commitment to embedding quality and consistency across delivery.
• Proven ability to support career leads in school settings to develop meaningful experiences of work, particularly for young people most at risk of disengagement.
• Experience working with employers to co-design and deliver impactful careers interventions.
• Strong relationship management skills, particularly with regional authorities such as the MCA.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and safeguarding, and the strategic vision to shape the future of the WORKS programme while maintaining a hands-on approach to delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, delivery and evaluation of all WORKS programmes in Bristol and across the combined authority.
• Manage budgets, external funding streams, contracts and sub-contracting arrangements, ensuring compliance and timely reporting in line with grant agreements.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the MCA and other regional partners, representing Bristol City Council at strategic forums.
• Oversee staff recruitment, continued professional development and performance management.
• Drive continuous improvement through data analysis, quality assurance and evaluation of programmes.
• Champion inclusive practices that support Bristol's most marginalised communities.
• Work closely with employers to co-create meaningful work-related learning opportunities.
• Support schools and education providers to embed careers in the curriculum and deliver high-quality CEIAG.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on the role and the eligibility criteria for application. If you have the knowledge and experience to undertake this role and the vision and ambition to create lasting change in the lives of young people across Bristol and the combined authority, we look forward to hearing from you.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you'll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you'll be working in a supportive environment where you'll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you'll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

It is Bristol City Council's practice to request references for candidates that have been offered a job. However, if you are applying for a job that requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check then we will request your references once you have been invited to an interview.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

We will be shortlisting from the 4th September and we will be arranging interviews with successful applicants within the following fortnight.

For further information, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification or alternatively, please contact Hayley Galpin - Hayley.Galpin@Bristol.gov.uk or David Harrigan David.harrigan@Bristol.gov.uk

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black and racially minoritised candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you'll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.