Inclusive Economy Manager
5 days ago
Leeds
Inclusive Economy Manager – Skills for Work and Life £49,359 per annum (pay award pending) - Grade 9 Leeds / Hybrid Full time / Permanent Closing date – 15 February at 23:55 Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share. We are recruiting two Inclusive Economy Managers: Skills for Work and Life and Healthy Working Life. This advert is for the Adult Skills role. If you wish to apply for both roles, please submit separate applications. The Adult Skills team manages around £80 million of devolved funding each year to support adults aged 19+ to gain essential skills, move into work or apprenticeships, and access technical and vocational training aligned to West Yorkshire’s key sectors. Our goals include halving the number of adults without basic skills and ensuring access to Level 3 qualifications for all who want them. As Inclusive Economy Manager, you will help maximise the impact of this investment through system leadership, policy development, partnership work and strategic commissioning. This role focuses on a priority area for West Yorkshire. You will help drive change, improve outcomes for residents and businesses, and shape evidence-based, delivery-focused programmes. You will lead innovation and performance management, ensuring clear progression pathways and continuous improvement across the adult skills provision. Our Offer · Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career. · Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays. · Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5). · Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme. · Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year. · Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases. · Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most. · Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends. · Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech. The Role Reporting into the Policy and Partnerships Lead - Adult Skills Delivery, your key responsibilities will include: · Drive impact by leading the delivery and performance management of Adult Skills funding across West Yorkshire, shaping opportunities that transform lives and strengthen skills for work and life. · Inspire and empower a team of Project Leads, fostering collaboration and innovation to achieve outstanding results. · Champion excellence by overseeing key workstreams including performance, risk, procurement, finance, legal, and communications while building strategic partnerships that maximise value and create lasting change. About You You will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience: · Proven experience managing Adult Skills Fund (ASF), with a deep understanding of its rules, eligibility, and objectives. · Strong leadership and analytical skills, including line management, strategic performance oversight, and the ability to interpret ILR data, challenge performance, and ensure compliance with audit and evidence requirements. · Excellent communication and writing skills, enabling you to engage confidently with diverse audiences, build strong relationships with internal colleagues, stakeholders, and external organisations, while simplifying complex technical themes into clear, concise language. · Highly organised and process-driven, with a talent for improving systems and services while taking initiative and solving problems collaboratively. · Passion and motivation to deliver results, exceed performance and financial targets, and make a positive impact on adult learning and West Yorkshire communities. To Apply If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form. Further Information The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis