Performance Manager (Youth)

Acorn Training Ltd

Salary undisclosed

BurtonFull-timeHybridIntermediate

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Description

As a Performance Manager, you will provide overall leadership and management of the contract, ensuring the successful delivery of performance, quality, compliance and participant outcome targets. You will be responsible for contract governance, workforce planning, safeguarding oversight and the effective management of delivery teams and specialist partners.

Acting as the key liaison with commissioning authorities, local authorities and other strategic stakeholders, you will use performance insight, risk management and continuous improvement practices to drive high-quality, person-centred service delivery. Through strong leadership and operational oversight, you will create a culture of accountability, collaboration and excellence, ensuring services deliver meaningful and sustainable outcomes for participants while meeting all contractual and organisational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Management: Take overall responsibility for the successful delivery of the contract, ensuring performance, quality, compliance and customer outcomes are achieved in line with contractual requirements and organisational objectives.
Team Leadership: Manage and coach delivery team, providing inspiring leadership to a team of employability professionals fostering a positive and dynamic work environment.
Authority Relationship Management: Act as the primary liaison with the Contracting Authority and key commissioners, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring timely responses to operational, performance and quality requirements.
Specialist Partner Management: Manage relationships and performance of specialist delivery partners and subcontractors, ensuring services are integrated, effective and delivered in accordance with contractual expectations.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Manage performance expectations by conducting regular performance reviews and observations. Provide ongoing coaching and feedback to support development of team members. Manage underperformance in line with policies and procedures taking corrective action where necessary to ensure objectives are met.
Quality Assurance: Ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality services, utilising all resources available whilst adhering to the quality management framework
Ensure customer service standards are understood and observed by your team to ensure all participants are provided with the same high standard of service that maximises their chances of securing sustainable employment
Risk Management: Identify and escalate necessary risks related to service delivery, finding solutions to ensure team continuity and success.
Budget Management: Monitor and manage budgets for team/ Office ensuring efficient use of resources and spend
Conflict Resolution: Address and resolve any team conflicts or issues in a timely and effective manner.
Continuous Improvement: Work closely with team/ office to identify areas for improvement in programme delivery and client outcomes, implementing changes to improve efficiency and impact.
Compliance: Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, contractual requirements, and health and safety standards, maintaining the organisation’s commitment to accountability and ethical service delivery.
Ensure customer service standards are embedded and understood and by your team to ensure all participants are provided with the same high standard of service that maximises their chances of securing sustainable employment
Ad hoc: Any other ad hoc duties in line with delivery program requirements.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications and Specific Training -

GCSE Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics (Essential)
Management qualification or demonstrable management experience (Essential)
Safeguarding training or willingness to undertake (Essential)
Evidence of continuing professional development (Essential)
Degree in Business Management, Social Sciences, or related field (Desirable)
Project Management qualification (PRINCE2, Agile, APM or equivalent (Desirable)
Leadership and Management qualification (ILM Level 5/7 or equivalent) (Desirable)
Coaching or mentoring qualification (Desirable)

Skills -

Excellent leadership and motivational skills (Essential)
Strong people management and coaching ability (Essential)
Highly effective communication and presentation skills (Essential)
Ability to build and maintain productive stakeholder relationships (Essential)
Strong planning, organisational and project management skills (Essential)
Ability to interpret complex performance data and make evidence-based decisions (Essential)
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills (Essential)
Excellent report-writing and business planning skills (Essential)
High level IT skills including Microsoft Office, Excel and performance management systems (Essential)
Advanced data analysis and reporting skills (Desirable)
Bid development, service design or commissioning knowledge (Desirable)
Change management and organisational development skills (Desirable)

Knowledge -

Understanding of employability, skills and progression provision (Essential)
Knowledge of performance management methodologies and continuous improvement practices (Essential)
Knowledge of safeguarding, Prevent, equality, diversity and inclusion requirements (Essential)
Knowledge of quality assurance and compliance frameworks (Essential)
Understanding of data protection and information governance requirements (Essential)
Understanding of risk management principles (Essential)
Knowledge of Youth Guarantee, DWP, ESFA, UKSPF or devolved employment programmes (Desirable)
Understanding of local labour market intelligence and employer engagement strategies (Desirable)
Knowledge of social value and community impact delivery (Desirable)

Experience -

Ability to role model Acorn's values of Kindness, Respect, Integrity and Innovation (Essential)
Experience leading complex employability, health, wellbeing or multidisciplinary services within a contracted, commissioned or regulated environment (Essential)
Strong leadership and people management experience, including performance management and coaching (Essential)
Experience managing performance against contractual targets and KPIs (Essential)
Experience managing quality, compliance and audit requirements (Essential)
Experience of developing effective stakeholder relationships (Essential)
Experience managing budgets and resources effectively (Essential)
Experience analysing performance data and implementing improvement plans (Essential)
Knowledge and experience of the employability sector and local labour market (Desirable)
Experience working with local authorities, combined authorities or government-funded programmes (Desirable)
Experience managing subcontractors or specialist delivery partners (Desirable)
Experience leading multi-site or geographically dispersed teams (Desirable)

Benefits

Flexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant
Up to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing
Training and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications
Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers
Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge
Disability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces
Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives
Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards
£500 Recommend a friend scheme

Benefits

Flexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant Up to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing Training and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge Disability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards £500 Recommend a friend scheme

About this role

Acorn Training Ltd is seeking a Performance Manager to lead contract delivery and operational oversight at their Burton, Michigan location. You'll own the end-to-end success of the contract—managing performance against targets, ensuring quality and compliance, and driving participant outcomes. This means juggling multiple priorities: coaching and developing your delivery team, maintaining relationships with commissioning authorities and local partners, overseeing specialist subcontractors, managing budgets, and identifying risks before they become problems. You'll use performance data to make decisions, implement continuous improvements, and embed a culture of accountability and excellence across the service.

The role demands strong operational and people leadership grounded in real management experience. You'll need GCSE-level English and Maths, a management qualification or proven track record, and safeguarding training. Essential skills include excellent communication, stakeholder relationship-building, data interpretation, problem-solving, and proficiency with Excel and performance management systems. You should understand employability provision, performance management methodologies, safeguarding and compliance frameworks, and ideally have exposure to DWP or similar employment programmes.

This is a hybrid, full-time position best suited to someone with experience leading complex services—whether in employability, health, wellbeing, or related fields—who can balance strategic oversight with hands-on team coaching. If you thrive managing multiple stakeholders, turning data into action, and building high-performing teams, this role offers real scope to shape service quality and participant outcomes.

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Pay for this role

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