Relationship Manager- Skills and Employment
| Company: | East Midlands Combined County Authority |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £40,444 to £45,529 a year |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Chesterfield, S40 1SA |
| Working pattern: | Hybrid - 3 days remote |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 26 Oct 2026 |
| Closing date: | 9 Nov 2026 |
Summary
Relationship Manager – Skills and Employment
Salary: £40,444-£45,529
Grade: F15
Contract: Permanent
Reports to: Programme Lead – Careers
Location: Chesterfield (with hybrid working)
The successful candidate will normally be appointed at the minimum point of the salary band, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
About EMCCA
East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) brings partners together to help make the East Midlands more prosperous, sustainable and fairer. We are an evolving organisation, moving our focus towards delivery against our Corporate Plan and building the people, systems and capability needed to turn our ambitions into results.
This makes it an exciting time to join us. You will have the opportunity to contribute to a developing organisation, shape how we work and help deliver meaningful outcomes for our region.
About the role
As Relationship Manager – Skills and Employment, you will be a central point of engagement between EMCCA and the wide range of partners involved in delivering our Skills and Employment programmes. You will help ensure programmes are delivered effectively, provide value for money and achieve their intended outcomes.
You will develop and maintain strong relationships with contracted providers, local authorities, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), the NHS, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, employers and other regional stakeholders. You will monitor provider performance, identify risks and opportunities, facilitate collaboration and provide clear intelligence to support effective decision-making.
This is an opportunity to play a key role in strengthening regional partnerships and improving the delivery of Skills and Employment programmes across the East Midlands, helping to create better and more accessible employment pathways for people across our region.
What you'll be doing
• Build and maintain effective relationships with delivery partners, DWP, local authorities, NHS and ICB partners, employers, VCSE organisations and wider stakeholders.
• Monitor provider performance against contractual KPIs, outcomes and fidelity standards, identifying risks and underperformance at an early stage.
• Manage performance processes with EMCCA partner organisations, supporting delivery against agreed budgets, targets and KPIs.
• Facilitate collaboration and information-sharing across the provider network to promote best practice, continuous improvement and consistent service standards.
• Develop regional employer engagement approaches with delivery partners to maximise employment opportunities and pathways for participants.
• Gather and analyse stakeholder feedback and programme intelligence to support continuous improvement and inform programme design and delivery.
• Provide clear and timely updates to senior leaders on stakeholder engagement, programme performance, risks and opportunities.
• Represent EMCCA at programme boards, employer forums and partner meetings, advocating for our Skills and Employment programmes and building regional support.
Essential requirements
What you'll bring • Experience working in a relationship management, contract, programme or project role, ideally within the public sector, employability, skills, health or a related area. • Experience managing provider performance within DWP-funded or welfare-to-work programmes, Adult Skills Fund programmes, apprenticeships, DfE provision or equivalent provision. • Experience of service improvement, change management or organisational development within complex systems. • Strong stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills, with experience of building effective relationships with internal teams and external partners. • Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, work to tight deadlines and contribute to the delivery of large or complex contracts. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports and guidance for different audiences. • Confidence using CRM systems, data tools and project management software, alongside Microsoft Office applications. • Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of experience in a transferable role. • Desirable: Evidence of progressive career progression. Our values Our values shape our culture and how we work with each other, our partners and the communities we serve. Lifting our region We always put the long-term prosperity of the East Midlands region and its people first when carrying our roles and achieving strategic outcomes. Working together We always challenge each other to be exceptional, embracing collaboration and acting to lift rather than win, working as one team. Making an impact We always make decisions that are evidence led and which strengthen our region systemically. We hold ourselves to account for our actions. Being human We always take pride in who we are and the diversity we bring, communicating authentically and showing genuine interest in one another. Join us If you are an experienced relationship, contract or programme professional who can build strong partnerships, manage provider performance and bring people together to deliver better outcomes, and you want to help strengthen Skills and Employment provision across the East Midlands, we would like to hear from you. Closing date: 09/11/2026
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
About Disability Confident
Related jobs
Project Support Officer- Aspiring Pathways
£33,119 to £34,811 per year
East Midlands Combined County Authority
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
HybridTemporaryFull timeBusiness Continuity Manager
£48,738 to £54,143 per year
East Midlands Combined County Authority
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
HybridPermanentFull timeHealth and Safety Manager
£48,738 to £54,143 per year
East Midlands Combined County Authority
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
HybridPermanentFull time