Workforce Development & Employability Manager (Maternity Leave Cover)

Organisation: Rise North East
Salary: £30,126 - £34,760 per annum
Location: Flexible / North Tyneside / County Durham
Contract type: Fixed Term (Part time)
Closing date: 22 March 2026
Interview date: 6 April 2026
Job Description: The Role

We are looking for a passionate and motivated Workforce Development and Employability Manager to lead the development of innovative workforce, employability, and community engagement programmes.

This is a key role within our Health Integration Team, driving our mission to empower healthier lives, reduce inequalities and strengthen resilient communities.

As Workforce Development and Employability Manager, you will champion physical activity, movement, and wellbeing among adults, helping people to build confidence, develop new skills and progress into volunteering, leadership, or employment.

You will play a vital role in removing barriers to participation and creating inclusive pathways—especially for individuals facing social, economic or health inequalities.

You will help shape a new strategic area of work, working collaboratively with partners across Training, Education, Health, Local Authorities and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector to co-develop and co-design high quality, needs led programmes which meet labour-market demand.

We welcome candidates with prior experience of project management, and knowledge of the health and social benefits of physical activity. Evidence of supporting people through key life transitions, such as returning to work, navigating unemployment, or building confidence, is also highly valued.

If you are motivated by making a genuine difference and thrive in a collaborative, community focused environment, we would love to hear from you.

We are committed to finding the right candidate for this role and are open to flexible arrangements, such as secondments or temporary placements, for those whose skills and experience closely match the requirement.

Purpose - Lead the development of a coordinated workforce approach that promotes physical activity, tackles inactivity, and creates clear pathways into volunteering and employment opportunities. Build capacity across sectors, support employability initiatives, and strengthen community engagement through volunteering and leadership opportunities.

Key Themes and Responsibilities - Facilitate the development of a local workforce approach that integrates physical activity, volunteering, and employability pathways.

Lead employability initiatives, including youth volunteering, leadership programmes, and skills development.

Engage with employers and training providers to create new opportunities and strengthen connectivity.

Co-create employability and volunteering events with partners to meet local needs and reduce health inequalities.

Provide volunteering support, connecting host organisations with communities.

Support delivery of events and programmes such as walk leader schemes and place-based initiatives.

Design and manage needs-led training offers, embedding employability skills and safeguarding standards.

Represent Rise across networks, advocating for inclusive physical activity and workforce development.

Collaborate internally and externally to integrate volunteering and employability into strategic objectives.

Contribute to an inclusive working environment where diversity is valued and each team member is able to contribute to, promote and uphold equality, diversity and inclusion through everyday actions.

Attend training and development opportunities relevant to the post and/or self-development opportunities.

Any other duties as reasonably required, commensurate with the grade and remuneration of the post.
How to apply: Applicants will be interested to know that Rise is currently operating a 4-day working week, with full time employees gifted one day off per week (Fridays) but still paid a full-time salary. This reduces the working hours from 37.5 to 30 per week but is not a contractual entitlement. Part-time employees receive an equivalent pro-rata benefit, either through additional annual leave or an equivalent uplift in pay. Trials have shown that a 4-day working week can reduce stress and burnout as well as levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues, but productivity levels are elevated. All applications must be submitted to recruitment@risenortheast.co.uk using the application form available on our website - https://www.risenortheast.co.uk/careers/job-vacancies/. Please note CVs will not be accepted. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Michael Ali (Strategic Lead- Health Integration) via email at Michael.Ali@risenortheast.co.uk