System Service Manager - Pathways to Work

Please apply online via the link provided. Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Are you passionate about driving forward innovative new approaches to support our Barnsley residents to benefit from work? We’re looking for a skilled System Service Manager to help make Barnsley the place of possibilities.

As part of our Employment and Skills team, we are looking for a dynamic and strategic Systems Service Manager to deliver Barnsley’s trailblazing approach to creating better Pathways to Work.

Learn more about our trailblazing approach

In July 2023, under the guidance of Rt Hon Alan Milburn, former cabinet minister and social mobility champion, leading labour market, skills and health experts came together in Barnsley to form the Pathways to Work Commission.

A year later, in July 2024, the independent commission published local, regional and national recommendations in the Pathways to Work report.

Since then, key recommendations from the report have shaped trailblazer initiatives in the UK Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper. For Barnsley and South Yorkshire this has been the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer and the Health Growth Accelerator. We are also working collaboratively across the South Yorkshire region, alongside the Mayoral Combined Authority to deliver these and other major national employment support programmes, such as Connect to Work. Our plans set out a strategy to enhance access for all Barnsley's residents to high-quality, sustainable employment.

This builds onto our wider Barnsley 2030 Strategy and our Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy, working to empower our communities to thrive.

Your role in our journey

Working in collaboration with System Service Managers across South Yorkshire, you’ll be responsible for driving this initiative forward to create a simplified employment and skills eco system.

Your role as System Service Manager will be key in our efforts to support our residents to access good quality, sustainable jobs and to encourage employers to support economic growth through inclusive recruitment and employment practices.

Key responsibilities

In this varied and exciting role, you’ll be responsible for:

· Liaising, negotiating, influencing, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders at local, regional, and national levels.

· Supporting local employers to create good work opportunities for local residents.

· Leadership and management of all internal employment support programmes.

· Developing and shaping a Trailblazer to move economically inactive people in Barnsley into work.

· Ensuring the momentum of the Commission’s recommendations remains a visible force for change.

· Conducting ongoing data analysis and driving innovation in using insights to support better pathways to work.

· Interpreting complex information to produce solutions, inform strategy development, and predict future circumstances affecting the Service System.

Requirements

. Educated to degree level or equivalent level 6

. Level 7 leadership qualification or equivalent OR extensive equivalent knowledge & experience

· Significant experience in delivery and evaluation of complex, high profile change programmes in an employment and skills landscape.

· Excellent strategic relationship development and strategic leadership skills.

· Strong communication, negotiation, organising, and problem-solving skills.

· Ability to prioritise workload effectively and provide consistent high-quality reporting.

· People leadership skills and experience to hit the ground running.

Our values

At Barnsley, we live and work by four important values:

· Honesty

· Teamwork

· Excellent service

· Taking pride in what we do

Why join us?

· We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people.

· Great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme.

· Flexible working hours to help you balance work and life.

· We are an equal opportunities employer committed to removing barriers in our recruitment process.

· Opportunity to contribute to a thriving borough and help make Barnsley the place of possibilities.

Apply now

To find out more about joining our team at Barnsley Council and help with your application, visit Barnsley.gov.uk/Jobs. If you would like further information or an informal discussion, please email Tom Smith (TomSmith@barnsley.gov.uk), leaving your name and contact number.

Join us and be part of a high-performing council with a growing economy, a thriving town centre, and impressive community outcomes. We hope to conduct interviews on the morning of the 3rd October and / or afternoon of the 9th October 2025.