Job Description

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About Us:

NOW Group are an award-winning social enterprise who delivers services across Northern Ireland supporting people with learning difficulties, autism and neurodiverse conditions into jobs with a future. We are passionate about changing lives and our priority is on outcomes and impact for individuals, their families and communities who are the most disadvantaged. We support participants to have better health, a better education and a brighter future. Our services are continually evolving as a result of co-design, participant feedback and project learning.

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About the Role:

NOW Group has recently secured a contract to deliver the Skills For Life & Work Programme across sites in Belfast, L/Derry and Enniskillen. The programme supports individuals with disabilities and additional needs to gain qualifications, develop essential life skills and prepare for employment.


The Skills Development Manager will lead all aspects of contract management and operational delivery, ensuring high-quality training and support services are provided across all sites. A key aspect of the role will be to ensure connectivity between participants' skills development and work readiness, developing relationships with business to provide placement opportunities and support participants' progression into further programmes.

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Key Responsibilities:

1. Manage NOW Group's Skills for Life & Work provision ensuring services are planned and implemented to meet funder expectations, fulfill NOW Group strategic and operational plans and the needs and aspirations of key stakeholders.


2. Oversee programme delivery across multiple locations, ensuring consistent and high-quality provision to participants with a range of disabilities and support needs.


3. Line management of Skills Trainers, Referral Officers and Disability Support Officers including work allocation, training, problem resolution and evaluating performance.


4. Liaise with finance, administration, and compliance teams to ensure all Skills for Life & Work programme documentation is completed accurately and submitted on time, enabling efficient processing of participant payments and ensuring the programme is delivered in line with contractual expectations.


5. Lead on development of participant timetables and course content that provides opportunities for skills development and work readiness, tailoring support to each participant's learning journey.


6. Develop a referral strategy for NOW Group's Skills for Life and Work Programme, completing a scoping activity with colleagues across the services teams to identify participant aspirations and key market trends.


7. Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including schools, colleges, careers advisory service, employers and government agencies.


8. Liaise with our marketing and communications department to create positive promotional material, social media engagement and individual case studies.


9. Assist in the selection and appointment of staff, paid and voluntary, and ensure effective management of staff during induction and throughout probation period.


10. Produce accurate monitoring and reporting on progress against targets internally and externally to funders and business partners.


11. Undertake regular quality audits to ensure compliance with organisational and funder guidelines.


12. Contribute to the achievement of organisational Scorecard targets and strategy objectives.


13. Comply fully with NOW Group's 'Organisational Approach to Safeguarding' and adopt the role of Designated Safeguarding Officer.

This job description is not definitive and may be subject to review as the duties and responsibilities determine.

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What We Offer:

Holidays:

25 days annual leave plus 12 statutory days (pro-rata).

Benefits:

+ Health Cash Plan (after successful probation).
+ Access to confidential counseling and financial advisory services.
+ Stakeholder Pension Scheme (5% employer contribution).
+ Bike2Work Scheme.
+ Holiday purchase scheme.
+ Flexible working initiatives and wellbeing programs.

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Our Values:

We are looking for candidates who align with NOW Group's values, demonstrating flexibility, dedication, and a commitment to empowering participants. Successful candidates will exhibit a passion for social change and the ability to work collaboratively with participants, stakeholders, and colleagues.

About The Role

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Additional Information:

Successful candidates will undergo an Enhanced AccessNI disclosure check. Shortlisting will be based on how well your application demonstrates that you meet the above criteria.

Required Criteria

1. A full current driving license and access to a car. Consideration will be given to alternative travelling proposals in respect of applicants with a disability who cannot hold a license. 2. Ability to be flexible and adaptable - hours are flexible but may occasionally involve evening/weekend work and travel to mainland UK. 3. Minimum level 2 qualification in English and Maths. 4. Certificate in Teaching or equivalent teaching qualification 5. At least 2 years' experience of supporting young people or adults with barriers to learning 6. At least 2 years' experience of managing a team or training contracts 7. At least 1 years' experience of ETI inspections, self-evaluation and quality improvement processes. 8. Proficient in the MS Office suite.

Desired Criteria

1. Experience of developing courses for accreditation and working with awarding bodies. 2. At least 1 years' experience of applying and securing funding, grants, tenders or government contracts. 3. Internal verifier, External Verifier or assessor qualifications.

Skills Needed

About The Company

At the heart of the NOW Group's mission is its commitment to empowering individuals to gain skills and access meaningful employment. It achieves this through tailored employment academies, which provide participants with industry-specific training and work placements, and through their social enterprise businesses Loaf Catering and Cafes and Loaf Pottery.


One of the best-known contributions from the NOW Group is the JAM ("Just A Minute") Card

- a tool that allows people with invisible disabilities to discreetly ask for patience in everyday interactions. It's a very successful initiative with over 182,500 users and 3, 000 global organisations regarded as being JAM Card Friendly.


The NOW Group's impact is driven by innovation, dedication, and an unwavering focus on changing lives for the better.

Company Culture

At NOW Group, our culture is what sets us apart. It's built on collaboration, compassion, and a shared belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. Across our integrated team -- from Training and Employment to Family Service, JAM Card, Loaf Cafes, Catering and Pottery, Social Groups, and vital support services like HR, Communications, Finance and Compliance -- we are united by one purpose: to support people with learning difficulties, neurodiverse conditions, ADHD and autism into sustainable employment.


We don't just work side by side -- we work together. Each department brings its own strengths, but our true power lies in our ability to collaborate across teams. Our participants come from all walks of life, and it's our culture of teamwork, flexibility, and deep empathy that allows us to meet their varied needs with real impact.


In 2024/2025 alone, our culture of care and commitment helped place nearly 400 people into meaningful, sustainable employment across Ireland and supported 2,168 individuals to achieve 1,824 qualifications. These aren't just statistics -- each number represents a life transformed, a family supported, and a community benefitted.


What truly defines our team is heart. We care deeply -- not just about the work, but about the people behind it. Our team members show up every day with passion and purpose, knowing that their efforts are making a lasting difference. They don't see targets -- they see individuals, and the ripple effect that a single opportunity can have.

Company Benefits

Benefits at NOW Group

NOW Group is dedicated to the wellbeing and growth of our employees, offering a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both personal and professional needs. We provide

25 days of annual leave plus 12 statutory days

(pro-rata), allowing ample time for rest and rejuvenation.


We prioritize health and wellness through a

Health Cash Plan

, which becomes available upon successful completion of the probationary period, and

confidential staff counseling and financial advisory services

, ensuring support for your physical, mental, and financial health.


To help plan for the future, we offer a

Stakeholder Pension Scheme

with a generous

5% employer contribution

. Employees can also take advantage of our

Bike to Work scheme

and

holiday purchase options

, promoting flexibility and convenience.


Our

flexible working initiatives

, including a

hybrid working model

, and various

wellbeing programs

, reflect our commitment to fostering a positive and adaptable work environment for all team members.


Vacation, Paid time off, Cycle to work, Competitive salary, Long service recognition, Hybrid Working, On the job learning, Progression opportunities

Salary

Not disclosed