Employability Programme Manager

The purpose of this role is to deliver FSSW’s Fare Chance programme, including employability learning and practical logistics sessions alongside support and collaboration with the Employability Programme Facilitator. The Fare Chance programme currently works with young people aged between 18 – 25 who experience additional barriers to accessing education, training, or employment. The young people are supported to learn new skills, build confidence, and realise their full potential.

Fare Chance provides a unique combination of two parts: the first is working alongside other volunteers and staff learning key warehouse and logistics skills, getting firsthand practical experience; the second is tailored employability sessions in small groups with 1-1 specialist support.

The Employability Programme Lead will lead on running the employability workshops. This role will provide 1-1 support for young people where required and provide signposting and referrals to other specialist services. The successful candidate will be passionate about supporting people to thrive and be sensitive to the inequality and power imbalance faced by young people today. They will have experience of supporting young people to achieve their goals and can bring these skills to deliver Fare Chance.

This role will coach as well as co‑ordinate the programme whilst supporting the growth of an innovative, supportive, and caring employability pathway for people to overcome barriers and move closer to the future they deserve.

• Support the Employability Programme Facilitator to deliver practical warehouse activity sessions
• Working with the Operations team to ensure smooth integration of our participants and the programme into every aspect of the operation.
• Lead in providing tailored programme coaching/mentoring:
• Set up and monitor an action plan for each participant with realistic goals to overcome barriers they face.
• Provide advice and guidance, build confidence and support participants with appropriate resources for their next steps (including CV writing and interview skills)
• Identify project management opportunities and build plans with relevant staff in the wider team.
• Lead on developing and preparing programme resources.
• Identify specific needs and risks, liaising with senior colleagues, create and maintain risk assessments with individuals to ensure safety in the workplace.

• Lead on the recruitment, onboarding and offboarding of participants (currently 18–25-year-olds with possibility of expanding this range) onto the Fare Chance Programme.
• Work with the Volunteer Team to ensure smooth transitions to and from Fare Chance to Volunteering where applicable.
• Build a Youth Steering/Co-production group to design, deliver and evaluate the programmes.
• Alongside the Head of Employability and Volunteering, support the development of the strategy for future programmes.

• Work with the Head of Employability and Volunteering to develop our network of statutory, charity and business partnerships to increase referral pathways into and out of the programme.
• Support the fundraising team in providing updates for employability funders
• On occasion, attend events or appointments to support recruitment/represent FSSW
• Build a network of signposting for participants across the programme including local businesses and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Work with the Head of Employability and Volunteering to develop partnerships to offer on-course enrichment opportunities, e.g., away days and mentoring.

• Maintain quality records of all participant information, including interventions with project participants, ensuring that such data is stored within the requirements of the Data Protection Act and FSSW policies and procedures
• Work alongside the Head of Employability and Volunteering around any incidents or safeguarding concerns. Signpost to external agencies where appropriate.
• Work with the fundraising and communications teams on internal and external reporting for Fare Chance, including gathering quantitative and qualitative data
• Deliver…