Principal Manager Education Skills

Principal Manager Education Skills & Work

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We have two exciting opportunities for you to step into a pivotal leadership role with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). You will drive the development and implementation of Greater Manchester's education, work and skills policies and priorities, aligning with the Greater Manchester Strategy, the Get GM Working Plan and our Live Well, Prevention Demonstrator and Growth ambitions, the integrated settlement, and NHS GMs Joint Forward Plan.

Your work will be game changing in supporting people to access and sustain meaningful employment.

• Taking forward the implementation and monitoring of the Get GM working plan
• Leading on the Live Well Journey to Employment and the employment support contribution to the Prevention Demonstrator
• Developing our approach as a Keep Britain Working Vanguard site to improve workplace health
• Leading on our work with key partners, including Housing and the VCFSE sector

In this role, you'll influence policy, strategy, and investment decisions, aiming to tackle inequalities and empower residents to reach their full potential. Your efforts will connect education, skills, work and health opportunities, creating a diverse and resilient talent pipeline for businesses.

We need you to have strong system leadership skills, understand change management, understand how to do excellent partnership working and be ready to hit the ground running in a fast-paced environment at the cutting edge of employment and skills policy.

Join us to lead Greater Manchester towards a prosperous, resilient, and inclusive future, where every resident has access to good jobs and every employer can navigate a robust, adaptable skills system. If you're passionate about making a tangible impact on people's lives and the regional economy, this is the opportunity for you. Apply now and be part of a team committed to transforming Greater Manchester!

We're looking for a dynamic and flexible professional with a strong background in education, employment, skills, or health at a strategic level. You should have a proven track record in managing and implementing strategic programmes, working in complex partnerships, and providing system leadership.

• Policy and strategic delivery experience in education, employment, skills, or economic development
• Proven success in using evidence from education, skills, or work programmes to shape future activity
• Experience managing complex partnerships across sectors
• Experience in providing system leadership in the skills and/or employment sector
• Experience of developing and delivering participation and engagement approaches

• Excellent relationship-building skills with stakeholders with the ability to influence and secure commitment and resources
• Strong analytical and evaluative skills, with the ability to synthesize research and policy
• A clear and logical thinker with experience of systems thinking and change management
• Strong judgement and sensitivity to stakeholder dynamics and the political process with skills in negotiation, advocacy, and securing partner buy-in
• High‑level report writing skills for board-level audiences
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, including integrity, discretion, and diplomacy

• Commitment to public service and delivering high-quality programmes
• High standard of integrity and ethics
• Dedication to promoting equality and diversity
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality work
• Enthusiastic, driven, and resilient with a high level of initiative and flexibility
• Collaborative, considerate, and supportive of others

As an employer, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of a number of key Greater Manchester strategic functions and service providers including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS);
Waste and Resources;
Environment;
Work and Skills;
Research;
Public Sector Reform;
Police, Crime and Criminal Justice;
Homelessness; the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub and the Commissioning Hub.

We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, Trans status and non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

To find out more about working for us please : https://

In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here: GMCA offer - Green book.docx