Principal Health and Employability Manager

Principal Health and Employability Manager

Location: The Lumen, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne, various ‘spoke’ offices throughout the North East and remote working arrangements.

Salary: SM1 £ 60,177 - £63,715 per annum

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Reporting to: Head of Health and Employability

Closing Date: 5th March 2026 at 23:59.

Overview

Join us as a Principal Health and Employability Manager. You will provide strategic leadership, vision and direction for health and employability provision across the North East. You will drive a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring high‑quality, value‑for‑money programmes that support residents, businesses and the wider regional economy. This is a pivotal role at the heart of a growing and ambitious North East Combined Authority, shaping an outstanding service that delivers meaningful impact for communities.

Responsibilities

You will hold strategic responsibility for large‑scale budgets, commissioning, assurance and provider management, leading the delivery of major programmes including the devolved Connect to Work, and the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer to support employers develop inclusive workplace practices and support residents remove barriers to work. Working collaboratively with the ICB, political leaders, local authorities, business partners and the Department for Work and Pensions, you will ensure that provision is coherent, aligned with wider investment activity, and designed to maximise opportunity for the region.

Your leadership will help influence national approaches to adult skills and strengthen the voice of the North.

Stakeholder and governance

As a senior ambassador for the North East CA, you will build strong, productive relationships with stakeholders across employment, health, business, the VCSE sector and national government. You will lead the development of innovative investment proposals, manage programme performance and risk, and promote best practice to stimulate fresh ideas and new approaches. Through effective governance, strategic insight and a commitment to inclusive growth, you will ensure that programmes connect seamlessly with broader economic objectives and reflect the priorities and values of the region.

People and inclusion

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage candidates who are underrepresented in senior roles, including women, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Apply

If you are motivated, collaborative and ready to help shape the region’s future, we want to hear from you. To apply, please contact Sonya Midgley, Head of Health and Employability, at sonya

Additional information

For further information about the North East Combined Authority please see the authority’s website at