Service Manager; part-time

Socata House, Westcliff on Sea

Vacancy listed
30/09/2026

• Lead the setting up of new projects, from mobilisation through to becoming part of business as usual, including planning, resourcing and putting the right delivery arrangements in place.
• Ensure existing projects are running to plan, identifying and addressing slippage, risks or issues promptly.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines and reporting arrangements appropriate to each project's funding and governance requirements.
• Manage a small budget for designated projects, working within agreed limits and escalating any variance promptly.

• Work across City Family's community family services to ensure they are joined up, consistent and responsive to the needs of families and communities.
• Identify and resolve gaps, duplication or inconsistency between projects and services.
• Work closely with the Head of Quality, the Strategic Development Manager and the Registered Manager at Willow Reach to support consistency of practice and standards across the organisation.

• Line manage Team Leaders and Project Leads, providing supervision, coaching and operational guidance.
• Ensure staff supervision, appraisal and support processes are completed in line with organisational expectations.
• Support safe staffing arrangements across the projects and services within scope.
• Promote staff wellbeing and a positive team culture.

• Promote a culture of safeguarding across all projects and services within scope, in line with City Family's Safeguarding Policy.
• Ensure staff understand and follow safeguarding procedures, and escal ate concerns promptly.
• Where the post-holder has the necessary training and experience, act as a Safeguarding Deputy; where they do not, this function sits with another suitably trained and experienced member of staff

• Build and maintain effective relationships with VCSE, health, education and other community partners relevant to the projects within scope.
• Represent City Family at meetings, forums and partnership activity where appropriate.
• Contribute to funding or business development activity relevant to the projects within scope.

• Maintain accurate operational data and reporting for all projects within scope.
• Contribute to reports for the Head of Quality, senior leadership, funders and the Board as required.
• Support quality assurance activity, including audits and file reviews, relevant to the projects within scope.

• Experience of setting up new projects or services, from mobilisation through to steady‑state delivery.
• Experience of managing projects to plan, including budgets, timelines and reporting.
• Experience of line managing or supervising staff.
• A working knowledge of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, able to manage several projects concurrently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, comfortable reporting to senior colleagues and external partners.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and family voice.
• Strong IT skills, including a good working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite

• A project management qualification, such as PRINCE2, APM or an equivalent.
• Experience managing or coordinating family support, early help or a comparable children and family service — not essential, and applicants without this background are welcomed provided the essential criteria above are met.
• Training or experience relevant to a Safeguarding Deputy role.

• A proactive, hands‑on approach to getting new projects off the ground.
• Able to work…