Manager, Operations

Location: Lewes base. Working throughout Sussex.

Salary: £48,571 per year

Hours: 37 per week

About us

Southdown delivers a range of Employment Support services across Sussex, including Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for people managing both common and complex mental health challenges, IPS for people recovering from substance use, and employment support for people receiving Talking Therapies.

Our IPS services for people with higher-level mental health needs are expanding in line with the NHS Long Term Plan, which commits to doubling access to high-quality employment support within community mental health services.

What you'll be doing

You will join our Senior Management Team to lead our Supported Employment offer, working as part of a wider suite of highly regarded Mental Health services across Sussex.

You'll collaborate closely with external partners such as Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, clinical teams within Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams (NMHTs), and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to support seamless, integrated delivery.

To be successful in this role you will have experience leading services at Service or Senior Manager level, with a proven track record of achieving high performance against KPIs and delivering to recognised quality frameworks.

Your experience would have been gained within a voluntary, health related or employment sector within job roles that include: Service Manager, Operational Lead, Employment Services Manager, Integrated Services Manager, Community Employment Services Manager, IPS Integration Manager, Employment Pathways Manager, Mental Health Employment Support Manager, Health & Employment Service Delivery Manager, Careers and Employability Manager, Manager of Employability Specialists.

Perks and benefits:

• Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
• Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
• Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
• Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
• Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
• 25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.

What you'll need for the role:

• Knowledge of leadership principles and effective people-management strategies to motivate and support large, dispersed teams
• Knowledge of budget management and financial reporting
• Knowledge of safeguarding practices and risk management
• Strong analytical skills to interpret organisational strategies and implement effective operational solutions
• Experience in relationship management with a range of stakeholders, including commissioners and senior NHS/VCSE partners
• Experience of operational management, overseeing service delivery and leading service improvement initiatives
• Ability to use data analysis to monitor performance and make informed decisions
• Ability to write clear, structured and succinct reports, business cases and funding bids
• A values-led approach that promotes recovery, inclusion and employment as part of mental health support
• A full UK driving licence is essential along with access to your own vehicle or a vehicle insured for you

What would be nice:

• Understanding of evidence-based approaches and quality assurance frameworks such as IPS Fidelity
• Experience of mental health services and partnership working with the NHS and DWP

Training:

You'll receive an initial induction, followed by regular in person training and supervisions to invest in your development and provide all the tools needed to succeed in this role. We'll help you to gain valuable experience, continually develop your skills and build a great career with the largest provider of housing, care and support in Sussex.

How to apply:

Please click on the 'Apply Now' button and fill out our simple one-page application form.

The application closing date is 11 January 2026. Interviews will be held week commencing 19 January

Please note, if we receive a large number of applications then this position may close before the advertised application closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Contact information:

Our online careers page has a list of helpful FAQs that you can view here. If you have any further questions, please get in touch with recruitment via email at

We are a Disability Confident Employer and are fully committed to supporting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and welcome applications from all candidates that meet our job specifications. If you feel there is a barrier that potentially prevents you from applying, do get in contact with us, as we are always happy to discuss (or arrange a discussion with the recruiting manager) to explore if any reasonable adjustments can be made to support your application.