Maximus
Operations Manager
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Description & Requirements
In anticipation of Contract Award, we have a possible opportunity to recruit a Operations Manager that will cover South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, West Yorkshire, and Nottingham as part of their role. The role will start at the beginning of October 2026.
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Maximus is a global organisation that specialises in providing health and employment services to millions of people every year. Here in the UK we employ around 5,000 people across the country to deliver services that have a profound impact on people’s lives. From assessments and health services to employability programmes and specialist support, we do work that matters with people who care.
To provide operational leadership for the Confident Futures contract, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, participant-centred service that supports Universal Credit claimants with disabilities and health conditions to increase their confidence, wellbeing and readiness for work-related activity.
The Operations Manager will be accountable for operational performance, quality, compliance, customer experience, people leadership, and stakeholder engagement across the contract area.
The role will lead Service Delivery Managers and specialist teams to achieve contractual Customer Service Standards, maintain effective partnership working, and ensure delivery of a safe, compliant, and innovative service aligned to the Confident Futures Health Confidence model.
Specific Accountabilities:
Service Performance & Contract Delivery
- Lead operational delivery of the Confident Futures contract across the designated CPA.
- Ensure achievement of all contractual Customer Service Standards and performance requirements.
- Drive a culture of participant-focused service delivery, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Monitor operational performance through management information, performance reviews, and quality assurance activity.
- Develop and implement performance improvement plans where required.
- Ensure delivery reflects the voluntary nature of the programme and health-informed support model.
Leadership & People Management
- Lead, coach, and develop Service Delivery Managers and specialist operational teams.
- Create a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture.
- Ensure effective workforce planning and resource deployment.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention of highly skilled staff.
- Drive professional development and succession planning across the contract.
- Promote wellbeing, safeguarding awareness, and reflective practice.
Quality, Compliance & Governance
- Ensure compliance with DWP contractual requirements, safeguarding expectations, and Maximus quality standards.
- Monitor service quality through audits, observations, and case reviews.
- Ensure operational risks are effectively identified and managed.
- Oversee implementation of corrective and preventative actions.
- Ensure all customer records, support plans, and contractual evidence are accurate and compliant.
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Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Development
- Act as senior operational point of contact for DWP and local stakeholders.
- Develop strong relationships with:
- Pathways to Work Advisers
- Jobcentre Plus
- NHS Partners
- Local Authorities
- VCSE Organisations
- Skills Providers
- Community Organisations
- Support development of integrated referral pathways and community support networks.
- Promote the Confident Futures service across the local area.
Service Innovation & Test-and-Learn Delivery
- Support implementation of the Confident Futures test-and-learn model.
- Review participant feedback, outcomes, and evaluation findings.
- Identify opportunities to improve engagement, progression, and participant experience.
- Support operational testing of new approaches and interventions.
- Contribute to contract evaluation activities and service redesign where required.
Outreach & Accessibility
- Ensure operational delivery includes effective office, outreach, and community-based support.
- Monitor geographical coverage and accessibility of services.
- Ensure appropriate health and safety arrangements are in place for outreach delivery.
- Promote inclusion and accessibility for participants with disabilities and health conditions.
Key Contacts & Relationships:
Internal
- Head of Operations
- Service Delivery Managers
- Work & Health Coaches
- Health Confidence Coaches
- Health System Navigators
- Clinical Assurance Lead
- Support Coordinators
- Quality & Compliance Team
- HR and Learning & Development Teams
External
- DWP
- Pathways to Work Advisers
- Jobcentre Plus
- NHS Organisations
- Local Authorities
- VCSE Organisations
- Community Partners
- Training Providers
- Employers
- Disability Support Organisations
Essential
Qualifications & Experience
- Significant operational management experience within employability, welfare-to-work, health, skills, justice, or related public service programmes.
- Experience managing large operational teams through subordinate managers.
- Experience delivering services against contractual KPIs and service standards.
- Experience managing performance, quality, and compliance.
- Proven stakeholder management experience with commissioners and strategic partners.
- Experience implementing operational improvement initiatives.
- Understanding of safeguarding and working with vulnerable adults.
- Experience managing geographically dispersed teams.
- Strong financial, resource, and workforce planning capability.
- Experience using management information to drive decision making
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Desirable
- Experience within DWP-funded programmes.
- Experience supporting individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
- Knowledge of the LCWRA claimant group.
- Understanding of health-informed employability support models.
- Experience of community outreach service delivery.
- Experience working within integrated health, employment, or social inclusion programmes.
- Project or programme management qualification.
- Management qualification (ILM Level 5 or equivalent).
Individual Competencies
- Strategic leadership.
- Performance management excellence.
- Strong coaching and people development capability.
- Commercial awareness.
- Effective stakeholder management.
- Data-driven decision making.
- Customer-focused leadership.
- Continuous improvement mindset.
- Resilience and adaptability.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- Commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and safeguarding.
- Ability to lead through change and ambiguity.
EEO Statement
MAXIMUS is committed to developing, maintaining, and supporting a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the recruitment process. We know that feeling included has a dramatic impact on personal wellbeing and are working to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment due to any personal characteristic. Advertisements for posts will include sufficiently clear and accurate information to enable potential applicants to assess their own suitability for the post.
We are a Disability Confident Leader, thanks to our commitment to the recruitment, retention, and career development of people with disabilities and long-term conditions. The Disability Confident scheme includes a guaranteed interview for any applicant with a disability who meets the minimum requirements for a job. When you complete your job application you will find a question asking you if you would like to apply under the Disability Confident Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you feel that you have a disability and apply under this scheme, providing that you meet the essential criteria for the job, you will then be invited for interview. Your Guaranteed Interview application will only be shared with the hiring manager and the local resourcing team.
Where reasonable, MAXIMUS will review and consider adjustments for those applicants who express a requirement for them during the recruitment process.
Minimum Salary
£
45,000.00
Maximum Salary
£
45,000.00
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