Job Introduction
The starting salary for this role is £47,142 per annum based on a 36-hour working week. This is a 2-year fixed term post, with the potential for a further 3-year extension when funding is confirmed.
Surrey County Council is launching a new function to deliver the Connect to Work programme, supporting people with complex barriers to find and maintain work. As Team Leader, you will play a key role in establishing the programme and supporting a team of Employment Specialists to deliver support to local residents. This role is ideal for those passionate about driving meaningful change and having local impact by supporting people into employment through effective leadership.
The role is hybrid with at least one day a week in Woodhatch Place, Reigate (usually Tuesday). The job will require some travel to other locations in Surrey and occasionally further afield.

OUR BEHAVIOURS

The Surrey Way behaviours are a guide that supports our council to work together effectively and deliver our best for our customers and communities, and for each other. Discover more about our behaviours.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook also attached provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role will be crucial to the successful delivery of the Connect to Work programme. You will lead a team of up to 6–8 Employment Specialists (by year two) in a fast-paced, target-driven environment—ensuring they have the tools, resources, and relationships needed to manage their caseloads effectively and meet programme targets.
While Employment Specialists support participants using the IPS model and aim for high Fidelity, you will also manage a small caseload, working directly with those furthest from the labour market to help them secure and sustain paid employment. You will foster a positive, collaborative team environment and promote shared ownership of targets across the wider Economy and Growth function.
You will lead efforts to promote the programme through a variety of referral sources—health and social care, the voluntary sector, and other local authority services—embedding best practice and ensuring IPS principles remain central to delivery.
You will work closely with the Programme Delivery Manager and Programme Coordinator to ensure data reporting requirements are captured accurately and to meet contractual arrangements. This will include working with the Programme Coordinator to ensure activity is accurately captured in the Client Management System (CRM) to review customer journey and identify where performance needs to improve through weekly check-ins and cross team case reviews. You will also support employer relationships, including establishing new relationships with anchor organisations across Surrey.

To apply, please send a copy of your CV and outline your experience and suitability for the role responding to these two questions:

• Please give us examples of managing a high performing, target driven and motivated team in a supported employment programme, (preferably IPS).
• Please tell us about your experience working with employers to deliver a successful employment programme (ideally in a local authority setting)