Project Manager | Adult Skills Fund
Salary £46,142 – £51,356 per annum | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | Preston
Shape the future of adult skills in Lancashire
This is a pivotal and exciting opportunity to play a central role in delivering one of Lancashire’s most important devolved programmes.
As Project Manager – Adult Skills Fund, you will be at the heart of Lancashire’s devolved skills system, taking day‑to‑day responsibility for the operational delivery of the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) across the county. You will ensure that public investment translates into real outcomes for learners, employers and communities, supporting adults to gain the skills they need to access work, progress in employment and respond to local labour market priorities.
Working within the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, this role sits at the crossroads of strategy and delivery. You will translate commissioning decisions and strategic priorities into strong, high‑performing delivery on the ground, working closely with providers, partners and internal colleagues.
About the role
The Adult Skills Fund is a core component of Lancashire’s devolution deal and economic strategy, supporting delivery of the Lancashire Growth Plan, Strategic Skills Plan and wider place‑based ambitions.
In this role, you will:
- take the lead on the day‑to‑day operational management of the Adult Skills Fund across Lancashire
- act as the primary operational contact for learning providers, managing performance, delivery and compliance
- oversee contracts and grant agreements to ensure providers deliver agreed learner volumes, outcomes and financial profiles
- lead regular performance reviews, identify risks early and drive corrective action where required
- manage data, assurance, audit and compliance activity to protect public funds and programme reputation
- produce clear, evidence‑based reports to support senior decision‑making and programme governance
This is a hands‑on role that will appeal to someone who enjoys working at pace, solving problems, using data to drive decisions and building strong, accountable relationships with providers.
Why this role matters
This role is critical to ensuring that devolved ASF:
- delivers measurable impact for learners and employers
- operates as a well‑controlled, high‑performing programme
- supports priority sectors and inclusive growth across Lancashire
- continuously improves through strong performance management and assurance
You will be trusted to make operational judgements, challenge constructively, and help shape how devolved skills funding is delivered in practice.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone who brings:
- significant experience of managing publicly funded skills, education or employment provision
- proven experience of operational contract or grant management with external providers
- confidence in performance management, including addressing underperformance
- strong understanding of funding rules, audit and assurance frameworks
- the ability to analyse delivery and financial data and use insight to drive improvement
- the confidence to work autonomously while collaborating across teams and partner
You don’t necessarily need to come from a local authority background, what matters is your operational credibility, judgement and ability to manage complex delivery environments.
Closing Date: 17 May 2026 Interview Date: 20-22 May 2026
What we offer
- The opportunity to work on a high‑profile, devolved programme with real economic and social impact
- A role with genuine responsibility, influence and visibility
- A supportive, collaborative team environment within the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub
- Competitive salary, local government pension and a strong commitment to learning and development
- The chance to help shape the future of adult skills delivery in Lancashire
Please ensure you upload a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the criteria for the role.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.
Job Description & Person Specification
to Apply click here: Project Manager | Adult Skills Fund – LCC Career Site Careers
Job Description
Salary £46,142 – £51,356 per annum | Fixed Term until 31/03/2029 | Full Time 37 hours per week | Preston
Are you passionate about improving people’s lives through early‑intervention support? Do you thrive in a role where collaboration, innovation, and impact are at the heart of everything you do? Join us at the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub as we deliver WorkWell — a pioneering, nationally expanding programme that transforms the way individuals with health conditions access the support they need to start, stay, and succeed in work.
What you’ll be doing
- Leading the day‑to‑day delivery and oversight of the WorkWell programme across Lancashire, ensuring high‑quality, person‑centred services.
- Managing performance, risks, and reporting — including highlight reports, data insights, and recommendations for continuous improvement.
- Building strong partnerships with employers, delivery partners, ICB teams, DWP, and wider stakeholders to drive integration and successful outcomes.
- Overseeing contracts, KPIs, budgets, quality assurance, and compliance across the programme.
- Leading communications activity including events, case studies, digital content, and ongoing engagement with partners and communities of practice.
What we’re looking for
- Proven experience managing complex projects or programmes, ideally within employability, health, or skills settings.
- Strong relationship‑building skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and collaborate across organisations.
- Excellent communication, analytical, and organisational skills — comfortable interpreting data, producing reports, and presenting with confidence.
- A proactive and adaptable problem‑solver with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
- Knowledge of employment and skills policy, particularly DWP and local labour‑market considerations, with a commitment to equality, inclusion, and high‑quality service delivery.
Ready to make a real difference?
If you’re driven by meaningful work and want to help shape a programme that changes lives, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and be part of something that helps Lancashire’s people and communities thrive.
Closing Date: 29/04/2026 Interview Date: 07/05/2026
If you’d like to learn more about exciting opportunity, please join our information session linked below. This will be held on the 23rd April at 1pm.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.
You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. In certain circumstances consideration may be given to applicants who, as a consequence of a disability, are unable to drive