Annual salary: up to £42,000.00

Partnership Manager

Darlington – Hybrid working between office, home and out within the community

Full Time, Permanent, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8.30am-17.00pm

Salary Up to £42,000 per annum plus company car or car allowance

Mears provides temporary accommodation to asylum seekers whilst their claim is being assessed in three regions: Northeast, Yorkshire and Humber, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. At the end of May 2021 Mears had over 19000 service users across the three regions. Mears work in partnership with central and local Government, registered providers, tenants, landlords and investors to find solutions to homelessness, provide more social and affordable housing and create specialist housing for people with care needs.

About the role:

We are proud of the services we provide and with ambitious plans to continue this rapid growth, we are looking for an experienced Partnership Manager to join our North East team. This is a great opportunity within our Housing Management business, following the success of the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract win.

As a Partnership manager within our Darlington branch the successful candidate will be responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships amongst partners within the community to solve problems and communicate needs. You will identify opportunities for new partnerships, whilst providing excellent standards of customer service, performance and ensuring full compliance in line with the contract through -

• Overall responsibility for building and maintaining good relationships with all community partners, providers and services to support the integration of Service Users into the local community
• Champion and manage new projects to create stronger partnerships
• Build the organisational network through targeted outreach and strong project planning
• Liaise with partners to solve issues, communicate needs and create synergy within the local community
• Work closely with the Authority to support frontline teams to deliver an exceptional Service User experience
• Ensure effective management of risks through planning and service delivery; including escalating to management for action in a timely manner.
• Development and growth of relationships with internal colleagues, third parties and external organisations to support service delivery
• Work collaboratively and proactively with the frontline teams to ensure client, customer and service user receive an exceptional service
• Work collaboratively and proactively with the frontline teams to ensure client, customer and service users receive an exceptional service.
• Undertake ad-hoc projects and provide support and cover for colleagues and teams with Mears Housing Management

What are we looking for?

• Stakeholder management – background and understanding within the charity and local government sector
• Asylum system experience
• Government contract experience
• Strong background in the development of partnerships/alliance/collaborative working, whilst supporting a vulnerable client group.
• Solid working knowledge and understanding of community engagement and outstanding cultural awareness and building effective relationships at all levels will be your strengths.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Flexible working approach
• Ability to travel across the North East
• Full UK driving license

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

Benefits we can offer you

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more
• Family friendly policies
• Choice of company car or car allowance
• Access to EAP Counselling sessions

If you feel you have skills and experience needed, please apply via the link below. If you have any questions regarding this role please contact Beth on beth.dunford@mearsgroup.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Mears Group is a Disability Confident employer and recognises our people as our greatest asset, we hire individuality, recognising and valuing everyone is individual and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all regardless of social economic background or individual make up.

As part of the recruitment process for this role, we will carry out a DBS & BPSS check, as well as Security Clearance. For these checks to be completed, we will require from you the relevant identification, including Proof of Address, References, a valid passport and proof that you have lived in the UK for the last 5 years.