Job: Head of Services

Role Purpose

Mustard Tree is a charity dedicated to combating poverty and preventing homelessness across Greater Manchester. For more than 30 years, we have supported people by providing essential items through our community shops and helping individuals build brighter futures through 1-2-1 support, training programmes, employment support and community activities.

The Head of Services is responsible for the operational leadership of the charity’s services, ensuring high-quality, safe, person-centred support for people experiencing homelessness, financial hardship, and social exclusion. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the postholder will provide leadership and support managers to deliver excellent outcomes for service users and will also contribute to organisational strategy, performance, culture, and sustainability. Travel will be required across the three sites and so a driving licence/car is important to enable effective time management and delivery of this role.

We are an equal opportunities employer and value diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and make recruitment decisions based on qualifications, skills and experience relevant to the role.

The Head of Service is accountable for:

• Driving Positive Outcomes for Beneficiaries in line with our Values

Ensure services are delivered to achieve meaningful outcomes, such as access to housing, progression into training, volunteering or employment, improved wellbeing, increased independence, successful integration. Ensure we embed our values in service delivery – belief, dignity, opportunity, diversity and partnership.

• Leading and Developing Service Managers

Provide leadership, coaching and accountability to service managers, ensuring they effectively manage teams, achieve objectives and deliver services aligned with Mustard Tree’s values and strategic priorities. Lead by example, confident in de-escalating issues and working with people facing complex and multiple barriers.

• Overseeing Service Delivery and Quality

Deliver quality, effectiveness and consistency of support, advocacy, training and employability services across all sites – ensuring they meet the needs of beneficiaries and comply with contractual, regulatory and safeguarding requirements.

• Championing Safeguarding, Equality and Inclusion

Ensure robust safeguarding practices are embedded across all services and promote an inclusive approach that supports people from diverse backgrounds, including those experiencing homelessness, poverty, displacement and social exclusion.

• Delivering Performance and Impact Management

Use data, service outcomes, service user feedback and Key Performance Indicators to evaluate effectiveness, identify improvements and demonstrate the charity’s impact to senior leaders, staff teams, trustees and funders. Proactively manage effectiveness of staff teams using Personal Development / Improvement plans.

• Building Strategic Partnerships

Develop and maintain relationships with local authorities, housing providers, employers, training providers, health services, funders and community organisations to enhance opportunities and support for service users.

• Contributing to Organisational Strategy and Growth

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, develop and implement strategic plans, identify opportunities for service development, secure funding, influence policy and strengthen the charity’s reputation and long-term sustainability.

• Managing Resources and Budgets

Oversee service budgets, staffing structures and resource allocation, ensuring services operate efficiently, achieve value for money and remain sustainable while meeting demand.

Mustard Tree has developed a Competency Framework for all our staff members which outlines the Mustard Tree standard of key competencies across all roles. As a Senior Manager, this role will model the competencies and behaviours that we ask all our team to work towards.