Careers
Recruiting
Relationship Manager
Salary: £31,000 – £35,000
Contract type: Fixed-term (12 months, with possibility to extend dependent on funding), job-share or part-time working may be available.
Location: Knaresborough, with flexible hybrid working
We want to strengthen our team with a new Relationship Manager joining our Programmes team. The role will manage a number of our programmes and be the main point of contact for delivery partners on those programmes. Employer engagement is a key activity for managing these programmes.
Working closely with the other Relationship Managers you will ensure a high-quality and consistent supportive experience for our delivery partners. Flexible hybrid working is available, but it’s important that our team are familiar with the region we cover (York, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire) and can travel to the office in Knaresborough as and when required.
The full Job Description and Person Specification can be found here, and key elements of the role include:
- Acting as the primary point of contact for employers, developing strong partnerships that support programme goals.
- Referring employers to the appropriate support provision delivered by our programme partners and other services in our region to help employees overcome barriers to work, promoting inclusive and sustainable hiring practices.
- Leading the delivery of a programme that provides wage subsidy placements, supporting individuals into meaningful employment.
- Building positive relationships with delivery partners, taking the time to understand the work they do and how they do it, and act as one of the main points of contact for them, providing support and programme guidance in line with our values.
- Managing overall performance of your delivery partners, ensuring that all partnerships achieve or exceed their targets, working with relevant colleagues to address underperformance.
If this sounds interesting to you, then we’d love for you to apply! We are a Disability Confident Employer, a Mindful Employer, and an Age-Friendly Employer. We value diversity of thought and experience, and truly welcome applications from anyone who thinks they are a good fit for the role.
You can download our application form here
We also encourage you to browse our website to find out more about us as an organisation, our current team members, our programmes, which are usually publicly funded (e.g. from the local authority or Mayoral Combined Authority), and our partners who are predominantly within the VCSE sector (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise).
Supportive recruitment
We want to create opportunities that help everyone do their best in our recruitment process. Here are some things we want you to know that will help you apply for this role:
- We score all applications against the person specification only, so please do use the person specification as a guide for what to include in your application.
- Applications should be submitted on our Application Form. If you require this in a different format, please get in touch.
- Diversity of thought and experience strengthens our team, and we encourage applications from anyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
- We practice blind shortlisting, removing any information that could identify you (name, address, etc.) as well as any details that might lead to a biased decision. The Application Form makes clear which information is withheld from the interview panel.
- We will offer to send some or all of the interview questions to shortlisted applicants in advance of the interview. We believe this is particularly helpful to people who need longer to prepare.
- We guarantee an interview for applicants with a disability where they meet the minimum requirements for the role.
- We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments that might be needed to give an applicant a fair chance in our recruitment process. If you need any adjustments or specific arrangements, please contact Deborah Chaddock, our Head of Operations, on 01423 795308, or email dchaddock@betterconnect.org.uk.
How to apply
Applications should be sent by email to Deborah Chaddock, Head of Operations, at dchaddock@betterconnect.org.uk, and you should check that you include the following:
- Your completed Application Form
- Details of any reasonable adjustments or arrangements that you may need during the recruitment process. In order for us to guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability meeting the minimum criteria, the Head of Operations does need to know about any disability at this stage.
All information will be stored confidentially, and only your anonymised Application Form will be shared with the panel prior to shortlisting.
Timeline
Deadline for applications: 9am Friday 26th September 2025
Shortlisted candidates notified: Thursday 2nd October 2025
Provisional interview dates: Tuesday 7th October and Wednesday 8th October 2025
There will be tasks relevant to the role to be completed by shortlisted candidates as part of the interview.
Life at Better Connect
At Better Connect, we work with a network of incredible partners towards our vision of a Yorkshire where everyone can thrive in their life and work. We deliver transformational programmes to individuals and workplaces, and we use our resource and expertise to support organisations and their communities in Yorkshire.
Our unique team is made up of human beings who are passionate about making a difference in society. We care about each other and the partners we work with. We really do live by our values, and believe that the key to delivering inspiring provision is having robust and collaborative partnerships and relationships.
We are passionate about creating safe and inclusive environments for all. We want people to find genuine happiness at work and support staff to find what makes them thrive!
Culture
We are often told that the culture at Better Connect feels different.. and that may be because we are on a mission to make Better Connect one of the best companies to work for.
At Better Connect, we want all members of our team to feel supported, valued and ultimately happy at work. We want people to feel empowered to be themselves and feel safe enough to do that whilst at work. We value everyone’s voice equally and aim to ensure that Better Connect is a place that represents everyone who works there. Wherever possible we include our team in the decisions that impact them at work.
We are always looking for new ways to support our team and learn from each decision we make. We are committed to making Better Connect a positive place for all and ultimately to have the best time together as a team.
Working with us
We are committed to supporting team members who need us to do things differently – whether making reasonable adjustments or adapting our usual practice. We welcome anyone to apply for our vacancies, and encourage those with disabilities, neurodiversity, or any other accessibility needs to speak to us about how we can help them to shine in our recruitment process.
Through a variety or selection activities, and a human approach to induction, we seek to learn what individual team members needs are to ensure they can be their happiest and most productive at work.
Monthly Team Days
A way for us to get together as a whole organisation, have some fun and learn together. Our team days are often opportunities for us to collaborate and co-produce areas of work.
Flexible working policy
We know the value of a good work-life balance and have an effective policy to support this – including flexibility of start, finish and lunchtimes, hybrid working, and supportively considering formal flexible working requests.
Generous Holiday Allowance
All staff receive a minimum of 26 days holiday (pro rata), which increases the longer you work at Better Connect. Bank holidays are in addition to this, meaning all staff get at least 34 days off each year.
Employee Assistance Programme
Access to a comprehensive package of wellbeing support including counselling, 24/7 helpline and wellbeing portal that also includes information about family and relationships, legal and financial matters
Pension Scheme
After 3 months of service, all staff are automatically enrolled in our pension scheme with the People’s Pension. The People’s Pension offers a range of investment options, including an ethical fund.
Enhanced Parental Leave
We offer enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave for every member of the team welcoming a new addition to their family.