Refugee Services Programme Manager Maternity Cover

Job Title: Refugee Services Manager

Salary Range: £55,399 - £69,947

Full time, Fixed term 12 months (Maternity Cover)

Location: Wandsworth and Twickenham, UK

Other essential information This role will be a hybrid of home and office-based working. You will be required to work from Richmond and Wandsworth Council.

Objective of role

Refugee Services is a multi-disciplinary service in Adult Social Care and Public Health who approach an evolving policy area with positive energy and compassion for sanctuary-seeking residents. Our aim is to make the boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter where you were born.

This role is part of the Refugee Services leadership team and is responsible for the internal operations of the team, the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and our engagement with partners.

About the role

This role is an opportunity to deliver successful outcomes as part of a new and dynamic service. The role will shape how we support refugees and people affected by forced migration.

The key purpose of the role is to oversee internal operations of the Refugee Services team including:

• delivering both Councils' ambitious Sanctuary Strategies and Action Plans and ensuring Borough of Sanctuary statuses are maintained
• overseeing the Homes for Ukraine scheme, supporting hundreds of guests and hosts across two boroughs
• supporting our partnership working with VCS and statutory partners
• developing and establishing a data function to make sure we can identify the needs of sanctuary seekers and streamline internal processes.

The post holder will provide support to Refugee Services officers as well as acting as a point of contact for colleagues in other departments. You will build relationships with external organisations and provide contract management to commissioned providers where necessary.

If you are someone with:

• experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• in-depth knowledge of sanctuary policy.
• experience in program management.
• a genuine passion to support vulnerable people.
• knowledge of internal local government processes.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

1. Experience of managing multi-disciplined teams
2. Knowledge and understanding of sanctuary policy
3. Understanding of internal local government processes
4. Experience of programme management and liaising with a range of people from different sectors and backgrounds
5. Experience of working in high-pressure environments with the ability to adapt to evolving requirements

Closing Date: 6th August 2025.

Shortlisting Date: w/c 11th August 2025.

Interview Date: w/c 18th August 2025.

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone.We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.