Neurodiversity Operations Manager - 30 hours per week
| Posting date: | 14 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28,000 to £32,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 13 June 2026 |
| Location: | East Midlands, UK |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Acorn Training LTD |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | Acorn 0521 |
Summary
We reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role.
The Neurodiversity Operations Manager will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of specialist neurodiversity services, ensuring high‑quality, person‑centred support for neurodivergent individuals across employment, education, and community settings.
This role requires strong expertise in neurodiversity, including conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and learning differences, combined with proven commercial and sales acumen to design, promote, and lead successful commercial neurodiversity packages.
The postholder will drive service excellence, develop new revenue-generating opportunities, build cross-sector partnerships, and deliver measurable impact that enables neurodivergent people to thrive in sustainable employment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Service Management
- Provide strategic direction and operational oversight
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, professional development, and coaching
- Manage service delivery models that reflect best practice.
Commercial Growth & Sales Leadership
- Lead the development, promotion, and sales of commercial neurodiversity packages
- Identify new business opportunities and convert leads into sustainable commercial contracts.
- Develop proposals, business cases, pricing models, and tailored commercial offers.
Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build high-impact partnerships with employers, commissioners, health services, education providers, and community organisations.
- Represent the service at regional and national forums
Quality, Compliance & Performance
- Oversee service-wide performance management
- Drive continuous improvement, quality assurance, and audit readiness.
- Ensure compliance
Client & Employer Support
- Support teams to provide personalised assessments including:
- Adjustment planning
- Workplace accessibility guidance
- Benefits advice and “better‑off” calculations
Data, Reporting & Insight
- Ensure accurate reporting, data integrity, CRM compliance, and performance dashboards.
Key Performance Indicators
Service Performance & Outcomes
- Achievement of overall IPS contractual targets
- Performance of multiple IPS teams
- Year‑on‑year service growth
Strategy, Planning & Leadership
- Workforce planning & staffing stability
- Leadership effectiveness
- Delivery of strategic initiatives
Quality, Compliance & Fidelity
- IPS fidelity improvement - Service maintains readiness and shows upward movement in fidelity domains
- Internal audit results
- Compliance & risk management
Commissioner & Stakeholder Engagement
- Commissioner relationship management
- Stakeholder participation
- System partner engagement
Financial Management
- Budget oversight
- Resource allocation
Employer Engagement & External Partnerships
- Strategic employer partnerships
- Cross‑sector collaboration
Data, Reporting & Insight
- Performance reporting quality
- Data integrity - CRM and reporting data meets high quality thresholds; errors reduced or eliminated
- Use of insights to drive improvement
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Qualifications and specific training
- GCSE (or equivalent) in English & Maths (essential)
- Level 3 qualification or above in a relevant field (Leadership, Health & Social Care, Psychology, Employability, Business, Neurodiversity) (essential)
- Strong IT literacy and CRM skills (essential)
- Full UK driving licence (essential)
- Level 5 Leadership & Management (desirable)
- Specialist training in neurodiversity, autism, ADHD, or inclusive employment (desirable)
- Project or change management qualifications (desirable)
Experience
- Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams or services in neurodiversity, employability, health, or social care (essential)
- Proven commercial or sales experience, including developing and selling service offers (essential)
- Experience delivering performance targets and managing high-performing teams (essential)
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with employers and commissioners (essential)
- Experience with quality assurance, audit processes, and compliance frameworks (essential)
- Experience designing or delivering neurodiversity training or consultancy (desirable)
- Experience developing commercial products or social enterprise offers (desirable)
- Experience influencing system-level partnerships (ICBs, employers, DWP, education providers) (desirable)
Knowledge
- Strong understanding of neurodiversity, inclusive employment, and accessibility (essential)
- Knowledge of workplace adjustments and neuro-inclusive practices (essential)
- Understanding of safeguarding, data protection, and quality assurance frameworks (essential)
- Knowledge of Equality Act 2010, inclusive recruitment, and accessibility best practice (desirable)
- Knowledge of contract management and funding requirements (desirable)
Skills
- Strong leadership and strategic planning skills (essential)
- Excellent commercial and sales skills, including negotiation and proposal writing (essential)
- Ability to interpret data to inform business decisions (essential)
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills (essential)
- High-level organisational and planning capabilities (essential)
- Ability to manage budgets, resources, and workforce planning effectively (desirable)
- Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage risk and support cultural change (desirable)
- Excellent written communication skills for reporting, business cases, and commissioner updates (desirable)
The Neurodiversity Operations Manager will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of specialist neurodiversity services, ensuring high‑quality, person‑centred support for neurodivergent individuals across employment, education, and community settings.
This role requires strong expertise in neurodiversity, including conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and learning differences, combined with proven commercial and sales acumen to design, promote, and lead successful commercial neurodiversity packages.
The postholder will drive service excellence, develop new revenue-generating opportunities, build cross-sector partnerships, and deliver measurable impact that enables neurodivergent people to thrive in sustainable employment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Service Management
- Provide strategic direction and operational oversight
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, professional development, and coaching
- Manage service delivery models that reflect best practice.
Commercial Growth & Sales Leadership
- Lead the development, promotion, and sales of commercial neurodiversity packages
- Identify new business opportunities and convert leads into sustainable commercial contracts.
- Develop proposals, business cases, pricing models, and tailored commercial offers.
Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build high-impact partnerships with employers, commissioners, health services, education providers, and community organisations.
- Represent the service at regional and national forums
Quality, Compliance & Performance
- Oversee service-wide performance management
- Drive continuous improvement, quality assurance, and audit readiness.
- Ensure compliance
Client & Employer Support
- Support teams to provide personalised assessments including:
- Adjustment planning
- Workplace accessibility guidance
- Benefits advice and “better‑off” calculations
Data, Reporting & Insight
- Ensure accurate reporting, data integrity, CRM compliance, and performance dashboards.
Key Performance Indicators
Service Performance & Outcomes
- Achievement of overall IPS contractual targets
- Performance of multiple IPS teams
- Year‑on‑year service growth
Strategy, Planning & Leadership
- Workforce planning & staffing stability
- Leadership effectiveness
- Delivery of strategic initiatives
Quality, Compliance & Fidelity
- IPS fidelity improvement - Service maintains readiness and shows upward movement in fidelity domains
- Internal audit results
- Compliance & risk management
Commissioner & Stakeholder Engagement
- Commissioner relationship management
- Stakeholder participation
- System partner engagement
Financial Management
- Budget oversight
- Resource allocation
Employer Engagement & External Partnerships
- Strategic employer partnerships
- Cross‑sector collaboration
Data, Reporting & Insight
- Performance reporting quality
- Data integrity - CRM and reporting data meets high quality thresholds; errors reduced or eliminated
- Use of insights to drive improvement
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Qualifications and specific training
- GCSE (or equivalent) in English & Maths (essential)
- Level 3 qualification or above in a relevant field (Leadership, Health & Social Care, Psychology, Employability, Business, Neurodiversity) (essential)
- Strong IT literacy and CRM skills (essential)
- Full UK driving licence (essential)
- Level 5 Leadership & Management (desirable)
- Specialist training in neurodiversity, autism, ADHD, or inclusive employment (desirable)
- Project or change management qualifications (desirable)
Experience
- Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams or services in neurodiversity, employability, health, or social care (essential)
- Proven commercial or sales experience, including developing and selling service offers (essential)
- Experience delivering performance targets and managing high-performing teams (essential)
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with employers and commissioners (essential)
- Experience with quality assurance, audit processes, and compliance frameworks (essential)
- Experience designing or delivering neurodiversity training or consultancy (desirable)
- Experience developing commercial products or social enterprise offers (desirable)
- Experience influencing system-level partnerships (ICBs, employers, DWP, education providers) (desirable)
Knowledge
- Strong understanding of neurodiversity, inclusive employment, and accessibility (essential)
- Knowledge of workplace adjustments and neuro-inclusive practices (essential)
- Understanding of safeguarding, data protection, and quality assurance frameworks (essential)
- Knowledge of Equality Act 2010, inclusive recruitment, and accessibility best practice (desirable)
- Knowledge of contract management and funding requirements (desirable)
Skills
- Strong leadership and strategic planning skills (essential)
- Excellent commercial and sales skills, including negotiation and proposal writing (essential)
- Ability to interpret data to inform business decisions (essential)
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills (essential)
- High-level organisational and planning capabilities (essential)
- Ability to manage budgets, resources, and workforce planning effectively (desirable)
- Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage risk and support cultural change (desirable)
- Excellent written communication skills for reporting, business cases, and commissioner updates (desirable)