NOW Group is an award-winning social enterprise operating across Belfast and Dublin. We are committed to working with individuals and businesses to unlock potential and create meaningful, lasting change across the island of Ireland.
Our work focuses on supporting people who are neurodiverse, autistic, or have a learning disability, helping them to build skills and progress into sustainable, future-focused employment. Through tailored training programmes, inclusive job opportunities, and community-based support, we empower individuals to achieve their goals and thrive in the workplace.
Our specialist employment and training services are delivered through the UK Government-funded SkillSET project, a partnership of seven regional disability organisations. The project provides tailored support to individuals with disabilities and health conditions who face multiple barriers to employment and are furthest from the labour market.
As Training Development Manager, you will lead the contract management and operational delivery of a highly skilled training team. Central to the role is ensuring strong alignment between skills development and employability outcomes, enabling participants to progress through a learning journey that meets their individual needs and aspirations. You will oversee training delivery across a range of contracts, drive income generation for the department, contribute to strategic direction, and lead and develop a team of Specialised Trainers.
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Manage NOW Group's training provision ensuring services are planned and implemented to fulfill NOW Group strategic and operational plans and the needs and aspirations of key stakeholders.
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Lead on funding applications or tender opportunities with a focus on training or skills development, developing innovative delivery models and best practice.
- Line management of Specialised Trainers including work allocation, training, problem resolution and evaluating performance.
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Lead on the development of a range of academies and courses that reflect the skills agenda, addressing labour market shortages and engaging with employers to understand their requirements.
- Lead on regular scoping activity with employment team to identify employment trends, matching training courses and linking participant aspirations.
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Lead on the development of NOW Group’s internal staff training programme, ensuring compliance with any mandatory required by contracts.
- Develop and quality check JAM Card training for businesses and other organisations across the UK and Ireland as required, providing insights into the JAM card user experience and updating training content as required.
- Work with the Marketing team on key engagement activity including events, communication strategies and marketing materials, including social media engagement.
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Produce accurate monitoring and reporting on progress against targets internally and externally to funders and business partners.
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Undertake regular quality audits to ensure compliance with organisational and funder guidelines.
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Contribute to the achievement of organisational Scorecard targets and strategy objectives.
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Comply fully with NOW Group's 'Organisational Approach to Safeguarding' and adopt the role of Designated Safeguarding Officer.
At NOW Group, we value and invest in our team. As part of our organisation, you’ll benefit from:
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Generous Leave: 25 days annual leave plus 12 statutory days (pro-rata).
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Health Cash Plan: Available after successful probation.
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Wellbeing Support: Confidential staff counselling and financial advisory services.
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Pension Scheme: 5% employer contribution.
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Flexible Work Initiatives: Including the Bike-to-Work scheme, holiday purchase options, and more.
About The Role
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Employment is subject to an Enhanced AccessNI Disclosure check.
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NOW Group is committed to fair recruitment practices. Policies on safeguarding, recruitment of ex-offenders, and data protection are available upon request.
Required Criteria
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1. Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field (e.g. Education, Training, HR, Community Development, Business)
- 2. Minimum of 3 years’ experience managing training or skills development programmes
- 3. Proven experience in leading and developing teams, including performance management
- 4. Demonstrable experience in developing training programmes or academies aligned to labour market needs
- 5. Experience of preparing successful funding applications and/or tender submissions
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6. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and SharePoint
Desired Criteria
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1. At least 2 years’ experience of supporting young people or adults with barriers to learning
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2. Certificate in Teaching or equivalent teaching qualification
- 3. Experience of developing courses for accreditation and working with awarding bodies.
- 4. At least 2 years' experience of taking a lead role in ETI inspections, self-evaluation and quality improvement processes.
- 5. Internal verifier, External Verifier or assessor qualifications.
Skills Needed
About The Company
At the heart of the NOW Group’s mission is its commitment to empowering individuals to gain skills and access meaningful employment. It achieves this through tailored employment academies, which provide participants with industry-specific training and work placements, and through their social enterprise businesses Loaf Catering and Cafes and Loaf Pottery.
One of the best-known contributions from the NOW Group is the JAM (“Just A Minute”) Card® - a tool that allows people with invisible disabilities to discreetly ask for patience in everyday interactions. It’s a very successful initiative with over 182,500 users and 3, 000 global organisations regarded as being JAM Card Friendly.
The NOW Group’s impact is driven by innovation, dedication, and an unwavering focus on changing lives for the better.
Company Culture
At NOW Group, our culture is what sets us apart. It’s built on collaboration, compassion, and a shared belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. Across our integrated team — from Training and Employment to Family Service, JAM Card, Loaf Cafés, Catering and Pottery, Social Groups, and vital support services like HR, Communications, Finance and Compliance — we are united by one purpose: to support people with learning difficulties, neurodiverse conditions, ADHD and autism into sustainable employment.
We don’t just work side by side — we work together. Each department brings its own strengths, but our true power lies in our ability to collaborate across teams. Our participants come from all walks of life, and it’s our culture of teamwork, flexibility, and deep empathy that allows us to meet their varied needs with real impact.
In 2024/2025 alone, our culture of care and commitment helped place nearly 400 people into meaningful, sustainable employment across Ireland and supported 2,168 individuals to achieve 1,824 qualifications. These aren’t just statistics — each number represents a life transformed, a family supported, and a community benefitted.
What truly defines our team is heart. We care deeply — not just about the work, but about the people behind it. Our team members show up every day with passion and purpose, knowing that their efforts are making a lasting difference. They don’t see targets — they see individuals, and the ripple effect that a single opportunity can have.
Company Benefits
Benefits at NOW Group
NOW Group is dedicated to the wellbeing and growth of our employees, offering a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both personal and professional needs. We provide 25 days of annual leave plus 12 statutory days (pro-rata), allowing ample time for rest and rejuvenation.
We prioritize health and wellness through a Health Cash Plan, which becomes available upon successful completion of the probationary period, and confidential staff counseling and financial advisory services, ensuring support for your physical, mental, and financial health.
To help plan for the future, we offer a Stakeholder Pension Scheme with a generous 5% employer contribution. Employees can also take advantage of our Bike to Work scheme and holiday purchase options, promoting flexibility and convenience.
Our flexible working initiatives, including a hybrid working model, and various wellbeing programs, reflect our commitment to fostering a positive and adaptable work environment for all team members.
Vacation, Paid time off, Cycle to work, Competitive salary, Long service recognition, Hybrid Working, On the job learning, Progression opportunities
Salary
£35,000.00 per year
