VALOUR Network Manager (North of England)

The Office for Veterans Affairs (OVA), within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), is responsible for coordinating the delivery of the Veterans Strategy. The strategy sets the governments new vision for veterans and challenges the whole of society to think differently about those who have served in the Armed Forces, their offer and their potential.

The framework is grounded in three core themes, each an equal and vital part to ensuring the best outcomes for both veterans and the UK. Together, they represent a powerful new approach to recognising veterans as one of the UKs great strategic assets, underpinned by this governments commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. The long-term framework sets the commitment to these themes, and shapes how OVAs work is prioritised in terms of investment and effort.

In May 2025, the government announced VALOUR the first ever UK-wide government-led approach to veteran support. Building on successful existing provision, this programme, backed by 50 million of funding, will provide ex-Service people with easier access to services across health, housing and employment.

This is an exciting time to join the OVA to join a dynamic team to support the VALOUR initiative, which will attract Ministerial and media attention. As a leadership role within VALOUR HQ, the VALOUR Network Manager will play a central role in embedding the VALOUR operating model in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, and the North East.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week and will involve travel across the patch.

This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of veterans and their families, and in due course the wider Armed Forces community. You will become part of a team of passionate, committed, innovative and forward-thinking colleagues and be able to draw on a wealth of expertise to drive this ambitious programme forward. You will be able to make your mark by supporting VALOUR to transform the UKs veteran support landscape.

Blending leadership, strategic engagement, operational delivery and change management, the VALOUR Network Manager (North of England) role will coordinate the gathering of insight and intelligence through the VALOUR Field Officer network to inform service delivery and policy design and strengthen central understanding of local networks. Working collaboratively with statutory partners, voluntary organisations and VALOUR Recognised Centres, the role will shape and oversee activity that encourages strategic coordination, and which facilitates the sharing of good practice across the north of England and beyond. Working closely with the VALOUR Network Manager (South of England), the position will support greater alignment of local effort and strategic plans across England with national initiatives like the Veterans Strategy and Armed Forces Covenant Duty.

As VALOUR Network Manager (North of England), you will lead a team of 7 VALOUR Field Officers based in and operating across the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and the North East. These Field Officers will bring together strategic stakeholders (including local authorities, ICBs, DWP Armed Forces Champions, voluntary organisations, and other relevant services) to ensure that veterans, and in time the wider Armed Forces community, receive coordinated, timely and effective support, including via MOD Veterans Services case managers. As a leader within VALOUR HQ, you will consider how existing and developing local and regional networks can be linked into VALOUR and inform national VALOUR system governance.

You will play a critical role in establishing and embedding this new model, ensuring your team works consistently and effectively while also supporting wider system transformation and Defence initiatives. You will help shape processes, feedback mechanisms, and team culture to ensure long-term sustainability. Regular travel across the north of England will be required to support your team, engage senior partners, and promote the growth and success of VALOUR. Ultimately, this role offers the opportunity to directly influence the evolution of support services for veterans and the Armed Forces community in the UK.

Key work areas 

• Provide visible and inspiring leadership to your Field Officer team, setting clear expectations around culture, quality and performance
• Develop and maintain trusting and effective relationships across the North of England with regional and local stakeholders providing services to the Armed Forces community.
• Maintain and evolve existing stakeholder networks and help facilitate effective sub-regional strategic forums that convene all relevant local stakeholders, ensuring clear channels for communication.
• Identify opportunities for taking forward action on defined strategic priorities and drive collaborative implementation across local government led partnerships
• Contribute to VALOUR system improvements by aiding visibility and understanding of the veteran support ecosystem at the regional and local level and sharing best practice across maintained partnerships.
• Promote awareness of statutory services and initiatives and influence regional strategies to improve outcomes for the Armed Forces community.

Please note that this role is likely to evolve to respond to priority changes to the Armed Forces support landscape and a degree of flexibility is expected, as well as a willingness to travel regularly.

Essential Criteria 

• Proven experience of leading or line managing geographically dispersed teams, including through periods of change or transformation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with experience managing relationships with a range of stakeholders in different sectors and at differing levels of seniority.
• Strong communication skills, both verbally and written, including proven presentation skills, with confidence to speak in public to a range of audiences.
• A proven track record of stakeholder management, working collaboratively, developing or supporting forums, and being able to adapt to changing scenarios.
• Confidence navigating complex operating environments, including strong and demonstrable problem-solving abilities, the ability to make sound decisions at pace, and to translate insights to action.
• Confidence working remotely, acting on initiative, and being self-starting.
• Proven organisational skills and ability to prioritise and plan workload efficiently.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and complexity while keeping people engaged and focused.
• Knowledge of the development and application of the Armed Forces Covenant, the challenges of military service, and transitions to civilian life.  
• Familiarity with veterans support services or similar delivery landscapes.
• Understanding of local government, devolution and decentralisation, including local government reorganisation.
• A full UK Driving Licence and/or willingness to undertake frequent travel (predominately local and regional, and to a lesser extent UK wide).

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of operating within the Armed Forces community support landscape.
• Experience of local government structures.
• Experience in policy and strategy development across government.