Job Description

Early Careers Programmes Lead

Full-time, permanent (37.5 hours per week, 09.00-17.00 Monday-Friday) 48,000-52,000 depending on experience Sawbridgeworth, Herts (3 days a week in office) 25 days' holiday + bank holidays

At Visionpath, we're on a mission to make early careers more equal

We believe a young person's background shouldn't limit their potential. That's why we partner with forward-thinking employers, creating best-in-class early talent solutions that help them reach, recruit and retain diverse school leavers for apprenticeships and early careers.

Our award-winning programmes unlock careers for those who need them most and help employers of all sizes to be future-ready, with access to diverse future talent and skills. Together, we drive meaningful change on social mobility.

We've worked with over 50,000 young people and partner with top employers like Berenberg, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Mars and Ofcom.

We're growing and we're looking for a purpose-driven and people-focused

Early Careers Programmes Lead

to join us.

The role is ideal for someone who thrives in early careers, believes in the power of social mobility and is passionate about leading and developing people to deliver results and impact.

You'll manage a team running a portfolio of early careers programmes for our clients - from early engagement and attraction programmes, all the way to end-to-end early talent partnerships that span outreach to onboarding

.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

In this role you'll lead our programmes team and oversee execution and performance across our portfolio of programmes, ensuring we deliver on our clients' early talent needs and unlock life-changing opportunities for young people. You will:

Lead and empower others

Line manage a team of 4-5 Programme Managers and Coordinators Coach, support and develop your team to deliver high-quality programmes Hold regular 1:1s, performance reviews and appraisals Be a role model for our values and ways of working

Partner with employers and schools

Build strong relationships with clients as a trusted early talent partner Regularly meet and engage with clients to understand their early talent needs, shape programmes and solutions, and ensure we continue to support their objectives Identify opportunities to grow partnerships and deepen our impact

Drive delivery excellence

Provide accountability to Programme Managers on programme and solution delivery Track and monitor progress against KPIs and statements of work Lead internal programme review processes Uphold high standards of delivery and quality across our portfolio Ownership of data, evaluation and reporting both internally and externally
As a growing business, you'll also have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of other projects and to be on-the-ground supporting and delivering programmes with employers, schools and young people. So having experience of facilitating and delivering workshops and events would be a big plus.

ABOUT YOU:

You'll combine leadership experience with a genuine passion for early careers and social mobility. You'll be confident managing people and teams, overseeing programme delivery and know how to balance high standards with a supportive, collaborative approach.

You'll bring:

Proven people management and coaching experience A background in early careers, social mobility or related fields Strong project leadership and delivery management skills Experience working with corporate clients (SMEs to multinationals) Understanding of the education landscape, working with schools and safeguarding

And you'll be:

A relationship builder with integrity and professionalism Supportive of others and collaborative Someone with a can-do attitude, eager to get stuck-in and make things happen Organised, structured and results-focused Commercially-aware with a strategic mindset Driven by purpose and impact

WORKING AT VISIONPATH:

We're a collaborative, delivery-focused team who take pride in doing work that matters. Our culture is built on our values

Show The Way

- We're role models for others

Think Differently

- Embracing difference, bringing fresh ideas, no "one-size-fits-all"

Inspire Trust

- Trusted partners, keeping our promises and acting with integrity

Always On Point

- Staying one step ahead and always striving for excellence

One Team

- Going far by going together, having fun, respecting each other, it's never "not my job"
You'll see these embedded in how we work with each other, with the young people we support and with our employer and school partners.

This is a hybrid role, with

three days a week in our Sawbridgeworth office

and two days remote. Team connection and collaboration are central to how we work, so please only apply if this working pattern works for you

.

If you want to help drive change on social mobility, unlock careers for young people and help employers tap into high potential future talent, then we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 14th November 2025 with interviews taking place w/c 24th November 2025.

SAFEGUARDING:

This role involves working with young people. It is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and requires an enhanced DBS check. The successful candidate must also register with the DBS Update Service to ensure continued safeguarding compliance

.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:

We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 48,000.00-52,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Company events Free parking Work from home
Ability to commute/relocate:

Sawbridgeworth CM21 9JX: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):

Are you prepared to undergo an enhanced DBS check?
Experience:

Early Careers: 3 years (preferred)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person