Job Description

POST:

Engagement Officer

HOURS:

37.5 hours per week

LOCATION:

Brighton (with travel across East Sussex)

SALARY:

25,000 per annum

CONTRACT:

Fixed Term (March 2026)

ANNUAL LEAVE:

25 days + 8 bank holiday days paid holiday

INTRODUCTION TO WHITEHEAD-ROSS EDUCATION AND CONSULTING

Whitehead-Ross Education is a dedicated organisation focused on education and social welfare.

Since our founding in 2012, we've been offering a diverse range of high-quality skills-based programmes and social services to support individuals in need.

Our services include job retraining for the unemployed, vocational training, adult education, and a variety of social welfare services.

As an independent provider, we specialise in delivering fully funded, government-approved courses -- making us one of the few organisations focused solely on offering these funded opportunities. Our valued partners include local authorities, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the Department for Education.

At Whitehead-Ross Education we can deliver a wide range of programmes to support individuals, business owners and employees as well as community and local government projects. Between 1st August 2023 and 30th July 2024, we supported a total of 5,344 participants. Since we started in 2012, we have now supported 16,837 individuals!

Our recent Ofsted inspection (28th - 30th June 2024) found that "Leaders and managers are proactive in helping to promote the well-being of their staff. They provide staff with manageable workloads. Leaders have created a culture where adults develop positive attitudes to learning and work as a result of studying the curriculum and receiving support and guidance from tutors."

Primary Job Role

Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 12 weeks for adults aged 19 or over. They give people the opportunity to build up valuable sector-specific skills based on local employer demand and provide a guaranteed job interview on completion. Skills Bootcamps are primarily aimed at delivering flexible training at Levels 3-5 (medium to higher level technical skills). They are co-designed or shaped with employers to respond to their skills shortages. Whitehead-Ross Education is delivering Level 3 courses in Business & Management and Early Years and Education in East Sussex.

We are seeking two Engagement Officers to join our team. Our frontline staff are at the forefront of our business. The ideal candidates who will fill these exciting roles will be motivated and have a passion for supporting people reach their full potential.

You will liaise with Jobcentres and wider stakeholders to recruit learners onto the Bootcamps, follow up on enquiries from prospective learners, and engage with employers to identify job opportunities for the unemployed jobseekers accessing Business & Management and Early Years and Education Bootcamp programmes. This will involve liaising with employers to seek their input to help tailor the courses to meet their skills needs, such as reviewing programme content or being a guest speaker at a session, along with brokering guaranteed job interviews for those participants who successfully complete the courses.

We are looking for candidates from a sales, marketing or recruitment background. This is a varied role where no two days are the same. You will be highly organised, thrive in a targeted environment and be proactive in your approach. You will work closely with a team of specialised Tutors to promote our Business & Management and Early Years and Education Bootcamps to stakeholders, such as the Jobcentres, to ensure our courses achieve enrolment targets.

You will attend and organise local networking meetings to promote our service, be able to provide a collaborative approach and have the ability to relate to and communicate effectively with a wide range of people. You will provide advice and guidance to support participants and employers at different levels to achieve their goals. You must be able to work independently, demonstrate strong time-management skills and strong attention to detail.?

Responsibilities

Maintain a good understanding of the local labour market and be able to identify employer needs. Deliver performance against agreed KPIs. Engage with Jobcentres and stakeholders to recruit and enrol learners onto the Bootcamps. Respond to enquiries from prospective learners. Identify and secure suitable job vacancies with specific employers for jobseekers to apply for. Attend local networking groups. Generate new employer relationships through ongoing business development. Be committed to supporting people to reach their goals. Create employer engagement activities and produce a monthly plan that incorporates a range of innovative marketing and sales strategies and solutions. Attend and organise events in the community to engage with stakeholders employers and promote our service. Create reports to update management and our wider staff teams on success, progress and employment trends. Support the work of the wider organisation and plan activities accordingly. Adhere to customer service standards to ensure all customers are receiving a consistent service. Support the Skills Bootcamp Manager to prepare for contract review meetings as required.
This is an outline job description designed to give an overview of the responsibilities of the role. We expect the job holder will work flexibly, responding to organisational need and changes as they occur.

Person Specification

Education, Qualification and Training

Essential:

Good standard of education with GCSE to grade C or equivalent minimum in English and Maths. Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) appropriate to the level and scope of the role.

Desirable:

Any relevant training or advisory qualifications.

Knowledge, Skills, Ability and Experience

Essential:

Knowledge of recruitment processes and the labour market. Sales, marketing or recruitment experience. Proven experience of working in a target driven environment. Experience within a customer focused role. Experience of working in a targeted environment. Excellent administrative, planning and time management skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to demonstrate excellent influencing/sales skills.

Desirable:

Previous experience of working in a education/employer liaison role. Previous experience of developing effective community engagement activities and events.

Attitude and Behaviours

Essential:

Flexible approach to change, innovation and progress in the work environment. High standard of diplomacy, integrity and reliability. An energetic approach to delivery. Open minded and able to embrace change. Willingness and ability to work occasional unsociable hours when required. A positive assertive attitude to all aspects of work and development. Professional, confident and compassionate approach to work. Resilient with the ability to work under pressure. Willingness to learn new skills and undertake further study related to role.

Confidence and self-awareness of own limitations and professional boundaries.

Other

Clean driving license and access to own car You will require an Enhanced DBS Disclosure for this role, which the Company will pay for.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 10 months

Pay: 25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Casual dress Company events Company pension Discounted or free food Employee discount Employee mentoring programme Free fitness classes Free flu jabs Health & wellbeing programme Private medical insurance Referral programme Sick pay Store discount
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 30/05/2025