Employment & Business Development Officer – Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Novaskill; Central Coast; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Novaskill is seeking an Employment & Business Development Officer to connect local employers with apprenticeship and trainee opportunities across the region.

The role combines business development, recruitment and employer engagement, with hands-on support for apprentices from first contact to placement and mentoring. You will travel throughout the Central Coast region, promote the GTO model, and maintain records to ensure successful outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in business development, recruitment, employment services, or a client-facing role.
• Confidence approaching prospective employers and developing new business relationships.
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills.
• Experience in recruitment, interviewing or candidate assessment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of apprenticeships/traineeships and Group Training is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop relationships with host employers across the region.
• Generate apprenticeship/traineeship opportunities via networking, referrals, employer visits and industry engagement.
• Build and manage a pipeline of prospective employers and opportunities.
• Work with host employers to understand workforce needs and growth opportunities.
• Promote Novaskill's Group Training services and the benefits of employing apprentices/trainees.
• Coordinate recruitment with our team and assist with vacancy briefs and candidate shortlisting.
• Interview, assess and match candidates with host employers.
• Coordinate placements and inductions for new apprentices/trainees and support ongoing development.
• Maintain accurate records and align activities with policies.

Skills

Business development

Recruitment

Employer engagement

Apprenticeships/traineeships

Relationship building

Communication

Job description

Employment & Business Development Officer – Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Help connect local businesses with great people and create apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities across the region.

Novaskill is looking for a motivated and relationship-focused Employment & Business Development Officer to join our Group Training team.

This is a varied, people-focused role combining business development, recruitment, employer engagement and apprentice and trainee support. You'll spend time out in the community building relationships with local employers, identifying workforce needs and creating new apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities, while also helping candidates take their first steps into employment.

This isn't a desk-based sales role. We're looking for someone who enjoys meeting people, building genuine relationships and seeing an opportunity through from the first conversation with an employer to successfully placing and supporting an apprentice or trainee.

What you'll be doing

In this role, you will:

Proactively identify and develop relationships with new host employers across the region.

Generate new apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities through prospecting, networking, referrals, employer visits and industry engagement.

Build and manage a strong pipeline of prospective employers and employment opportunities.

Work with existing host employers to understand their workforce needs and identify opportunities for further growth.

Promote Novaskill's Group Training services and clearly communicate the benefits of employing apprentices and trainees through the GTO model.

Work closely with our recruitment team to develop vacancy briefs, identify suitable candidates and coordinate the recruitment process.

Interview, assess and match candidates with suitable host employers.

Coordinate placements and conduct inductions for all new apprentices and trainees, ensuring they are well prepared and supported from day one.

Manage and support a portfolio of apprentices and trainees throughout their employment training.

Develop strong relationships with host employers, workplace supervisors, RTOs and other industry stakeholders.

Conduct regular workplace visits and provide mentoring, guidance and support to apprentices and trainees.

Proactively resolve workplace or placement issues and assist with rotations or alternative placements where required.

Maintain accurate records and ensure activities are undertaken in accordance with Novaskill's policies, procedures and Group Training requirements.

Represent Novaskill at career expos, industry events, networking opportunities and other community activities.

About you

We're looking for someone who is confident talking to businesses and equally comfortable supporting a young person starting their career.

You’ll be someone who enjoys getting out from behind the desk, meeting new people and creating opportunities. You’ll also be organised and persistent enough to follow these opportunities through.

Ideally, you will bring:

Experience in business development, recruitment, employment services, account management, apprenticeships and traineeships or a similar client-facing role.

Confidence approaching prospective employers and developing new business relationships.

Strong relationship‑building and networking skills.

Experience in recruitment, interviewing or candidate assessment.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

The ability to influence, negotiate and find practical solutions for employers and employees.

Strong organisation and time‑management skills with the ability to manage multiple vacancies, candidates and employer relationships.

A genuine interest in helping apprentices and trainees succeed in employment.

The ability to work independently while contributing to a supportive team environment.

Good computer and administrative skills.

Knowledge of apprenticeships, traineeships and Group Training would be highly regarded, but isn't essential for the right person.

A current driver’s license and willingness to travel throughout the region.

What success looks like

This is a growth‑focused role, so success isn't measured simply by the number of phone calls you make.

You’ll be successful when you’re building a healthy pipeline of employers, creating genuine vacancies, bringing new host employers into Novaskill, successfully placing apprentices and trainees, growing new relationships with existing employers and supporting those placements to succeed.

We’re looking for someone who takes ownership of their region and enjoys turning conversations into opportunities.

Why Novaskill?

Novaskill has been creating employment, training and career opportunities since 1980. As a not‑for‑profit Group Training and Registered Training Organisation, we work closely with employers, apprentices and trainees to develop skills, strengthen local workforces and create sustainable employment opportunities.

You’ll join an experienced team where you’ll have the opportunity to make a genuine difference – not only by growing our business, but by creating employment opportunities that can change the direction of someone’s career.

If you are a natural relationship builder who enjoys business development, recruitment and helping people succeed, we’d love to hear from you.