Careers Advisor

SAMpeople; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Perkbox discount platform

Cycle to Work

Green Car Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Perkbox Wellness hub

Job summary

Smith's Wood Academy is seeking a proactive Careers Advisor to guide students through their future pathways, including further education and training options. The role focuses on impartial advice, supporting college and apprenticeship applications, and coordinating careers activities across the academy.

The position is full-time during term time plus two weeks, with flexible working options discussed. A Recruitment and Retention Allowance of up to £5,000 is available for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Awareness of safeguarding with up to date training
• Experience of working in an educational environment
• Leadership: adaptable and able to work in a team

Responsibilities

• Conduct professional and impartial 1:1 careers guidance discussions with students and parents
• Manage bookings for careers guidance appointments and produce action plans
• Develop knowledge of career and labour market information to guide students
• Assist planning and delivering encounters with employers and education providers
• Support students with applications for college, sixth form, apprenticeships and other destinations
• Collaborate with senior leaders and curriculum teams to deliver the Whole Academy Careers Curriculum
• Plan and deliver academy events including Careers Fairs and Insight Days

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed Careers Advisor to join our team at Smith's Wood Academy. Smith’s Wood Academy is a large academy with just over 900 students from Year 7 to Year 11. Located in the north of Solihull, the academy serves students who live in the immediate locality.

This is a full-time position working term time plus two weeks. We are committed to supporting flexible working and would be happy to discuss alternative / part time working arrangements with suitable candidates.

The role also has a Recruitment and Retention Allowance of £5000 for the right candidate.

Our recent Ofsted inspection shows we have improved in all areas. Leadership, attendance and behaviour, inclusion, personal development and wellbeing were all graded ‘expected standard’ and we are committed to building on this success. The Ofsted visit in January 2026 found that Smith's Wood Academy is the most improved school in England- after a dramatic and fast paced turnaround.

Key points from the report included that

"Staff know that their wellbeing and professional development matters deeply to leaders: They value the training that they receive and the opportunities that they have to pursue leaderships qualifications. Leaders have ensured that staff and pupils benefit from a happy and collaborative place to learn and work."

The report noted that " The school's careers education is highly effective. Pupils are supported to prepare well for future education, employment or training. Pupils experience relevant encounters with local employers and high education providers. These increase pupils' awareness and aspirations for what they can aim to do in the future. Tailored advice enables pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, to understand the steps they need to take to achieve their ambitions"

As careers Advisor you will play a critical role in providing guidance, support, and resources to students within the Academy to help them make informed decisions about their future career paths, further education, and training opportunities. The position is designed to facilitate successful transitions from education to the world of work and higher education.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

Conduct professional and impartial 1:1 careers guidance discussions with students (and parents where appropriate) which challenge and support them to make informed decisions about their next steps and future career

Manage the bookings for careers guidance appointments, produce careers action plans, and share and log these

Develop and use expert knowledge of career and labour market information and intelligence to enable students to identify, access, interpret and utilise valid and current information that is relevant

Assist in planning and delivering of encounters with employees and education/training providers

Support students with applications for college, sixth form, apprenticeship and other destinations

Work collaboratively the Senior Leaders and curriculum teams and pastoral staff to deliver the Whole Academy Careers Curriculum

Assist in planning and delivering academy events and activities including Careers Fairs, Insight Days, Mock Interviews

Networking

Support the growth of a network of alumni of former students to inspire and inform current learners through their experience and career journeys.

Establish and develop links with local businesses, further education colleges, apprenticeship providers, university technical colleges and universities

Our vision is that every child within the Trust, regardless of their background, will attend an Academy that offers an outstanding quality of education which means to us:

• Every child is recognised as an individual and has access to first-class pastoral care because we want them to be happy
• Every child benefits from a wide range of enriching opportunities because we place great emphasis on their personal development
• Every child benefits from dedicated leaders, teachers and staff who a relentless in their ambition to improve the quality of teaching in our academies because we know excellent teaching is key to transforming the futures of our students

Applicants will join a well-led and motivated team committed to continuous improvement.

In return we will offer you:

• Bespoke Continual Professional Development (in the academy and online via the National College)
• Discounts at nationwide retailers
• Employee assistance programme
• Up to 4 structured counselling sessions per year
• A MAT wide focus on staff well-being

Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as providing evidence of qualifications.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of[1]offenders-act-1974

• Perkbox discount platform
• Cycle to Work
• Green Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Perkbox Wellness hub

Qualifications

5 GCSEs including Maths and English (grade 4-9) or essential

NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent) in Careers Advice and Guidance or Careers Information or a related subject desirable

Educated to Level 4 in Careers Advice and Guidance or Careers Information or a related subject desirable

Degree in a relevant subject desirable

Skills

Abilities, Skills and Knowledge

Awareness of child protection/safeguarding with up to date training (or willingness to undertake training) essential

Experience

Experience of working in an educational environment

Experience/Knowledge

Knowledge of school standards and procedures or willingness to train

Leadership

Adaptable - ability to adapt style to a variery of situations and people essential

Personal Attributes

Ability to work effectively within a team environment essential

Ability to work effectively within a team environment essential

Promotes a culture of Safeguarding essential

Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, parents and students essential

Commitment to Trust aim and values essential

Committed to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) essential

Smith's Wood Academy

Harj Sekhon

[e-mail]

Smith's Wood Academy

Windward Way

Smith's Wood

Birmingham

B36 0UE

Fairfax Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.

Following the update of KCSIE 2023 Fairfax Multi Academy Trust will now carry out online checks of all appointments.

Fairfax Multi Academy Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Key Role Information

£30868 - £31912 actual salary ( based on Term Time plus 2 weeks) + Recruitment and Retention Allowance of up to £5000