Defence Careers and Employability Advisor (SRF002985)

onlyFE; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local government pension

Up to 41 days annual leave

Gym/restaurant/salon access

Occupational Health service

Wellbeing digital hub

Flexible working hours

Free parking

Funding for teacher training/apprent

Teacher retention grants £6,000

Referral scheme £200 per referral

Job summary

RNN Group in Dearne Valley College, Rotherham, invites applications for a Defence Careers and Employability Advisor. You will provide impartial guidance to learners, mapping routes into defence-related roles, higher education or apprenticeships.

The role involves coordinating industry events, workshops on security procedures, and collaboration with partner colleges to widen opportunities across the region.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering guidance and information in educational settings.
• Willingness to learn defence sector pathways and security procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide high‑quality information, advice and guidance (IAG) through 1:1 appointments and group tutorials.
• Counsel learners toward Defence sector priority occupations and opportunities.
• Plan and deliver industry events with defence employer partners.
• Deliver Culture of Defence workshops covering security clearance and Official Secrets Act awareness.
• Share regional vacancy data and collaborate with partner colleges to raise guidance standards.

Skills

Guidance delivery

IT literacy

Presentational skills

Social media

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Advice & Guidance

Level 6 in Careers IAG

Level 2 in Counselling Skills

Level 2 Literacy/Numeracy

Job description

Defence Careers and Employability AdvisorFull Time (37 hours each week, all year-round)Temporary until 31/03/2029Salary; £30,115 per year plus benefitsLocation: Dearne Valley College, Rotherham

About The Role

Are you looking for a careers role where you can genuinely change lives and shape the talent pipeline for national security? RNN Group is seeking a specialized Defence Careers and Employability Advisor to support our ambitious Defence Technology and Innovation Centre (DTEC) project. In this vital role, you will connect learner aspirations with industry reality, guiding students step‑step from their technical courses straight into well‑paid, high‑value careers, modern apprenticeships, or higher education paths within the British defence sector.

What You Will Do

• Empower Learners: Provide high-quality, impartial information, advice, and guidance (IAG) through personalised 1-to-1 appointments and engaging group tutorials.
• Bridge the Defence Sector Gap: Counsel learners toward critical Skills England priority occupations, including systems engineers, cyber technicians, nuclear technicians, and logistics specialists.
• Host Major Industry Events: Plan and deliver network-wide industry careers fairs, interview days, and mentoring sessions involving over 40 Prime and Tier 2 defence employer partners.
• Prepare Students for the Field: Deliver specialized "Culture of Defence" workshops covering essential security clearance procedures and Official Secrets Act awareness.
• Build Regional Frameworks: Help manage data and share regional careers vacancies across partner and spoke colleges to elevate guidance standards nationwide.

Who We Are Looking For

We welcome applicants with a strong foundation in student guidance or recent advice work, alongside a willingness to rapidly learn the technical pathways of the defence sector.

• Guidance Experience: Background in student guidance, delivering group sessions, and creating innovative educational resources.
• Sector Familiarity: Prior knowledge of Advanced Manufacturing, Defence, or Robotics is excellent, though a willingness to rapidly learn the sector is completely acceptable.
• Qualifications: Level 2 Literacy/Numeracy and an NVQ Level 3 in Advice & Guidance (or a clear willingness to achieve it). A Level 6 in Careers IAG or Level 2 Counselling skills is highly advantageous.
• Skills: Strong organisational abilities, excellent presentational skills, a high level of IT literacy, and an ability to use social media effectively to promote the Careers Lounge brand.

We understand that no candidate will perfectly match every qualification or criterion listed. If your experience differs from what we've outlined but you believe you can contribute to this role, we encourage you to apply!

Department Info

You will report directly to the Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance Leader as part of the Careers Team and will work with our Students Support team, referring students onto them as required, for instance if a student is experiencing financial or emotional issues. You will also have a reporting line to the Group DTEC Lead to ensure realisation of DTEC outcomes.

You will develop links with Curriculum teams in order to promote the Careers Team and the information and guidance that the team can provide. Also, to promote the RNN Group, you will be required to attend Open events and external events on occasion which may take place at a College campus or at external locations.

Our Excellent Benefits And Rewards Package

• Access to local government pensions scheme (with employer contributions from 15.6% to 23.68%)
• Up to 41 days annual leave per year (26) including closure during Christmas period
• Access to our gyms, restaurants and salons
• Staff health & wellbeing and benefits schemes including in-house Occupational Health service
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Full, part time and flexible working hours available in many roles
• Free Parking available at all of our sites
• Fantastic career development opportunities including funding for teacher training, apprenticeships and various other industry recognised qualifications
• New FE teachers can also apply for grants of up to £6,000 in STEM subjects (conditions apply) through the teacher retention initiative
• Recruitment Referral Scheme for all employees, worth £200 per referral made

What is the RNN Group?

RNN Group's main goal is to be an 'outstanding' education and training provider and this is at the heart of everything that we do. To help us achieve this we are looking to recruit highly motivated, innovative and dynamic individuals to join our existing teams. To be a part of the team at RNN Group we will expect you to be committed to our values too;

• We are Inclusive,
• We have Integrity,
• We Deliver,
• We are One Team.

We celebrate diversity and are proud to be recognised as Investors in Diversity for our commitment to the FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) model, fostering a supportive environment for all. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of background, proudly participating in the Disability Confident Scheme, and provide reasonable adjustments.

The RNN Group is proud to be part of the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT).

As a newly designated Defence Technical Excellence College, RNN Group is proud to support the UK’s defence sector by developing the next generation of highly skilled technical talent.

RNN Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), all appointments are subject to rigorous safer recruitment checks. Successful candidates will undergo pre-employment screening, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (with Barred List check where applicable), online background checks, satisfactory references, and verification of identity, qualifications, and right to work in the UK.

The Group’s core operating hours are 8.30am-5.00pm (9pm on a Tuesday and Thursday during term time). You may be expected to work at any time during these hours to ensure business needs are met.

All candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Closing date

Monday 9th November 2026 – if you are shortlisted for this post, you will be contacted within a week of the closing date.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please contact the HR department on 01709 722750 or [e-mail]