Employability Engagement Leader

The Manchester College; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days paid annual leave

8 bank holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

The Manchester College invites an experienced Employability Engagement Leader to join our Employability, Partnership & Skills Department. You will lead a small team of Employer Partnership Coordinators while maintaining your own student caseload and driving high‑quality work experience opportunities.

This role blends leadership, employer engagement and strategic partnership development in a busy, supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Proven people leadership experience.
• Experience in employer engagement and student support.
• Ability to lead a small team and manage performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Employer Partnership Coordinators (EPCs).
• Maintain a caseload of students and support work experiences.
• Develop and grow employer partnerships and industry placements.
• Monitor team performance, quality and compliance; drive improvements.
• Coach EPCs and build strong employer relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Employer engagement

Stakeholder management

Team coaching

Communication

Organisational skills

Education

GSCE or Level 2 literacy/numeracy

Tools

MS Office

CRM systems

MIS / data reporting

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and inspiring people leader to join The Manchester College as an Employability Engagement Leader, on a permanent, full-time (35 hours per week) basis.

Are you a passionate people leader with experience in employer engagement and helping students succeed? We are looking for an ambitious and proactive individual to lead a small team of Employer Partnership Coordinators while playing a hands‑on role in supporting students and developing industry partnerships.

This is a key leadership role within our Employability, Partnership & Skills Department, combining team leadership, employer engagement, business development and direct student support.

You will lead, motivate and develop a small team of Employer Partnership Coordinators (EPCs), providing clear direction, support and performance management to ensure the delivery of high-quality work experience and industry placement opportunities. You will monitor team performance, quality and compliance, driving continuous improvement and ensuring targets and outcomes are achieved.

Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will maintain your own caseload of students, supporting them to access meaningful work experience, industry placements and opportunities that develop the skills and experience valued by today's employers.

Working closely with curriculum teams and colleagues, you will help strengthen and grow our employer partnerships. Using your business development experience, you will identify new opportunities, build lasting relationships with stakeholders, and create high-quality industry-led experiences that make a real difference to our students.

As a proactive and visible team leader, you will bring together your experience of people management, employer engagement and student support to drive performance across the team. You will coach and develop your EPCs, empowering them to build strong employer relationships and deliver excellent outcomes, while leading by example through your own student caseload and employer activity. Ideal for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment and wants to make a real impact on student success and employer engagement.

Site Information

Our City Centre campus is a flagship site in the heart of Manchester, offering cutting‑edge facilities and a buzzing, creative atmosphere. Home to our Centre of Excellence for Creative and Digital Industries, it provides an inspiring setting for both staff and learners, with specialist studios, workshops, and collaborative spaces. With its central location and strong industry links, the campus is a hub for innovation, talent development, and real-world learning.

Who are TMC?

The Manchester College is the Largest Further Education College in the United Kingdom and has the largest provisions for 16-19yrs olds, adults, and higher education in Greater Manchester. We are part of the LTE group that consist of MOL, Total People, UCEN Manchester, Novus, and LTE Group Operations. We currently support more than 25% of Greater Manchester’s learning provision and are currently rated “Good” by Ofsted. The Manchester Colleges offering is bolstered by 18 Centres of Excellence across our campuses, ensuring we give our best and strive to achieve an unrivalled learning experience for our students. We have partnerships with over 1000 industry and employer partners nationally to ensure our students secure their place as the leaders of the future.

Proudly, The Manchester College is also 1 of only 57 organisations nationally recognised with the Princess Royal Training Award 2025, demonstrating our commitment to investing in our people and their development.

• 35 days paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
• 3 well‑being days per year.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Role Responsibilities

Please see link - Job profile

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• At least a GSCE or level 2 in literacy or numeracy (or equivalent).
• Experience of employer engagement, involving but not limited to networking, cold calling, negotiating and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and on own initiative.
• Experience of engaging with employers at operational levels, particularly in relation to employer engagement.
• Experience of delivering qualifications, education, or employability sessions.
• Experience of delivering group work sessions as well as working on a 1-2-1 basis with participants.
• Experience of developing external relationships with employer and other agencies.
• Experience of utilising computerised management information systems.
• Experience of working to targets, implementing monitoring, and recording systems.
• Experience of delivering programmes that are focused on soft skills, mentoring and employability.
• Liaison and Networking - Experience of circulating information in an accurate and timely manner, working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships.
• The ability to organise and to be self-motivated.
• The ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and to be fully competent in the use of Microsoft Office programs.
• A willingness to undertake continuous personal development.
• An understanding of, or interest in, the Hospitality and Catering sector would be a distinct advantage. The successful candidate will be able to establish and nurture meaningful employer partnerships that not only enhance student experiences but also help address skills gaps and meet workforce demand across Manchester.
• Successfully candidate must have access to a car for work and full driving licence.

Safeguarding

The LTE Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre‑screening process. Some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check.

At The Manchester College, we’re committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, or victimisation, where all members of our community are treated with respect and dignity. The Manchester College is committed to working in an inclusive way with all the communities where we are geographically located and to developing a workforce and student community that reflects Greater Manchester’s and the UK’s rich diversity and vibrancy.