Employability Manager

St. John's College; Brighton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

St. John's College seeks an Employability Manager to lead the college-wide employability programme for autistic learners and those with additional needs.

You will build partnerships with local employers, develop enterprise projects, manage a small team, and embed employability across the learner journey from skills to job placements.

Qualifications

• Experience working with SEND learners in an educational or employment setting.
• Strong understanding of inclusive employment and supported internship models.
• Knowledge of Gatsby benchmarks and Preparing for Adulthood framework.
• Background in careers advice, FE colleges, or demonstrated experience supporting young people with SEND.
• Excellent partnership-building and project management skills.
• Line management experience and a collaborative leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of the college-wide employability programme.
• Prepare autistic learners and those with additional needs for meaningful work opportunities.
• Develop enterprise projects and support the Supported Internship programme.
• Build partnerships with local employers to create opportunities.
• Manage a small team of Employability Coordinators.
• Collaborate with curriculum and transitions staff to embed employability across the learner journey.
• Support learners from skill-building to successful job placements.

Skills

SEND learners experience

Inclusive employment understanding

Gatsby benchmarks knowledge

Preparing for Adulthood framework

Careers advice background

FE college experience

Partnership-building

Project management

Line management

Job description

Employability Manager (1288)

We're currently looking for an Employability Manager to join our team at St. John's this year.

You'll lead the design and delivery of our college-wide employability programme, ensuring our autistic learners and those with additional needs are prepared for meaningful work opportunities. From developing enterprise projects and supporting our Supported Internship programme, to building partnerships with local employers, you'll play a key role in shaping aspirational outcomes for our learners.

You'll also manage a small team of Employability Coordinators, collaborate with curriculum and transitions staff, and embed employability across the learner journey—from skill-building to successful job placements.

This role would particularly suit someone who has:

• Experience working with SEND learners in an educational or employment setting
• A strong understanding of inclusive employment and supported internship models
• Knowledge of the Gatsby benchmarks and Preparing for Adulthood framework
• A background in careers advice, experience working in Further Education (FE) colleges, or demonstrated experience supporting young people with SEND
• Excellent partnership-building and project management skills
• Line management experience and a collaborative leadership style

In return, we offer generous annual leave, ongoing CPD, and a supportive team that's passionate about delivering real‑world outcomes for young people with additional needs.

This is a brilliant opportunity to drive change, shape strategy, and make a lasting impact on the lives of our learners.

Shortlisting is scheduled for 04th November 2026, with in-person interviews to take place at St John's College on the 12th of November 2026

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.

Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Documents

• Employability Manager - Job Description - 2026 - STJ.pdf (0.98 MB)