Engagement Coach - Placements

Darlington College; Tees Valley; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Darlington College is seeking an Engagement Coach to join the Placements team in Darlington. The role involves preparing students for external placements, coaching them on-site, and maintaining strong relationships with employers and curriculum partners to secure work experience opportunities.

You will also input student reviews, manage progression against placement plans, and contribute to quality assurance processes within the college’s engagement strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating student placements and liaising with employers.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Awareness of safeguarding, equality of opportunity and health & safety policies.

Responsibilities

• Assess students in readiness for placements and lead learning sessions.
• Source and secure placements and maintain employer relationships.
• Input reviews of students on placement with curriculum teams and maintain CRM records.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to students on placement and help resolve issues with employers.
• Promote attendance, punctuality and professional conduct among students.
• Undertake annual paperwork reviews and participate in policy adherence and quality assurance.

Job description

# Engagement Coach - PlacementsEmployer: Darlington CollegeLocation: Darlington, DurhamContract Type: PermanentHours: Full TimeSalary: Salary Scale £27,752 - £29,236Posted: 6th October 2026Expires: 18th October 2026 11:59 PMStart Date: As Soon As PossibleJob ID: 1578188Job Reference: 26/27 - 691* Share :* Print\\*\\*\\* STRICTLY NO AGENCIES \\*\\*\\*1. PURPOSE OF JOBThe post-holder will work within the Placement Team, within the wider Marketing and Engagement team.This is multi-functional role, the Placement Coach will -1) Assess students in preparation for placement and employability2) Source and secure placements and maintain good relationships with employers, liaising closely with Business Development Advisors to ensure there is no duplication of activity3) Liaise with curriculum teams to input reviews of students on placement4) Stakeholder management5) Acting at all times as an advocate for the College2. CORE TASKS1) Support and assess students in readiness for their placement. This will include leading learning sessions with individual and groups of students to appropriately prepare them for external placements within employer premises.2) Support students on placement within employer premises, providing coaching and mentoring and ensuring they are supported to resolve any issues that develop with the employer. This will include continuous assessment of student behaviours for work and assisting students to continually review and improve these.3) Challenge students to do their best through challenging targets for the student to achieve occupational goals related to their vocational programme. Liaise with the curriculum teams in the completion of this core task.4) Keep accurate and up to date tracking records of student progress and work with curriculum areas to provide feedback of progress against plan.5) Source placements for Work Experience/T-Level placements. Liaising directly with employers to confirm their buy-in, ensuring placements fulfil the criteria associated with the programme.6) Support a caseload of students on long-term T-Level placements, assessing their progress and updating the curriculum area. The case load will be determined by the Engagement Manager.7) Ensure business relationships are maintained with employers and repeat business is secured.8) Update the College’s CRM system with activity with employers.9) Undertake reviews of students in employer premises, liaising with employers around their progress.10) Work with some autonomy in relation to planning schedule and activity, with responsibility to report back in relation to progress against targets, in conjunction with line manager.11) Provide general coaching support to enable students to reflect on their skills and experience, inside and outside of the curriculum and encourage them to develop new skills and abilities.12) Promote excellent attendance, punctuality and conduct amongst all students ensuring that this is monitored effectively to promote progress and ensure that all students (and their employers/guardians where appropriate) are aware of their progress.13) Undertake an annual review of paperwork in line with policy changes and requirements from Quality/Registry with line manager.14) Carry out health and safety checks, equality of opportunity checks and collecting Employer liability insurance which should be logged on the system. Due dates should be accurately recorded on college systems.15) Attend meetings with other curriculum staff for standardisation and to share good practice16) Participate in regular meetings with Line Manager and in tracking meetings to monitor student progress and performance17) Contribute to the collection of informal and formal feedback from students and employers18) Support the College by attending open events, breakfast meetings, employer forums and other such events that will help secure student recruitment and employer engagement19) Contribute to the continuous improvement of quality in all activities and self-assessment process.20) Support College policies, procedures and quality assurance systems. To conduct aspects of all duties and responsibilities in line with the Corporation’s Health & Safety Policy in the interests of themselves, other colleagues and students.21) Engage in professional development including the conduct of and participation in staff appraisal and in-service training based on an assessment of individual needs. Contribute to the mentoring system for new staff and colleagues as appropriate.22) Perform such other reasonable duties commensurate with the grade of the post as required by the Principal and Chief Executive.At all times deliver a professional approach in all aspect of work, treating all staff, students and the wider college community with respect.### AttachmentsWorking for DCEngagement Placement Coach updated### Safeguarding Statement:Child protection is the responsibility of all staff. The College will therefore:•Encourage and maintain an environment where students feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to•Ensure students know that there are staff in the College whom they can approach if they are worried•Include opportunities in the curriculum for students to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse•All staff will be required to undertake appropriate safeguarding induction and training.