Schools Partnership Co-ordinator

Merton College; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

8 additional days over Christmas/New‑Y

Wellbeing leave

Pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Professional development

Job summary

South Thames Colleges Group is seeking a part-time (0.8 FTE) Schools Partnership Coordinator on a fixed-term maternity cover from January 2027. The role focuses on building strong relationships with local schools, careers advisers and parents to promote opportunities and support student recruitment across the region.

You will join a dedicated Schools Partnership team, plan assemblies and outreach events, and collaborate with Marketing to deliver tailored information and guidance.

Qualifications

• Experience working with learners in teaching or youth work settings.
• Confident and engaging presenter with ability to design and deliver presentations, workshops and activities for large groups.
• Proven ability to develop partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders and be an ambassador for the Colleges.
• Experience creating educational information, advice and guidance resources tailored for audiences.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to build professional networks and influence stakeholders.
• Highly organised with excellent project management skills; able to plan, prioritise and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Build and develop relationships with local schools, careers advisers, prospective students and parents.
• Promote opportunities and support student recruitment across the region.
• Plan and facilitate assemblies, workshops, careers events and outreach initiatives.
• Collaborate with Marketing to develop stakeholder engagement activities.
• Work as part of the Schools Partnership team to cover the South Thames Colleges Group area.
• Travel to schools to support activities and events.
• Present educational activities and resources to learners and parents.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Event planning

Relationship building

Networking

Project management

Travel willingness

Job description

Fixed Term Contract Maternity Cover from January 2027

0.8 FTE (Monday-Thursday)

South Thames Colleges Group (anticipated bases at Merton and Carshalton Colleges) is seeking a Schools Partnership Coordinator to join the team on a fixed-term contract.

In this role, you will build and develop strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including local schools, careers advisers, prospective students and their parents. Using your communication, networking and relationship-building skills, you will act as an ambassador for the Colleges, promoting opportunities and supporting student recruitment across the region.

You will become part of a dedicated Schools Partnership team comprising two Schools Partnership Coordinators and a Schools Partnership Manager. While each coordinator has responsibility for a specific borough, providing schools and local authorities with a consistent point of contact, the team works collaboratively across the wider recruitment catchment area. Significant progress has already been made in strengthening partnerships and raising the profile of the Colleges, contributing to increased applications and student enrolment.

Working closely with the Marketing team, who produce and distribute promotional campaigns and materials, you will focus on developing stakeholder engagement and delivering a tailored programme of activities. This includes planning and facilitating assemblies, workshops, careers events and outreach initiatives that inspire prospective students and showcase the opportunities available at the Colleges.

The successful candidate will bring experience of working with learners in either a teaching or youth work setting. You will be a confident and engaging presenter, with the creativity to design and deliver inspiring presentations, workshops and activities for large groups of students. With excellent relationship-building skills, you will have a proven ability to develop effective partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders and be experienced in creating educational activities and resources that provide tailored information, advice and guidance.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as is the ability to build professional networks and influence stakeholders at all levels. You will be able to connect with young people from a variety of backgrounds, as well as the parents, carers and advisers who support them. Highly organised and self-motivated, you will possess excellent project management skills and be able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. You will be comfortable working independently, using your initiative to plan and prioritise workloads, meet tight deadlines and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.

There are some occasional Saturday plus evening engagements that include Open Events and parent/ carer careers evenings. A car is not essential but the role does require travel out to schools and in some cases, transporting marketing materials

This post covers the South Thames Colleges Group area, namely Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College (Wandsworth). Most engagements for this maternity cover period will fall in Merton and Carshalton Colleges but colleagues work to support each other across the group.

Closing date for the return of completed applications is 22nd October 2026

The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 27 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees' physical and mental health. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. The benefits package will be pro-rated for part time staff.

South Thames Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London's largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students' success at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to progress and achieve.