Skills Partnership Manager

University Centre Somerset College Group; Taunton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Taunton is seeking a Skills Partnership Manager to lead their Skills Partnerships function. The role will focus on driving high-quality employer engagement across various programs, ensuring a seamless experience from proposal to onboarding. The successful candidate will build strong networks, align proposals with market demand, and work collaboratively with internal teams. This is a strategic position aimed at enhancing regional and national skills growth with some required travel.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing skills partnerships and employer engagement.
• Ability to build regional and national networks.
• Strong commercial acumen and data analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Skills Partnerships function for employer engagement.
• Build strong networks for repeat business.
• Collaborate with internal teams for proposal alignment.

Skills

Leadership in skills partnerships

Employer engagement

Data-driven decision making

Commercial focus

Job description

Skills Partnership Manager

To lead the Skills Partnerships function for UCS College Group, driving high-quality employer engagement and conversion across Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and wider workforce development programmes. The postholder owns the process from proposal to onboarding, ensuring a seamless and professional experience for employers while achieving ambitious growth and income targets.

The Skills Partnership Manager will build strong regional and national networks to drive repeat business and expand the Group's footprint within local communities. They will ensure the team is commercially focused, data-driven and confident in articulating the full range of the Group's skills offer.

Working in close collaboration with internal curriculum, compliance and operations teams, the postholder will ensure all proposals are aligned with delivery capability and market demand. They will also work closely with the Customer Insight Manager to translate market intelligence and funding changes into actionable growth strategies.

This is a strategic management role within the Future Skills & Growth Team, reporting directly to the Group Director - Future Skills & Growth. It is a high-impact, commercially minded role designed for a motivated professional who thrives on growth, innovation and results. The role is designed for a commercially focused, proactive leader who wants to make a real impact on regional and national skills growth.

Some evening and regional travel will be required to attend events, partnership meetings and business forums.