Work Experience Manager

Derby College Group; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays

LGPS with 19.9% employer contribution

Free onsite parking

TOTUM/Discount card

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Derby College Group is seeking an ambitious Work Experience Manager to lead work experience and employer engagement across the college group. You will collaborate with curriculum teams and employers to create high-quality industry placements that boost learner progression.

You will manage a team, drive data-informed improvement, ensure funding and safeguarding compliance, and build lasting partnerships with regional employers to enhance opportunities for learners across Derbyshire and the East

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape work experience and employer engagement across Derby College Group.
• Develop high-quality industry placements and opportunities for learners.

Job description

Optimistic – Equity – Kindness – Innovation – Collaboration

Derby College Group (DCG) are seeking an ambitious and innovative Work Experience Manager. Reporting to the Director of Employer Partnerships. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the future of work experience and employer engagement across Derby College Group.

The Opportunity

As Work Experience Manager, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring every learner has access to high-quality, meaningful industry experiences that develop their skills, confidence, and employability. Working closely with curriculum teams and employers, you will drive innovative partnerships, influence strategic priorities, and make a lasting impact on student progression into further study, apprenticeships, and employment. This role offers the chance to lead a dedicated team, champion continuous improvement, and contribute directly to the College's ambition of delivering outstanding learner outcomes while strengthening relationships with employers across the region.

For a full explanation of the roles and responsibilities, please click here.

About You

You are an organized, proactive, and inspiring leader with experience of managing work experience, industry placements, or employer engagement within the Further Education, skills, or employability sector. Passionate about improving learner outcomes, you have a proven ability to lead teams, build strong relationships with employers and external partners, and manage competing priorities while delivering against challenging targets. You are confident using data to monitor performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and drive high-quality outcomes. With a sound understanding of safeguarding, compliance, and the Education Inspection Framework, you are committed to delivering an outstanding learner experience while ensuring all activity meets funding and regulatory requirements.

For a full explanation of the Person Specification, please click here.

The Benefits

• 35 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays and 6 closure days
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with a 19.9% employer contribution
• Free onsite parking
• Discount at our Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ onsite Little Explorers Nursery
• TOTUM discount card (aka NUS/Student Discount Card) / discounted Tastecard
• Discounts on East Midlands Railway Annual Season Tickets
• Microsoft Office for FREE with 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage
• Discount on treatments at SENSI our onsite salon at the Roundhouse
• Continuous development and progression opportunities
• Our new and enhanced Employee Assistance Programme provides 24/7 confidential support for wellbeing, mental health, and life matters
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace which promotes and values diversity. We welcome all talent irrespective of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. We ensure that our policies and procedures treat all applicants consistently and fairly during our recruitment process.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, reasonable adjustments, or about the role, please contact us at [e-mail].

Safeguarding statement

DCG is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. An online search of the preferred candidate is completed to help to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which the college may need to explore with the candidate further. Please be advised that it is an offence to apply for this position if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

We are committed to embedding sustainability throughout Derby College Group, from the way we operate to the way we educate and support our learners. We welcome applicants who are motivated to support our sustainability ambitions, help reduce our environmental impact, and contribute to a creating a more sustainable world for our future generations.

If you require visa sponsorship

Please note that unfortunately, this role is not eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration points-based immigration system. Applications are welcome from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but would be eligible to obtain a valid visa via another route. Please consult the Home Office website for further information.