Work Experience Manager

Derby College Group; Hampstead; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days holiday

LGPS pension 19.9% employer contrib.

Free onsite parking

Nursery discount (Outs)

TOTUM discount card

Rail discounts

Microsoft Office + 1TB OneDrive

Wellbeing & EAP

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Derby College Group seeks an ambitious Work Experience Manager to shape work experience and employer engagement strategy across the group. You will drive partnerships with employers, collaborate with curriculum teams, and lead a team to deliver high-quality learner experiences that boost progression to further study, apprenticeships and employment.

The role emphasizes safeguarding, compliance, and proactive performance management to maximise funding outcomes and learner success within a

Qualifications

• Organised, proactive and inspiring leader.
• Experience of managing work experience, industry placements, or employer engagement within Further Education, skills, or employability sector.
• Proven ability to lead teams, build relationships with employers and external partners, and manage competing priorities while delivering against targets.
• Confident using data to monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Understanding of safeguarding, compliance, and the Education Inspection Framework to ensure funding/regulatory requirements are met.

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.

About you

You are an organised, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a PSL of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on this list.