Work Placement Engagement Coach

West Nottinghamshire College Group; Mansfield; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

West Nottinghamshire College Group, through Vision Business Support Services, is seeking two fixed-term posts to coordinate work placements and industry placements for full-time students. The role focuses on engaging employers, matching learners to placements, and collaborating with curriculum teams to achieve placement targets.

You will travel to employer sites to conduct risk assessments, develop placement opportunities, and use college systems to track engagement and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Some construction industry experience would be advantageous.
• Health and safety training and ability to complete risk assessment paperwork.

Responsibilities

• Engage existing employers to maintain/increase student placements.
• Match students to appropriate employers and roles for placements.
• Collaborate with curriculum staff to align planning with industry placements and upskill opportunities.
• Travel to employer sites for risk assessments and employer meetings; attend open evenings and networking events.
• Develop and deliver resources to prepare students for work placements and monitor progression.
• Use college systems including the central work placement management system to capture engagement data.

Job description

2 Posts, fixed term until 30th June 2027
Vision Business Support Services Ltd (VBSS) provides high-quality support services to all aspects of the college group, VBSS is a subsidiary company of West Nottinghamshire College and provides an important service and plays a pivotal part in the success of the college and creating an exceptional learner experience.

ABOUT THE ROLE

A key part of this role will be to ensure students complete work placements and extended or industry placements. It is a mandatory requirement for all full-time students to complete a meaningful work placement as part of their course. These posts are fixed term linked to project funding.
An essential task will be to engage existing employers to maintain their support and if feasible increase the number of students for each employer. To build links with new employers and match students to the appropriate employer and role. Increasing the number of employers supporting our students with work placements and developing strong working relationships.
Working individually as well as working alongside the directorate of Construction and Building Services and other college departments to generate and upscale placement opportunities achieving the college's work placement targets for study programme and industry placements. Some construction industry experience would be advantageous.
You will complete health and safety training to enable you to complete risk assessment paperwork or ensure employers complete the online forms, prior to placements starting, ensuring that students are protected against health and safety risks arising from work activities, at the same time using the opportunity to develop strong links with employers and generate confidence in the college's professional approach to health and safety.
Developing good relationships with curriculum staff will be essential to ensure there is an alignment between curriculum planning and industry and study placement provision as well as collaboratively matching students to placements and upscaling to industry placements.
You will contribute to students' preparation for work placement through projects, developing and delivering resources, being passionate about students' achievement monitoring completion of relevant and meaningful work placement objectives.
You will use a range of college systems including the college central work placement management system and ensure key employer and student engagement information is captured.
The post holder will be expected to be a self-starter and have a high level of resilience, as the role will involve encouraging students to see the benefits of work placement and engage employers to offer opportunities.
You will be required to travel to conduct risk assessments and attend employer appointments, open evenings, employer networking events and other college sites.
The role will require you to embed the college's values, Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Ambition and Compassion.