Employment Engagement Lead - #2178446

JOB PURPOSE

To lead employer engagement for the Connect to Work programme across North and East Birmingham. The postholder will build effective relationships with partners, employers, secure employment and progression opportunities for participants and ensure partners have access to a coordinated employer offer.

The role will also develop outreach and referral routes to identify people who are already in work and meet the Connect to Work eligibility criteria, enabling them to access appropriate support to retain employment, increase their hours, improve their circumstances or progress at work.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

Employer engagement and opportunity development

• Develop and deliver a partnership-wide employer engagement plan for Connect to Work across North and East Birmingham, aligned to programme targets and local labour-market need.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with employers, business networks, sector bodies and recruitment agencies, acting as a consistent point of contact for the programme.
• Identify and secure vacancies, work trials, work experience, supported placements, apprenticeships, sector-based pathways and other progression opportunities for participants.
• Promote inclusive recruitment and work with employers to understand job roles, skills needs, reasonable adjustments and the support required to recruit and retain participants.
• Develop employer accounts and maintain regular contact from initial engagement through recruitment, onboarding, retention and progression.
• Coordinate employer opportunities for partner organisations, ensuring information is shared promptly and participants are matched fairly and effectively.

Participant identification and partnership delivery

• Work with employers, trade unions, business networks, community organisations and partner services to identify people already in work who may meet Connect to Work eligibility criteria.
• Promote the in-work support offer and establish accessible referral routes, ensuring potential participants receive clear information and are referred for formal eligibility checks and enrolment.
• Work closely with employment advisers and coaches across all three partners to understand participant goals, skills, barriers and support needs and to broker suitable opportunities.
• Work with public sector partners such as Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Combined Authority, NHS to support employer engagement.
• Support employer-facing events, recruitment sessions, job fairs, information sessions and sector-based activities across North and East Birmingham.
• Ensure employer and participant engagement is recorded accurately and promptly on agreed systems, with appropriate evidence, consent and data-protection controls.
• Monitor employer engagement activity, opportunities, referrals, job outcomes, in-work support and retention, using data and feedback to improve performance.
• Provide regular reports and updates to the managers, programme partners, commissioners and governance meetings.
• Contribute to programme mobilisation, operational planning, risk management, quality assurance, audits and continuous improvement.
• Promote WLCA’s values and commitments to equality, diversity, inclusion, safeguarding, social value and community-led working.
• Undertake other duties reasonably consistent with the purpose and level of the role, including travel across delivery areas and occasional evening or weekend work.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge & Understanding

• Good understanding of local labour markets, employer needs, recruitment practices and sector pathways.
• Understanding of supported employment, inclusive recruitment, job retention and progression in work.
• Knowledge of the barriers that disabled people, people with health conditions and other priority groups can face in securing or sustaining employment.
• Knowledge of data protection, safeguarding, equality, evidence requirements and contract compliance in an employment programme.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong employer engagement, relationship-management and influencing skills, with the credibility to work with employers of different sizes and sectors.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain the programme clearly and develop practical opportunities with employers.
• Strong networking, negotiation and opportunity-development skills, with a focus on measurable outcomes.
• Ability to coordinate activity across several partners, share information effectively and manage competing priorities.
• Strong organisation, record-keeping and performance-management skills, with attention to detail and deadlines.
• Competent use of Microsoft 365, spreadsheets, CRM or case-management systems, online collaboration tools and presentation software.

Experience

• Significant experience of employer engagement, business development, recruitment, employment support or workforce development, with demonstrable results.
• Experience of securing vacancies, placements, work experience or progression opportunities and matching people effectively to employer requirements.
• Experience of working in partnership and coordinating delivery with multiple organisations or teams.
• Experience of working with people who face barriers to employment or progression, including people who require in-work support.

Other Requirements

• Commitment to WLCA’s values, equality, diversity, inclusion, safeguarding and community-led working.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across North and East Birmingham and work occasional evenings or weekends.
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS check and other appropriate pre-employment checks.