Employer Engagement Officer – Jobs Guarantee Sunderland
Location: Sunderland - this is a hybrid role with regular travel to sites across the Sunderland area.
This is a full-time permanent role (37 hours per week)
About the role
Education Development Trust is looking for an Employer Engagement Officer to join our Jobs Guarantee Sunderland team.
The Jobs Guarantee Programme is a flagship national programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), supporting young people aged 18–24 into meaningful paid work through fully funded work placements, training and wraparound support.
As Employer Engagement Officer, you’ll build strong relationships with businesses across Sunderland, identifying and developing high-quality job opportunities that give young people the skills and experience they need to progress into sustained employment.
What you’ll be doing
- Engaging with employers across a range of sectors to generate new opportunities and build a strong pipeline of Jobs Guarantee roles.
- Developing and maintaining positive relationships with local employers and employer networks.
- Working closely with Opportunity Advisers and the Delivery Manager to ensure opportunities meet participant and programme needs.
- Keeping up to date with the local labour market, growth sectors and recruitment trends.
- Supporting employers before, during and after placements to help achieve successful, sustainable outcomes.
- Completing employer eligibility, compliance, Health & Safety and vetting checks.
- Maintaining accurate employer, vacancy and placement information using CRM and programme systems.
- Working towards agreed monthly targets and contributing to overall programme performance.
- Collaborating with employability programmes across the region to share opportunities and meet the needs of Sunderland employers.
What we’re looking for
- Experience working within a sales or target-driven environment.
- Experience in employer engagement, account management, recruitment or business development.
- A strong track record of developing employer relationships and generating employment opportunities.
- Excellent networking, communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Strong stakeholder relationship management experience.
- Experience of compliance and vetting activities.
- Experience using a CRM system.
- A good understanding of local labour market trends, employer needs and recruitment practices.
- An understanding of inclusive recruitment, equality, reasonable adjustments and accessible employment.
- The ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively to deadlines.
Knowledge of employability and skills programmes such as Apprenticeships, Restart or Connect to Work, along with experience of post-placement employer support, would be advantageous.
You’ll ideally have a full driving licence and be prepared to travel across Sunderland for regular face-to-face engagement with employers and employer networks.
Why join us?
This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to young people at an important stage in their lives. You’ll help participants recognise their strengths, develop their confidence and skills, access employment opportunities and work towards a sustainable future.
The role is area based, combining home working with travel to community locations and employer premises to support young people across your allocated area.
A full list of job objectives can be found in the job description.
Deadline for applications: midnight Sunday 8th November (Please note, we reserve the right to close our vacancies early if sufficient applications are received).
How to apply: To be considered for this vacancy, applicants are required to complete and submit a fully completed application form through our website.
Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position. Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.
This role will require the successful candidate to go through an enhanced DBS check.
Salary & Benefits
£34,143.00 per annum FTE
Benefits include:
- 30 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro rota)
- 2 days of paid volunteering per year (pro rota)
- Matched Pension Scheme
- Life Assurance
- Discounted gym memberships
- Health care cash plan
- Retail discounts
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Wellbeing App
- Access to training portal to help support your own CPD
EDT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults whom we work with and come into contact with around the world. All applicants are subject to thorough screening and successful candidates are subject to the relevant level of criminal record checks with national police authorities or the UK’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This will be at minimum a basic DBS check.
EDT is a proud Disability Confident Leader. We take practical steps to ensure that disability inclusion is not only part of our values but part of our everyday actions. We are committed to creating a working environment where disabled employees are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in their role. If you are disabled or require specific adjustments during the application process, please do let us know how we can support you.
We understand that artificial intelligence (AI) tools (such as ChatGPT) can be helpful when applying for jobs – especially for those who require additional support during the recruitment process. However, while you may decide to use AI tools for ideas or pointers, we request that you do not rely heavily on them when answering questions. We are looking for responses that are personal to you, including details and examples of your abilities and work experience to date, and we consider copying and pasting AI-generated responses to be a misuse of AI tools. Likewise, we do not use AI-driven recruitment screening software, because we value authenticity and prefer to make personal connections with our candidates. If you have used AI to support your application – including in emails and responses to questions – please disclose this on your application form. If you would like clarification on how AI can be used in your application to EDT, please contact the Recruitment team via the EDT website.
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