Careers Lead
Join our team as the Careers Lead and empower students to make informed choices for their future success!
Start Date: As soon as possible
Salary: £36,540.77
Contract: Full time, 52 Weeks
Closing Date: Wednesday 7th May, 2025 at 12:00pm
Are you passionate about guiding students toward successful career paths? We’re looking for a Careers Lead to plan, manage and deliver an inclusive careers programme, ensuring students are well-prepared for their futures.
Careers Lead
The Careers Lead is responsible for planning, managing and delivering the College’s careers programme, ensuring it meets the Gatsby Benchmarks and Government guidelines.
This role involves working closely with students, staff, parents and external partners to provide comprehensive career guidance and opportunities.
This role supports the preparation of students for adulthood in accordance with our organisational values:
- Equality
- Empowerment
- Respect
- Sustainability
Careers Lead Responsibilities:
- • Ensure the careers plan is strategic and aligns with the college’s priorities. Create, review, and evaluate the careers programme to ensure it is challenging and inclusive for all students at Homefield College. Plan and execute careers activities. Build a network of alumni who can assist with the careers guidance programme for students. Share careers information through various media to all stakeholders.
• Ensure all students have a clear and effective careers pathway and facilitate smooth transitions to their next steps. Ensure students are aware of their strengths, interests and careers aspirations in addition to being aware of their available options and opportunities. Track student progress of transition goals and targets.
• Work with senior colleagues to develop their understanding and delivery of CEIAG (Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance) to students. Ensure careers activities are captured on college systems to maintain accurate student records.
• Develop cross college practice with curriculum teams to ensure that employability skills are embedded into course programmes, supported by a progressive and effective work experience programme
• Advise the senior management team on policy, strategy, and resources for careers guidance, demonstrating the meeting of the Gatsby Benchmarks. Provide information for college improvement planning, Ofsted, and other purposes. Support curriculum colleagues and the senior management team with changes to guidance and legislation.
• Compass Returns and evaluations in a timely manner and report to trustees on careers progress.
• Establish and maintain good relationships with the Careers Hub, local colleges, education providers and community organisations. Liaise with the Work Experience and Placements Lead for access to local employers.
• Oversee the achievement of the college’s quality awards, such as Matrix accreditation and the Quality in Careers Standard.
• Advocate for students rights and inclusion in the community.
• Ensure the careers programme and Provider Access Legislation statement are current and published on the website. Ensure all statutory duties are upheld.
• Secure funding for careers-related projects.
• Attend open days, networking events, workshops, and conferences to stay current and ensure best practice delivery within the organisation.
Management Responsibilities
- Line management of Work Experience Co-ordinator and other support staff
- Budgetary responsibility for areas of responsibility.
- To provide effective and professional line management to your team throughout their employment journey.
- To manage budgets in accordance with organisational requirements and targets.
- To meet agreed departmental targets and deadlines.
- To ensure key data and reporting requirements are met.
- To contribute to the overall management of the college through working collaboratively with other managers on specific projects or to ensure consistent and effective processes.
- Ensure effective written/ verbal communications within the organisation and with external stakeholders.
- Demonstrate best practice and ensure the implementation of all college policies and procedures.
- Ensure the efficient and effective use of all college resources, including staff.
- To work to continually improve the performance and practices of the organisation.
- In the event of staff shortages or absence to cover, in accordance with capabilities.
- Take ownership of own CPD to maintain skills and knowledge required to be at the forefront of own sphere of operation
General Responsibilities for all Staff:
- Ensure that all beneficiaries are treated with dignity and respect.
- Empower students and day service users to maintain their personal independence and confidentiality.
- Contribute positively to a high-quality teaching, learning and working environment.
- Comply with health & safety and safeguarding regulations.
- Any other reasonable duties commensurate with role as required.
Education & Qualifications
Attribute | Criteria | Evidence |
Level 2 or above in English and Maths | Essential | Certs |
Educated to Level 5 in any subject | Essential | Certs |
Careers Leadership qualification ideally at level 6 | Essential | Certs |
Evidence of recent and ongoing continual professional development | Essential | App Form & Int |
Level 2 in Autism or willingness to work towards within probation period. | Essential | Certs |
Qualification/certificates in careers support for SEND students | Desirable | Certs |
Experience, Knowledge & Abilities
Attribute | Criteria | Evidence |
Experience of working & networking with multiple stakeholders, both internal & external | Essential | App Form & Int |
Experience of supporting students within the context of employability
/ careers / achieving targets |
Essential | App Form & Int |
Experience of maintaining accurate data records & information | Essential | App Form & Int |
Knowledge of health & safety & equalities legislation | Essential | App Form & Int |
Previous experience of line managing a small team | Desirable | App Form & Int |
Experience of working with Employers and relationship management | Desirable | App Form & Int |
Experience of managing budgets effectively | Desirable | App Form & Int |
Experience of quality assurance and quality improvement | Desirable | App Form & Int |
Experience of working with young people with learning needs | Desirable | App Form & Int |
Interpersonal Skills & Qualities
Attribute | Criteria | Evidence |
Able to demonstrate a high level of digital literacy and its application within careers education and the workplace | Essential | App Form & Int |
Skilled communicator and effective both orally and in writing | Essential | App Form & Int |
Evidence of developing and maintaining effective internal and external stakeholder relationships | Essential | App Form & Int |
Be accountable and responsible for your own performance | Essential | App Form & Int |
Able to manage workload with competing deadlines | Essential | App Form & Int |
Has a genuine desire to improve the lives of both our students and residents and is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion | Essential | App Form & Int |
Self-motivated and proactive approach | Essential | App Form & Int |
Flexible approach to work and hours of work | Essential | App Form & Int |
Note: This job description and person specification is not an exhaustive description – it is a guide and will be subject to review to meet the service / business needs.