Development and Partnerships Manager in Nottingham

Job Purpose

To lead the development and management of Inspire Learning’s partnerships, employer engagement activity and full cost recovery learning offer, securing sustainable growth and maximising income generation. To identify and lead bidding for external funding opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with employers and external stakeholders to support Inspire Learning’s strategic aims.
• Lead employer engagement activity to source appropriate work placement and progression opportunities for Inspire’s College and Adult learners.
• Develop and oversee high-quality full cost recovery learning programmes.
• Analyse labour market intelligence and employer feedback to inform course and curriculum development.
• Liaise with the DWP to identify partnership opportunities to support adults and young people who are unemployed or seeking alternative employment.
• Work collaboratively with curriculum, quality and marketing teams to coordinate partnership activity and promote Inspire Learning’s services.
• Monitor commercial performance, income targets and partnership outcomes, providing clear reports and recommendations to senior managers.
• Line manage staff involved in employer engagement and commercial activity, ensuring effective teamwork and high standards of service.

The post holder will work in accordance with all Inspire policies and procedures, Inspire Brand guidelines, contractual requirements, and professional best practice. The post holder will perform any duties or tasks assigned by management required to meet service needs as appropriate to the role.

Education and Knowledge Required for the role

• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Knowledge of employer engagement principles, business development or partnership management.
• Understanding of study programmes, adult education, commercial training and/or skills development.
• Knowledge of local labour market trends, EMCCA priorities and employer needs.

Skills and Experience

• Experience of business development, employer engagement or partnership management within education, training, or a related sector.
• Experience of designing, managing or promoting training or learning programmes.
• Identifying and applying for funding and contracts.
• Experience of presenting information professionally to external audiences, partners and employers.
• Ability to build strong, productive relationships with employers, stakeholders and colleagues.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, projects and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to problem-solve, negotiate and influence decision-makers.
• Self-motivated with a high level of personal drive and commitment to customer service and quality.

Role Dimensions

• Responsible for developing and delivering Inspire Learning’s employer engagement and commercial learning strategy.
• Accountable for generating commercial income and securing employer partnerships.
• Responsible for ensuring accurate, timely information is shared with employers, internal teams and senior management.

Demonstrates effective customer service skills – in person, online, email or on the phone – identifies and satisfies customer needs, adjusting their style with a friendly and professional approach as appropriate for the customer, respecting confidentiality, equality & diversity and prioritises the customer over tasks where appropriate. Responds positively to customer concerns, acts to resolve or reassure customers as needed, agrees solutions with the customer or hands over to an appropriate colleague. Responds positively to any complaint or suggestion and seeks to resolve it within limits of their authority or hands over to a more senior manager as appropriate. Monitors, analyses and acts upon customer service data to maintain and/or improve the service. Considers the impact on customers when implementing change.

Deliver the service offer (Competency Level 5)

• Knows and/or accesses information to advise and promote the Inspire Service Offer to all customers – to meet their immediate needs and other services that could be of interest or benefit them.
• Embraces any changes to the offer and any associated changes to processes or working practices positively, takes responsibility for their own development and engages with and makes the most of development opportunities provided.
• Shares feedback about the Inspire offer with their line manager and contributes to meetings, discussions and related activities to ensure service delivery and/or improve our offer.
• Leads work to develop, enhance or create new elements of the Inspire service offer and where appropriate ensure there is an integrated customer offer and journey.
• Takes a strategic view of the Inspire Offer – across all services, benchmarking against comparable organisations and acts to change the offer in light of changing customer demand, circumstances or financial constraints.

Communicating well (Competency Level 5)

• Communicates clearly and effectively in person, on the phone and in writing respectfully and in a style appropriate to the person and situation and uses and engages with Inspire’s online communications.
• Communicates effectively in a meeting or other group situation, respectfully and in a style appropriate to the group and situation with a solutions-based / can-do approach.
• Debates, positively challenges and/or discusses issues with colleagues and line manager, sharing views and acknowledging and respecting the views of others, seeks to reach agreement and respects the final decision made.
• Communicates complex information concisely and clearly using the most effective means, negotiates effectively across teams, services or with external partners and reaches agreement with all affected parties.
• Communicates effectively across all Inspire, with external partners and stakeholders, directly and through all appropriate indirect channels with clear messages that are understood.

Working together (Competency Level 5)

• Adopts a friendly, helpful, supportive and respectful manner when working with others.
• Acts in a way that shows they are trustworthy, reliable and transparent in their dealings with others, respecting privacy and confidentiality as appropriate.
• Forms positive and effective working relationships, makes and implements decisions fairly, using good judgement and with integrity, in line with Inspire values and role modelling Inspire management and leadership behaviours.
• Forms and maintains effective internal and external working relationships across the organisation, with external partners, stakeholders and funding organisations, motivated by achieving the best for our customers and in the best interests of all concerned.
• Forms and maintains effective, ethical internal and external working relationships at an organisation wide and partner organisation level, supported by agreed contracts and/or service level agreements.

Managing others (Competency Level 5)

• Effectively supervises and supports the day-to-day activities of a colleague(s) to enable them to perform their duties, planning and co-ordinating the activity of colleague(s) to deliver tasks or activities over time to meet service demand effectively and efficiently.
• Manages and reviews performance and attendance of individuals effectively, setting goals, agreeing targets, and organises training as needed, tackling poor performance or attendance if required using Inspire policies.
• Manages their team and indirect teams effectively, empowering them to perform well, monitoring group performance against service targets and acting proactively and positively in response to performance data to ensure service delivery targets are met.
• Conducts investigations in the event of discipline or grievance fairly and respectfully, communicating findings and making recommendations ethically and in the best interest of all parties.
• Forms and maintains effective, ethical internal and external working relationships at an organisation wide and partner organisation level, supported by agreed contracts and/or service level agreements.

Leading the way (Competency Level 4)

• Incorporates the spirit of Inspire’s mission, vision and values in the work they do with customers, colleagues and stakeholders, plays their part in implementing Inspire policies and procedures and management decisions.
• Articulates and shares Inspire’s mission, vision and values to enthuse and focus the efforts of colleagues.
• Contributes to the decision-making process, stands by decisions made and owns them when implementing them.
• Makes decisions in the best interest of Inspire, its customers, staff and stakeholders that are sound, ethical, socially responsible, shares rationale for them, implements them and stands by them.

Working efficiently and cost effectively (Competency Level 4)

• Uses Inspire resources and their time effectively to meet service demand, objectives and/or targets.
• Plans ahead, making best use of time and resources available to achieve service delivery, maximising the use of technology available, minimising unnecessary travel or waste, prioritising work and working within spending limits.
• Resolves competing or conflicting demand for resources and time effectively to meet the needs of themselves, colleagues and customers.
• Manages a budget, forecasting activity and required spend, monitors service activity and actual spend and takes pro-active action to ensure budget target and/or savings targets are met.

Skills and qualifications (Competency Level 6)

• GCSE (Grades 1-3 1 [previously D-G]) or Level 1 Diploma (Foundation) Including: Good verbal communication skills – willing to or working towards Level 2 English and Maths.
• GCSE (Grades 4-9 1 [previously A-C]) Inc. English and Maths or Level 2 Diploma (1 st Diploma) Including: Demonstrable IT Skills (Inspire Recruitment Activity/test).
• Use of Internet – information searching.
• Microsoft Office – Basic Skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• A level / A2 Level / AS level or Level 3 Extended Diploma or Level 3 National Certificate.
• Newly Qualified or working towards: Diploma or Service Specific qualification or relevant HNC.
• Experienced Qualified (3 years or more): Diploma or Service Specific qualification or relevant HNC.
• Newly Qualified or working towards: Foundation Degree or Service Specific qualification or relevant HND.
• Experienced Qualified (3 years or more): Foundation Degree or Service Specific qualification or relevant HND.
• Newly Qualified or working towards: Degree or Service Specific qualification.
• Experienced Qualified (3 years or more): Degree or Service Specific qualification.

Once you have submitted your application, please email recruitment@inspireculture.org.uk with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received.