School Liaison Manager (Fixed Term) in Leeds

1 Year Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover). Luminate Education Group are looking for a School Liaison Manager. The Student Liaison Team plays a key role in connecting young people with opportunities in further and higher education. Working closely with schools, colleges, parents, and community organisations across the Leeds City Region, the team delivers engaging outreach activities, careers guidance, workshops, and events designed to inspire and support prospective students. Their work helps learners explore their future pathways, understand the wide range of courses and apprenticeships available, and make informed decisions about their education and career goals.

What You Will Do

• Lead, develop and inspire the School Liaison team across the Luminate Education Group, driving effective communication, staff development, shared best practice and a high-quality transition strategy for further education colleges.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with schools, education providers, youth organisations and key stakeholders to support student recruitment, pre-entry guidance, social mobility and achievement of 14–19 enrolment targets.
• Oversee and enhance the School Liaison offer, ensuring events and activities for students, parents/carers, school staff and stakeholders are innovative, engaging and aligned with organisational goals.
• Contribute to strategic priorities by collaborating with internal departments, senior leaders and external partners on recruitment, marketing, admissions, market insight, Next Gen events and wider partnership initiatives.
• Use data, reporting and compliance insights to monitor recruitment performance, conversion rates and growth opportunities, producing action plans and reports for senior leaders and governors.
• Lead and support regional partnership and NEET reduction initiatives, including stakeholder engagement projects and coordination of programmes such as Moving On to improve participation in education, employment and training.

About You

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent, with additional professional qualifications in youth work, careers leadership, or advice and guidance.
• Extensive experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including staff management and performance monitoring.
• Strong background in supporting student transition from school to further education, with expertise in developing collaborative strategies involving schools, parents, businesses and external support agencies.
• In-depth knowledge of the FE sector, including curriculum areas, apprenticeships, T-levels, KS4/KS5 qualifications, funding priorities, barriers to learning and progression pathways for young people.
• Proven ability to manage and deliver events, projects and quality assurance processes, alongside producing and presenting detailed reports, data analysis and strategic updates to a range of stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, organisational and digital skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google platforms.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for business use.

Benefits

• Annual Leave Curriculum and Management: 44 days plus bank holidays.
• Curriculum support and business support: 39 days plus bank holidays.
• Pension Schemes With Generous Employer Contributions.
• CPD Opportunities Annual staff conference plus 2 additional staff development days.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives: Family Friendly Policies, discounted onsite spa (Printworks) and gym (Park Lane).
• Travel and commuting: Discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities: Please speak to the recruiting manager regarding flexible opportunities as these differ between roles.

About Us

Luminate Education Group is a collective of education providers based in Yorkshire with one clear purpose: to make a positive difference to people's lives through genuinely transformative education and training. We offer a wide range of job vacancies across our business support functions - Finance, Human Resources, ITSS, Marketing, Communications, Executive Support, Estates and Food Services. Our large size and diverse range of member organisations means there are always exciting opportunities to progress. As an education provider, we are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our workforce, and you’ll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow.

Luminate Education Group consists of: Harrogate College, Keighley College, Leeds City College, Leeds Sixth Form College, Pudsey Sixth Form College, Leeds Conservatoire and University Centre Leeds.

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recruitment is key to our Group's values. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, where every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and equity. Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure equal opportunities, remove bias, and promote a diverse talent pool.

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

We do not accept unsolicited CVs and applications from agencies and will not be liable for any fee in connection with a candidate that has been submitted speculatively through any agency that has not been expressly instructed for a particular vacancy as part of our Preferred Supplier List.