At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic careers team to enhance student employability and career progression.
- Company: A growing higher education organisation dedicated to transforming lives through education.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, performance bonuses, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive environment with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' futures and help them secure meaningful employment.
- Qualifications: Experience in careers or employability programmes and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced careers, employability or graduate outcomes professional to join a growing higher education organisation committed to changing lives through education.
As Deputy Head of Careers, you will play a pivotal role in helping students and graduates achieve meaningful employment outcomes, supporting them in securing professional-level roles and progressing their careers. Working closely with the Head of Careers, you will help lead a multi-campus team, develop innovative employability strategies, build employer partnerships and drive measurable improvements in graduate success. This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to thousands of students while contributing to the strategic growth and success of a dynamic education provider.
The Role
This is a leadership position focused on improving graduate employability, supporting career progression and ensuring students receive tailored guidance that reflects their individual ambitions, circumstances and local job market opportunities. You will help oversee a diverse careers team spanning multiple campuses, ensuring high-quality service delivery, consistent support and strong employment outcomes. The role combines strategic planning, operational leadership, employer engagement, data analysis and programme development, making it ideal for someone passionate about education, careers and student success.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Support the development and delivery of the careers and employability strategy.
- Drive initiatives that improve graduate employment outcomes and career progression.
- Align careers programmes with institutional objectives and performance targets.
- Champion employability and careers services across the organisation.
- Team Leadership & Programme Delivery
- Help lead and support a multi-campus careers team.
- Ensure consistency and excellence in careers support across all locations.
- Oversee the planning, delivery and evaluation of careers programmes and initiatives.
- Support the development of innovative employability and progression activities.
- Graduate Outcomes & Student Success
- Develop tailored career support strategies for students and recent graduates.
- Support individuals in securing employment and progressing into professional-level roles.
- Monitor and improve employment outcomes through targeted interventions.
- Ensure students receive relevant, personalised and impactful careers guidance.
- Employer & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain strong relationships with employers, professional bodies and industry networks.
- Create opportunities for students through partnerships, placements and employment initiatives.
- Represent the organisation at external events and networking opportunities.
- Data & Performance Management
- Use employment data, labour market intelligence and performance metrics to inform decision-making.
- Monitor KPIs and produce reports on programme effectiveness and outcomes.
- Drive continuous improvement through evidence-based recommendations.
About You
We're looking for an experienced careers, employability, recruitment or workforce development professional who combines strategic thinking with a passion for helping people achieve their potential.
Essential Experience
- Experience leading careers, employability, progression, recruitment or employment-focused programmes.
- Experience managing teams across multiple locations or large-scale programmes.
- Strong understanding of graduate employment, workforce development and career progression.
- Experience using employment data and labour market intelligence to drive outcomes.
- Proven ability to manage stakeholder relationships and influence at multiple levels.
- Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
Desirable Experience
- Higher education sector experience.
- Experience working with graduate outcomes, employability programmes or student services.
- Experience implementing large-scale change initiatives.
- Strong employer engagement and partnership development experience.
- Experience designing innovative employability and progression strategies.
What's on Offer
- Opportunity to make a lasting impact on student and graduate success.
- Leadership role within a growing and ambitious organisation.
- Supportive and collaborative working environment.
- Excellent professional development opportunities.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Performance-related bonus opportunities.
- Career progression and leadership development support.
If you're passionate about employability, education and helping people build successful careers, we'd love to hear from you. Join an organisation dedicated to transforming lives through education and helping students realise their full potential.
Deputy Head of Careers in London employer: SoTalent
Join a dynamic higher education organisation in London that is dedicated to transforming lives through education. As the Deputy Head of Careers, you will be part of a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises professional development and career progression, offering competitive salaries and generous benefits. This role not only allows you to make a meaningful impact on students' futures but also provides opportunities to lead innovative employability strategies across multiple campuses.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Head of Careers in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals for informational chats. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and practising common questions. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around employability and student success. Show them you’re not just a fit for the role, but also for their mission!
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them why you’re the perfect candidate for the Deputy Head of Careers position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and making a difference in students' lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Head of Careers in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in careers and employability. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Deputy Head of Careers, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Show Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for education and helping students shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who’s genuinely excited about making a difference in graduate outcomes, so share your motivation and vision for the role!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key experiences and skills are easy to spot. Avoid jargon and focus on what makes you the perfect fit for our team.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly and gives you a chance to explore more about us and our mission in transforming lives through education!
How to prepare for a job interview at SoTalent
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends in employability and graduate outcomes. Brush up on the specific challenges students face in securing professional roles and think about how you can address these in your role as Deputy Head of Careers.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams across multiple locations. Think about times when you’ve successfully implemented strategies that improved career services or student outcomes, and be ready to discuss these in detail.
✨Engage with Data
Familiarise yourself with employment data and labour market intelligence relevant to the role. Be prepared to discuss how you would use this information to drive improvements in graduate success and tailor career support for students.
✨Build Connections
Think about how you would engage with employers and industry networks. Prepare to share your ideas on building partnerships that create opportunities for students, and demonstrate your ability to influence stakeholders at various levels.