Employer Engagement Executive in Manchester

Description

37 Hours per Week, Fixed Term and Permanent opportunities available

Build relationships with employers. Turn workforce need into opportunity. Employers do not always need another sales pitch.

Application Deadline: 30 July 2026

Department: Employer Engagement

Location: Wigan & Leigh College

Compensation: £37,813 - £42,540 / year

What you’ll do

• Build relationships with new and existing employers.
• Identify opportunities across apprenticeships, commercial training and wider workforce development.
• Understand employer skills needs and help shape practical solutions.
• Manage leads from first contact through to agreed action.
• Work towards recruitment, income and employer-engagement targets.
• Develop larger employer accounts through regular contact and training-needs analysis.
• Support apprenticeship vacancies and employer onboarding activity.
• Keep CRM records accurate and maintain a clear pipeline of opportunities.
• Work with curriculum, apprenticeship and marketing teams to move opportunities forward.
• Represent the college at employer events, networks and regional activity.

What you’ll bring

• Experience in employer engagement, business development, account management, sales or a similar role.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Confidence approaching new employers and developing existing accounts.
• Experience working to targets or measurable outcomes.
• Good negotiation, influencing and presentation skills.
• Strong organisation and the ability to manage several opportunities at once.
• Confidence using CRM systems and digital tools.
• Knowledge of apprenticeships, adult learning or workforce development would be helpful.
• Experience working with regional business networks or the local employer market would be an advantage.

What you’re like

• Commercial. You understand how to turn conversations into opportunities.
• Connected. You enjoy building networks and bringing people together.
• Curious. You ask questions before jumping to a solution.
• Persistent. You follow up and keep momentum.
• Responsive. You know that good service matters in employer relationships.
• Confident. You can present, negotiate and hold a professional conversation at any level.
• Organised. You keep control of leads, actions and targets.
• Collaborative. You know when to bring in the right specialist from across the college.

Essentials

• You’ll need an enhanced DBS check. If you get the job, we’ll do this for you.
• You’re committed to safeguarding and inclusion.
• You can travel frequently to employer and partner locations.
• You hold a current driving licence.
• You’re flexible and happy to work beyond standard hours when employer events or college activity require it.

Why work with us

The strongest colleges do not sit apart from the economy around them. They listen to employers. They understand where skills gaps are emerging. They create routes into work and help businesses develop the people they already have.

At Wigan & Leigh College, you’ll be part of that connection. You’ll work across a broad offer and with employers of different sizes and sectors. Some relationships may begin with a single apprentice. Others may develop into larger training partnerships, commercial activity or long-term workforce solutions.

You’ll also work inside a college with strong technical ambition and deep regional links. That gives you something meaningful to take to employers: real provision, real expertise and the ability to connect business need with education and skills.

This is a role for someone who enjoys opening doors, building trust and seeing a conversation turn into something tangible for an employer, a learner or an apprentice.

Time to recharge

• Generous annual leave entitlement, including bank holidays, depending on your role
• Family-friendly leave policies

Wellbeing as well as work

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Medicash healthcare plan
• Occupational health support
• Confidential counselling
• Specsavers eye test vouchers
• A culture where people look out for each other

Financial peace of mind

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Salary sacrifice schemes, including Cycle to Work and buy tech
• Railcard and Tusker Green Car Scheme
• Local and national discount schemes

Clear progression routes

• Ongoing professional development
• Opportunities to build experience across employer engagement, apprenticeships and workforce development
• Opportunities to step up, specialise or broaden your commercial experience
• Leadership pathways