Employer Engagement Officer (PO2)

Job Description: Employer Engagement Officer (18 to 25)

Responsible to: Lead Employer Engagement Officer (Inclusive Economy and Jobs)

Key relationships/Functional links with: Employment Service, Inclusive Growth, Local Economies Service, Adult Community Learning, Independent Futures, Young Islington (YJS), local businesses, training and FE providers. Staff at all levels in the above services, including Director, members of the public, education professionals, recruiting professionals/ employers and business owners.

Main Purpose of Job: This role will lead on the development of sector-specific initiatives linked to key sector growth areas with a focus on improving employment outcomes for young people aged 18-25. The post holder will establish, grow and facilitate outcome-driven, effective partnerships with employers and training providers, to develop innovative pathways into key industry sectors through programmes of activity that provide varied and meaningful experiences of work, and paid employment opportunities. Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change, taking a dynamic and proactive attitude to working with local employers.

Main Responsibilities / Accountabilities / KRA: Lead on the establishment and development of strong working relationships and clear partnerships with key employers to identify and generate pathways to employment. Oversee the design and brokerage of a range of opportunities for vulnerable young people across key industry sectors, including work experience, training courses, taster activities, as well as paid employment and apprenticeship opportunities. Work closely with employers and council colleagues to ensure that opportunities are appropriate, flexible and accessible, and designed to meet the needs of both employers and young people. Where appropriate, broker bespoke opportunities based upon the individual needs and interest of vulnerable young people engaged in the targeted employment service or grant funded programmes. Act as an expert on key sectors offering youth employment opportunities, enabling service managers to understand and maximise the potential to open up pathways for Islington young people, and working with services to ensure that this is delivered. Work across the Inclusive, Economy and Jobs division and other council departments to develop a deeper understanding of the local businesses and training organisations, and identify opportunities for joint working with business facing colleagues internally and in neighbouring boroughs. Account manage high profile employer relationships, and ensure that all caseworkers and other relevant partners are feeding appropriate clients through an effective preparation process, and that good quality feedback is available. Disseminate local labour market information and sectoral knowledge, and support managers to use this to plan services to increase positive outcomes for residents. Forecast upcoming opportunities and proactively develop innovative approaches to supporting employers to recruit better locally, through identifying alternative recruitment methods and advocating for the standards recommended by the Employment Commission. Ensure that both young people and employers are properly supported, that health and safety measures and other considerations have been appropriately applied and support employers in preparing training/career plans. Provide good quality feedback and advocacy where appropriate Support with the writing of bids to bring external funding into the borough to develop the work of the team further Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of interventions and the work of the service to ensure continuous improvements are made. Support the Lead Employer Engagement Officer to address service development needs.

Job Activities: Supporting the brokerage of opportunities for young people on the Youth Trailblazer (Full Potential) and Connext To Work Programme, as well as other 18-25 year olds seeking employment. Supporting the Employer Engagement Team to broker, promote and recruit to opportunities across a variety of priority sectors, with the use of a jobs portal and local employment partnerships. Recording and monitoring activities with residents, including the impact of the work, e.g. case studies, CRM. Supporting delivery of employment support and work preparation activities at our employment hubs and or other outreach settings.

General information: To use and assist others in the use of information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.  To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as agreed by the line manager. To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder. The post holder is expected to be committed to the councils core values of public service quality, equality and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way they carry out their duties Ensure all the services within the area(s) of responsibility are provided in accordance with the Council's commitment to high quality service provision to users. Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and other legislation. Carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and relevant Health and Safety legislation. At all times carrying out responsibilities/duties within the framework of the Council's Dignity for all Policy. (Equal Opportunities Policy).

This Job Description covers the main duties and responsibilities of the job and will be subject review and amendment, in consultation with the post holder, to meet the changing needs of the organisation. Other activities commensurate with this Job Description may from time to time be undertaken by the post holder.

PERSON SPECIFICATION The person specification is a picture of skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out the job.  It has been used to draw up the advert and will also be used in the short-listing and interview process for this post.

You should demonstrate on your application form how you meet each of the following essential criteria.  Please ensure that your address each one of the criteria as this will be used to assess your suitability for the post.

Service Area: Children, Employment and Skills

People Directorate

DIVISION: iWork

Post Title: Employer Engagement Officer

Grade:   PO2

 REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE A/I/T*

Substantial experience of working with businesses and other employers, training organisations and other employability service providers to broker  and fill jobs A/I

E2 Experience of working with employers and key growth sectors, developing pathways into employment for unemployed young people. A/I

E3 Experience of developing strong partnerships across sectors including working with Job Centre Plus, businesses, voluntary sector partners and funding agencies A/I

E4 Experience of project management including achieving targets, utilising budgets and developing good practice and working effectively in multi-disciplinary and interagency teams. A/I

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITY

E5 Ability to gather intelligence about key growth sectors and local developments to plan and inform service delivery A/I

E6 Knowledge of the London labour market and specific knowledge of the variety of industrial and business sectors in the capital and locally A/I/T

E7 Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, in order to work closely with other council departments, partners and, in particular, the business community A/I

E8 Good influencing and negotiating skills with the ability to work sensitively and collaboratively in a publicly accountable and political environment. A/I

E9 Knowledge and understanding of the issues facing vulnerable young people including barriers to employment. A/I/T

E10 Experience of developing effective working partnerships and referral pathways with partners and stakeholders. A/I

E11 Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities and deliver high quality results to tight deadlines.

A/I

E12 Excellent verbal and written communication skills adaptable to a range of audiences, including the presentation of complex information

A/I/T

COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

E17 Ability to adhere to the Council’s Dignity for All policy. A/I

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POST

E18 This role will require you to obtain an Enhanced satisfactory clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service formally known as the Criminal Records Bureau  (CRB) Disclosure.

E= Essential     D= Desirable

*Assessed by:      A= Application        I= Interview      T= Test