Engagement Officer

Job Title: Engagement Officer Salary: £30,000 to £35,000 Structure: full time, permanent – 35 hours per week.

Company Introduction:

FIRST is an accredited learning and development agency specialising in enterprise skills for young people, early-stage founders, and professionals. We partner with educational institutions, local authorities, businesses, and community organisations to tackle high unemployment and encourage business startup rates. Our mission is to empower enterprise skills and entrepreneurship in under-resourced and underrepresented communities, promoting individual stability, social progress, and economic growth.

Role Overview:

Are you passionate about guiding learners to success? We are seeking an Engagement Officer to collaborate closely with the recruitment and skills team to ensure newly recruited learners are smoothly transitioned into the right courses and programmes.

Your responsibilities will include understanding learner objectives, providing initial support, and managing the enrolment process. Additionally, you will be responsible for organising FIRST’s external events, including community networking events and our annual awards show.

This role requires someone who is highly organised, a skilled multitasker, and able to juggle multiple priorities effectively. As part of your role, you will also be responsible for building and leading a team to support the growing needs of our engagement and event coordination activities. Your efforts will be critical in developing long-term engagement and ensuring each learner has an exceptional experience.

Key Responsibilities:

Learner Onboarding and Enrolment:

Oversee the second stage of the recruitment process by understanding newly recruited learners' goals and enrolling them in appropriate courses, workshops, or events.
Manage the enrolment process, ensuring all necessary forms are completed and learners are fully prepared to begin their programmes.
Transition enrolled learners to the Learning and Skills Department for course and workshop delivery.

Continuous Learner Engagement:

Develop and implement initiatives to maintain high levels of learner satisfaction and progression after course/workshop completion.
Support learners to progress into other opportunities with FIRST and/or with the business ecosystem based on needs.

Event Organisation:

Alongside your engagement team, organise and manage all external events, including community networking events and the annual awards show.
Coordinate logistics, liaise with vendors, and ensure all events run smoothly and meet the organisation's objectives.
Engage with community stakeholders to maximise attendance and participation in events.

Team Building and Leadership:

Build and lead a team to support engagement and event coordination activities.
Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to team members, ensuring a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
Oversee the delegation of tasks and responsibilities within the team, ensuring all objectives are met.

Collaboration and Communication:

Maintain close communication with the recruitment team to ensure smooth transitions for learners from recruitment to enrolment.
Coordinate with the Learning and Skills team to ensure learners are effectively handed over for course delivery.
Provide regular updates to the Head of Development on engagement metrics, learner feedback, and areas for improvement.

Operational Excellence:

Continuously assess and optimise the engagement process to align with organisational goals.
Collect and analyse learner feedback during the enrolment phase to refine strategies and improve overall satisfaction.

Qualifications and Experience:

Essential:

Minimum of 3 years’ experience in learner engagement, student support, or a similar role within an educational or professional development environment.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with learners and stakeholders.
Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives and deliver high-quality results.
Demonstrated experience in organising and managing events, with strong organisational and multitasking abilities.
Experience in building and leading a team.

Desirable:

Qualifications in Information, Advice and Guidance
Experience in engagement, community work, programme management, or learner support services.
Proficiency in using engagement platforms and tools, including learning management systems and CRM software.

Skills:

High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant IT systems.
Strong organisational and administrative skills, with a focus on managing confidential learner information.
Ability to prioritise workloads, multitask effectively, and achieve strategic goals.
Excellent communication skills, including active listening, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Additional Considerations:

Career Progression: Successful candidates will have opportunities for career advancement within our organisation, including potential progression into more senior roles within learner engagement and programme management.