Business Manager - Communications & Engagement

Type of role:          Full time, permanent

Reporting to:        Head of Apprenticeship Partnerships

Annual Salary:     Between £25,000 - £27,000 depending on experience

Pension:                 Workplace pension, employer contribution @ 10%

Holidays:                25 days per annum pro rata plus up to 5 efficiency days

Location:                 Potential to be hybrid, with 3 days a week in Ancoats, Manchester

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (flexible)

Start date:              ASAP

Welcome to Ada!

We are the National College for Digital Skills and our mission is to educate and empower the next generation of diverse digital talent. We are the first new Further Education College in England since 1993 and the only one that is solely focused on widening the tech talent pool in the UK.

We work with a fantastic roster of partners such as Deloitte, Bank of America and PWC and offer an innovative, supportive apprenticeship experience for our 350+ learners that prepares them to be digital pioneers achieving both academic success and, more importantly, setting them up for successful careers in tech.

We are passionate about harnessing tech as a tool for social mobility and improving diversity of opportunity and therefore, with the support of our partners, place a major focus on diversity recruitment. At present over 40% of our students come from low income backgrounds, more than 50% are from racially diverse backgrounds and over a third of our apprentices are young women.

Our apprenticeship outcomes massively outperform national averages and this is testament to the quality of teaching and learning provided and the joint support offered throughout the apprenticeship journey. We’re passionate about building a supportive, values driven environment for both our students and staff and this is where you come in!

What’s your mission?

Ada is seeking a dynamic and proactive Business Development Officer to join our team. The successful candidate will play a key role in establishing and maintaining partnerships with employers to support the growth and success of our apprenticeship programmes.

Key responsibilities of this role include:

Driving New Business Growth:

• Identify and nurture growth opportunities for new employer partnerships through thorough desk research and strategic outreach efforts, ultimately increasing the team’s conversion rate through targeted appointment generation.

Promotional Activities:

• Represent Ada at internal and external networking events, leveraging opportunities to expand our influence and strengthen our partnerships.

• Respond to incoming enquiries from potential employers and contribute to proposal writing.
• Craft compelling case studies that highlight the impactful outcomes for our employer partners and apprentices, in addition to responding to enquiries from potential employers.

Partner Development:

• Strengthen employer engagement through proactive measures such as Ada’s annual employer survey, hosting feedback sessions, and actively collaborating on programme enhancements etc.
• Drive customer (employer partner) success through rigorous reporting of cohort progress and swiftly resolving any issues in collaboration with Ada skills coaches, academic and operational teams.

Partner Onboarding:

• Streamline the onboarding process for employer partners, ensuring seamless execution of contracts and compliance with ESFA funding rules, while providing continuous support and communication until completion.

We’d really like to hear from you, if you are…

• Inspired by Ada’s mission and excited to contribute to our growth.
• A strong relationship builder both with internal, cross-functional teams as well as current and potential customers
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to drive partner specific initiatives
• Looks forward to a challenge, seeks development and opportunity to learn new skills
• An effective and structured communicator, with the ability to influence and empathise with a wide range of stakeholders across the apprenticeship and employer partner space
• A self-starter with demonstrated experience working towards targets and achieving results through a proactive approach to finding growth opportunities
• Experience of account management or a customer facing role
• Highly organised with an ability to track details and create clear plans for partner success in partnership with other Ada functions
• Confident user of Microsoft Office or G-suite and experienced using a CRM system

We encourage consideration of flexible ways of working, both formal and informal arrangements that allow for the best outcomes for our people and our employers. If this opportunity is of interest to you with some flexibility, please do discuss this with us.

Safeguarding

Ada, National College for Digital Skills is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and references will be sought from previous employers prior to commencing employment. Other related pre-employment checks appropriate to the post will also be carried out.

We care about equity, diversity and inclusion

Ada. National College for Digital Skills recognises that equality of opportunity and the recognition and promotion of diversity are integral to its strengths. The following principles apply in respect of the College’s commitment to equality and diversity:

● To provide and promote equality of opportunity in all areas of its work and activity;

● To recognise and develop the diversity of skills and talent within its current and potential community;

● To ensure that all employees and prospective employees of the College are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential without receiving any unjustified discrimination or unfavourable treatment on grounds such as age, disability, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender reassignment, trans status, socio-economic status or any other irrelevant distinction;

● To provide and promote a positive working, learning, and social environment which is free from prejudice, discrimination and any forms of harassment, bullying or victimisation;

● To promote good relations between individuals from different groups.

Applicants with disabilities

Ada is keen to increase the number of disabled people it employs. We, therefore, encourage applications from individuals with a disability who are able to carry out the duties of the post. If you have special needs in relation to your application please contact us.

Sponsorship

Sadly, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role so can only accept applications from candidates who have the legal right to work and remain in the United Kingdom.

How to apply for the role

Please submit your CV and answer the question: ‘What excites you most about becoming Ada’s new Business Development Officer?’           

The closing date is: 20 July 2024

Next Steps

Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis based on receipt of applications and we reserve the right to remove the advert before the above closing date so early applications are recommended.

Thank you for your interest in the role and good luck with your application!