Head of Careers and Progressions (Connecting Learners to the World of Work)

Hours; Full time 37 hours each week, all year-round)

Duration; Permanent

Salary; £49,860 a year + benefits

Closing date: Tuesday 1 September 2026

Provisional Interview Date: Monday 14 September 2026 

Location; Cross campus role for Rotherham College, Dearne Valley College and University Centre Rotherham in Rotherham and North Notts College in Worksop 

Are you ready to redefine how education meets the world of work?

At the RNN Group, our ambition is clear: Leading innovation and skills in our communities. We are looking for an extraordinary, dynamic, and forward-thinking leader to step into the pivotal role of Head of Careers and Progressions.  

As the Head of Careers and Progressions, you will bridge the gap between full-time education and sustainable, paid employment. You will lead, modernise, and champion the Group’s careers and transition strategy, ensuring every student who walks through our doors gains complete clarity on their next steps.

Key Responsibilities & Leadership Scope

• Strategic Team Leadership: Lead and line-manage the Work Placement, Careers, and Individual Placement Support (IPS) teams, supporting advisors to achieve essential Level 6 CEIAG qualifications and ensuring every student receives expert, actionable guidance.  
• In-House Recruitment Agency: Establish an agency-style model that pairs employer skill shortages directly with learner’s talent, creating direct routes from full-time study into sustainable, paid employment. 
• Defence & Regional Hub Initiatives: Build an experiential Careers/CEIAG HUB supporting the Group’s role as a Defence Technical Excellence College (DTEC) and aligning local skills with the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy, Fusion Power, STEM priorities, and the Trent  Supercluster Gateway. 
• Inclusive Pathways: Oversee tailored employment pathways for students with SEND needs and lead targeted re-engagement initiatives for hard-to-reach or hidden 19–24 NEET adults.  
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner closely with internal teams (Employer Engagement, Curriculum, Deputy CEO/Principal) and regional bodies (SYMCA, EMCCA Careers Hubs) to embed place-based skills solutions and prepare for FE/HE inspections and TEF validation.  
• Quality & Performance Compliance: Utilise strong data analysis skills to exceed Gatsby Benchmark standards, track employment progression metrics, and satisfy key performance indicators for Youth and Job Guarantee projects.

If you are passionate about raising aspirations, dismantling social barriers, and creating high-value employer partnerships that transform lives, this is your opportunity to make a lasting regional impact.

What you will need in this role

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent professional experience)
• Professional qualification in Careers Guidance (e.g., Level 6) or Management
• Level 2 Literacy and Numeracy (or equivalent)

Experience

• Proven experience in leading, motivating, and managing high-performing teams.  
• Track record of building strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships with external employers.  
• Background in marketing educational/training provisions and negotiating business commitments.  
• Demonstrated ability to drive and exceed performance targets (e.g., student destinations, placement completions). 
• Experience working with vulnerable learners, young people, or the 19–24 NEET cohort.  
• Preferably experience in curriculum planning or aligning employer needs with educational delivery.  

Practical Skills & Attitudes

• Highly developed communication, negotiation, and influencing skills across all levels.  
• In-depth understanding of the Further Education sector, funding streams, and Gatsby Benchmarks.  
• Strong knowledge of the local/regional economic landscape and LSIPs (Local Skills Improvement Plans).  
• Data-driven analytical skills to monitor progression metrics and present strategic reports to senior leaders.  
• Full understanding of safeguarding protocols and a commitment to advancing FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Engagement) and RNN Group core values

We understand that no candidate will perfectly match every qualification or criterion listed. If your experience differs from what we've outlined but you believe you can contribute to this role, we encourage you to apply!

Department Info

This role reports directly to the Director of Safeguarding & Student Support, serving as the vital connection between internal student experience and external economic success.  

Your Direct Leadership Scope

• Work Placement Team: Leading operations to secure meaningful industry placements.
• Careers Team: Line managing and supporting team members to acquire Level 6 CEIAG qualifications and deliver Gatsby Benchmark excellence.  
• Individual Placement Support (IPS) & Youth/Job Guarantee Teams: Overseeing bespoke interventions for NEET adults, disadvantaged learners, and SEND students.

Key Cross-College & External Collaborations

• Senior Leadership & Curriculum: Partnering with the Deputy CEO/Principal, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to co-design future-ready curricula and prepare for FE/HE inspections and TEF validation.  
• Employer & Regional Networks: Working closely with the Director of Business Development and Apprenticeships, local authorities, regional employer academies, and Defence primes to create sustainable workforce pipelines.

Our excellent benefits and rewards package:

• Access to local government pension scheme (with employer contributions from 15.6% to 23.68%) 
• Up to 44 days annual leave per year including closure during Christmas period
• Access to our gyms, restaurants and salons 
• Staff health & wellbeing and benefits schemes including in-house Occupational Health service
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Full, part time and flexible working hours available in many roles
• Free Parking available at all of our sites
• Fantastic career development opportunities including funding for teacher training, apprenticeships and various other industry recognised qualifications
• New FE teachers can also apply for grants of up to £6,000 in STEM subjects (conditions apply) through the teacher retention initiative
• Recruitment Referral Scheme for all employees, worth £200 per referral made

What is the RNN Group?

RNN Group’s main goal is to be an ‘outstanding’ education and training provider and this is at the heart of everything that we do. To help us achieve this we are looking to recruit highly motivated, innovative and dynamic individuals to join our existing teams. To be a part of the team at RNN Group we will expect you to be committed to our values too; 

• We are Inclusive, 
• We have Integrity,
• We Deliver,
• We are One Team.

We are OFSTED ‘Good’ (November 2022)

We celebrate diversity and are proud to be recognised as Investors in Diversity for our commitment to the FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) model, fostering a supportive environment for all. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of background, proudly participating in the Disability Confident Scheme, and provide reasonable adjustments.

The RNN Group is proud to be part of the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT). 

As a newly designated Defence Technical Excellence College, RNN Group is proud to support the UK’s defence sector by developing the next generation of highly skilled technical talent.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, vulnerable adults and young people. All new employees will be required undertake a DBS check and other associated checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance.

All candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.