Economic Engagement Executive

SALARY: £26,824 – £31,537 PER ANNUM

LOCATION: NEWRY OR PORTADOWN

(There may be a requirement to travel to other campuses)

REPORTS TO: DESIGNATED ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT MANAGER; PROJECT MANAGER; OR HEAD OF BUSINESS SKILLS & ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT

JOB PURPOSE

The Business & Economic Engagement (BEE) Centre delivers on the College's strategic aim, “To be a valued partner in delivering outstanding support to local businesses and communities, supporting the local and regional economy.”

The College recognises the importance of developing strong partnerships and working in collaboration with local businesses and communities in delivering for the economy. The College will deliver on this objective by delivering against the following aims:

• To stimulate business innovation and productivity through a range of business support services.

• To improve the skills and employability of the local and regional workforce.

• To work collaboratively and in partnership with key stakeholders to co-design and deliver training and employability solutions.

The BEE Centre plays a major role in identifying and responding to the needs of local business and industry. It aims to help companies of all sizes to innovate, compete and grow through the provision of a unique mix of technical and business know-how, skills development and research and development services.

The BEE team also works closely with local community groups and organisations to deliver support to those with barriers to entry into education, training and employment. This work with employers and communities, and other valued partners, ensures that SRC delivers the skills solutions needed to support local and regional economic growth.

The BEE Centre has three main pillars of support:

Innovation and knowledge transfer

Skills solutions for industry

Community and inclusive workforce development

The post-holder will work under the direction and guidance of either an Economic Engagement Manager, the Head of Business Skills & Economic Engagement, or a Project Manager to ensure an efficient and effective service, administrative and general support to the Business and Economic Engagement Team of the College.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The successful candidate will be responsible for any or all of the following duties:

Administrative & Operational Support

• Provide comprehensive administrative and operational support to the BEE team across all projects and programmes.

• Manage shared inboxes, correspondence, telephone and reception duties, acting as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.

• Coordinate meetings, diaries and hospitality arrangements, including minute-taking and follow-up actions.

• Maintain effective record-keeping and filing systems, including SharePoint and BEE electronic systems.

• Support managers with staff time and attendance, risk register updates and specialist projects.

• Assist with procurement processes, raising requisitions on Agresso and liaising with Finance as required.

Data Management, Systems & Reporting

• Maintain accurate employer, client and learner records across CRM, MIS, funder and programme databases, including data cleansing and follow-up of outstanding enquiries. Responsibility for designated BEE systems will be allocated across the executive team as required.

• Coordinate course administration, including course setup, applications, enrolments, attendance monitoring, withdrawals, transfers, cancellations and learner communications.

• Support employer recruitment and programme delivery through research, database development and ongoing project/programme monitoring.

• Prepare, update and submit reports, statistics, claims, timesheets, expenses and journals to support management oversight, audit and funding requirements.

• Administer funder and examination processes, including participant data entry, milestone claims monitoring, liaison with funders, and learner registration for external exams.

Stakeholder, Client & Learner Engagement

• Deliver high quality customer service and act as a key point of contact for clients, learners, employers, stakeholders and College staff.

• Prepare learner and stakeholder communications, including course updates, cancellations and supporting engagement materials.

• Support and coordinate BEE business engagement activities and events, including conferences, webinars, open days and information sessions. This will include all pre-event marketing and recruitment activities, support during events, as well as post-event evaluation.

• Assist with employer outreach and recruitment activity, including cold-calling, telemarketing and direct marketing campaigns.

Marketing, Communications & Promotion

• Conduct research as required and build new client databases to aid recruitment to BEE programmes.

• Maintain and update BEE marketing content, including website pages and core literature, in liaison with the College Marketing team.

• Plan and deliver digital and direct marketing activity, including social media campaigns, ezines and mailshots, to support programme recruitment.

(marketing duties will be required across the entire BEE department)

• Collate and prepare promotional materials and supporting documentation for publications, funding bids, tenders and applications.

General

• Participate in the enrolment cover rota, as required.

• Be required to undertake work outside normal working hours on occasions.

• Provide reports, written and oral, as required.

• Ensure that all documentation and authorisation procedures are adhered to.

Conditions

• Promote the College positively at all times.

• Abide by all College procedures and ensure these are implemented in area of responsibility.

• Within the context of the post, ensure full compliance with College health and safety requirements.

• Within the context of the post, ensure full compliance with College equality requirements.

• Any other duties appropriate to the grade and post, as assigned.

The location of the post will reflect the needs of the College and may be changed subject to the requirements of the College. Duties may change as the College develops, therefore the person appointed will be expected to be flexible in relation to duties performed as required.

It is anticipated that the post-holder will be required to adopt a flexible approach to the duties and responsibilities as outlined in this Job Description.

This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted. It is the practice of the College to periodically examine employees’ job descriptions and to update them to ensure that they relate to the job as then being performed or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed.

This procedure is normally carried out through discussions between the post holder and the line manager. It is the College’s aim to reach agreement to reasonable changes following consultation with the post holder.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Applicants must, as a minimum, meet all of the essential eligibility criteria listed below.

Eligibility Criteria

Essential

A Level 4 qualification (or higher) in any subject area.

A pass grade at GCSE Level in English Language or Essential Skills Level 2 in Literacy, or an equivalent qualification.

A pass grade at GCSE Level in Mathematics or Essential Skills Level 2 in Numeracy or NICATS Access Maths Modules, or an equivalent qualification.

Demonstrate experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Client Relationship Management

• Digital Marketing & Social Media for Business

• Event Management

• PR & Communications

• Customer Service

One year’s relevant administrative experience (within the last five years) in a busy modern office.

A working knowledge of a range of software packages including Microsoft Office Suite.

Desirable

Experience of administrative processes in the Further Education and/or Schools sector.

Other Essential Criteria

The role may entail travel between sites, and you are required to demonstrate how you are able to meet this requirement, e.g., whether you hold a full (i.e. not provisional) current driving licence which enables you to drive in Northern Ireland, and a car for official business, or have access to a form of transport which will enable you to meet the requirements of the post.