Job title: 

Employer Engagement Co-Ordinator 

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exemptions) Order 1975 applies to this post. Disclosure and Barring Clearance is required prior to employment to this post. 

Main purpose of job: 

As our Employer Engagement Co-ordinator, you will be a key member of a collaborative team, working together to source and secure paid employment and apprenticeship opportunities for those we support, people with autism and/or learning disabilities through our Connect-to-Work route. You will focus on the employer engagement aspect of the Connect-to-Work process, working in a person-centred, supported employment framework, building relationships with employers, identifying opportunities, and inspiring businesses to join our mission.

This work is done in close collaboration with our Employment Specialists, who also contribute to employer engagement while working directly with Connect-to-Work participants. Together, you will ensure that every participant has the best possible chance of success.

You will also work alongside the Apprenticeship Lead to develop and promote apprenticeship pathways, supporting and securing apprenticeships to meet the target set.

Additionally, you will liaise with our Employer Trainer to understand training requirements and provide support for new and existing employers.

Your success will be measured by the number and quality of paid placements and apprenticeships you generate, with KPIs linked to our current connect-to-work contract. These targets are designed to support your growth and will increase over time as our programme expands—offering you the chance to develop your skills and make an even greater impact.

At Little Gate, we are proud of our collaborative approach—working together across teams to achieve the best outcomes for the people we support. 

You’ll be joining a well-established charity with a strong local reputation for delivering high-quality work. We offer the opportunity to build meaningful partnerships, be part of a passionate and supportive team and see the real-world impact of your efforts every day. 

Position reports to: 

Head of Supported Employment

Staff who will report to this job title: 

N/A

Location: 

Your usual places of work will be at the Little Gate Supported Employment Office in Battle and at the workplaces of the trainees whom we support. However, your job duties include a requirement that you will travel away from these locations as may be required by the Charity for the proper performance of your duties. Other locations may include but are not limited to other offices or branches of the Charity, any agreed remote working location (which could include your home).

Our services cover a wide geographical area across East Sussex.

Salary: 

£30,000 annually – 40 hours per week

Your usual hours of work will be 40 hours per week working core hours will be between 8.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday however, days and hours of work may be variable to suit the business needs of the Charity, availability of employers and the needs of those you support. You may be required to schedule work outside of these hours and days (weekend, early morning and evening work) by mutual agreement with your line lead.

In certain circumstances, it may be necessary to adjust or exceed your normal working hours in order to meet the requirements of your job.

Probationary period: 

6 months

Holiday Entitlement: 

5.6 weeks per annum (pro rata) inclusive of bank and public holidays

Contract type: Permanent 

Safeguarding requirements: 

All employees and volunteers, regardless of their posts, share in the responsibility for protecting our work trainees, young rangers and students, keeping them safe from harm whilst they are attending Little Gate and for reporting concerns about any person’s welfare and safety. 

The Employer Engagement Co-ordinator will have responsibility for embedding stakeholder/partner employer understanding of our commitment to robust safeguarding practices and gaining their commitment to meet our safeguarding expectations. They will work with the Employer Training and Internal Development Lead to provide stakeholders/employer partners with support and resources to enable this.

DBS requirements; 

Child and Adult Workforce, Enhanced with Barred list check

Main tasks of job: 

• Proactive Employer Engagement & Collaboration

• Proactively identify, develop, and secure paid job and apprenticeship opportunities with employers across East Sussex. Ensuring use of all available resource for securing opportunities including phone calls, LinkedIn, social media and direct outreach to businesses.

• Focus on the employer engagement element of the Connect-to-Work process—building relationships, identifying opportunities, and supporting employer onboarding in partnership with Employment Specialists.

• Build and nurture strategic partnerships with employers, industry bodies, and training providers generating a database of leads.

• Work collaboratively with Employment Specialists, Apprenticeship Lead, and Employer Trainer to ensure a joined-up approach to employer engagement and participant support.

• Work as part of a team committed to improving employment outcomes for neurodiverse people through positive employer engagement.

• Apprenticeship Pathway Development

Work alongside the Apprenticeship Lead to create and promote apprenticeship pathways to meet required targets.

• Employer Support & Training

• Liaise with the Employer Trainer to understand training requirements and provide support for new and existing employers.

• Provide guidance and ongoing support to employers to enable successful placements.

• Events, Networking & Promotion

• Organise and represent Little Gate at employer engagement events, job fairs, and networking opportunities.

• Deliver marketing and communication strategies to promote our mission and services.

• Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Collect, analyse, and report on data related to employer engagement, placements, and apprenticeship outcomes.

• Work with the Head of Supported Employment to set and achieve ambitious targets for paid job and apprenticeship placements, reporting regularly on progress and impact.

• Use insights to support the Employer Engagement strategy and demonstrate impact.

• Contribute to a positive, supportive, and collaborative team culture that values everyone’s input and celebrates shared success.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) 

This role includes KPIs that are designed to support quality employer partnerships and sustainable outcomes which will be regularly reviewed;

• To meet Apprenticeships target starts per year

• Employer satisfaction and retention rates

• Successful candidate transitions and sustained employment outcomes

• Quality and timeliness of data reporting

KPIs are designed to support your professional growth and celebrate your achievements. As our programme develops, these targets will increase reflecting our shared ambition to make a bigger difference together.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties, and different tasks may be required as necessitated by the changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the organisation. 

Person Specification; 

Essential Criteria; 

• Demonstrated experience in business development, employer engagement, recruitment, or apprenticeship placement

• Proven track record of achieving targets in recruitment, workforce development or similar

• Strong understanding of employer requirements

• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to the values of Little Gate

• IT proficiency Office 365 or similar

• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes

Desirable Criteria; 

• Experience of risk assessments

• Experience working with people with ASD or learning disabilities

• Training in Systematic Instruction

• Understanding/awareness of Equal Opportunities

Qualifications; 

Strong Maths and English skills equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 (Grade C) or above, demonstrated through qualifications, training, or relevant experience.

Important Information 

Application deadline: 

26th January 2026 (23:00 hrs)

Interview dates: 

Initial Microsoft Teams interviews – 2nd February 2026 (pm)

Second stage face to face interviews – 10th February 2026 (pm) and 11th February 2026 (am)

To apply for this role please use this link to complete our application for employment form Little Gate Application For Employment – Employer Engagement Co-ordinator (EEC1201) – Fill out form 

Our Commitment

Little Gate is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. Please see our application form for more information regarding guaranteed interviews for candidates choosing to share that they have a disability.

Our application and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.

Little Gate implements safeguarding protocols in all aspects of their working practices and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced and barred DBS check, and this may include social media checks. For further details please contact Sally Moseley via email at hrsally@littlegate.org.uk. 

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exemptions) Order 1975 applies to this post. Disclosure and Barring Clearance is required prior to employment to this post.

Please note, due to a high volume of applications, we are not always able to feedback if you have been deemed unsuccessful upon review. We apologise in advance should you not be contacted.