Apprenticeships Stakeholder Engagement Lead (2 posts)

The Science Council is looking for two people to help it raise the profile and prestige of science-based apprenticeships and increase the status of scientific technicians through professional registration.

The Science Council has delivered the groundbreaking Technical Pathways project since 2020 and has recently secured continued funding from the Gatsby Foundation to the end of 2026. A key objective of the project is to make it easier for apprentices to achieve professional registration and raise the profile of science apprenticeships. You can learn more at the project website: https://technicaleducation.sciencecouncil.org/

Summary of role and key benefits

• Two positions are available, each of 0.4 FTE (2 days/week equivalent). The working pattern will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidates. Flexible working and secondments will be considered.
• Fixed-term contract until 31 December 2026.
• Salary £47,000 pro rata (i.e. £18,800 for 2 days/week).
• 5% employer pension contribution.
• 25 days annual leave and public holidays pro rata (i.e. paid leave of 70 + 22.4 hours per annum) plus Science Council closure days between Christmas and New Year in addition to pro rata leave.
• Hybrid working pattern; mainly home-based, minimum of 1 Thursday per month in Science Council shared office locations in central London, with some travel and/or additional visits required for stakeholder meetings and events.
• Travel costs outside central London will be reimbursed in accordance with the Science Council Travel Expenses Policy.

Your role

You will contribute to an increase in the uptake of science-based apprenticeships across the UK by linking apprenticeships to professional body membership and professional registration. You will work closely and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including scientific professional bodies, apprenticeship training providers, endpoint assessment organisations and science-based employers.

You will spend much of your time meeting people (in person and online). You will need to establish and develop a broad range of relationships, often with senior leaders and decision makers. You will be a credible, diplomatic and engaging external contact for the Technical Pathways project and the Science Council. In all facets of your role, your commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) will be exemplary.

Please see the job description for more details of the roles’ responsibilities and deliverables.

Who we’re looking for

Most of all, we’re interested in hearing from people with a commitment to technical education and the access it provides to the scientific professions, particularly for people from under-represented groups. You should have direct experience of supporting apprenticeships, either in a training provider, endpoint assessment organisation, science-based employer or a professional body. You should understand the mechanisms and requirements of apprenticeships. This will give you the credibility to form effective relationships with the groups you’ll be working with.

You should also have a reasonably good understanding of the wider landscape of technical education, including recent policy trends, and of scientific professional bodies and professional registration.

We’re looking for experienced candidates who can work with a significant degree of autonomy. While you’ll get plenty of support from the Science Council team, you’ll need to take the initiative in both addressing unforeseen challenges and setting day-to-day tasks to achieve your goals.

Please see the job description for more details of the person specification for these roles.

How to apply

Please submit both a succinct CV (maximum 3 pages) and a personal statement (maximum 2 pages) that explains how you meet the essential criteria from the table above that are labelled as being assessed at the application stage. Apply via our portal by 9^th September at 12pm.

Please see full JD for information on the full recruitment process and key dates. 

Please note, applicants are required to have the right to work in the UK, and documentary evidence will be requested at the interview stage

Contact us

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusivity and we aim to have a team which reflects the diverse society of the UK. We encourage applications from all sections of the community. If you have any questions, or requests for adjustments at any stage of the selection process, please ask and we’ll do our best to address them.

If you have any questions about the roles advertised here, the Technical Pathways project or the Science Council, let us know by contacting clientrecruitment@worknest.com