Employer Partnership Lead

Salary: £35,000 - £45,000 + Lift Schools Wellbeing Cash Plan + Pension Scheme (LGPS) + Additional Lift Schools Benefits

Location: Home-based / National (with travel as required)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Start date: September 2026

About the role

Lift Schools is seeking a dedicated Employer Partnerships Lead to support schools and Multi-Academy Trusts in developing their workforce through high-quality apprenticeship opportunities.

Reporting to the Director of Apprenticeships and sitting within the Senior Management Team, this role will lead the development and strengthening of employer partnerships across the education sector. You will work both internally across Lift Schools and externally with Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and schools nationwide. Supporting organisations in identifying workforce needs and aligning them with high-quality apprenticeship solutions.

This is a unique opportunity to shape a newly created role within a fast-growing provision. You will bring a consultative approach to engagement, helping partners understand how apprenticeships can support workforce development while contributing to the provision's wider growth strategy.

Our Apprenticeships provision is built by MATs, for MATs-designed and delivered by education leaders who understand the challenges schools face. We are proud to be Ofsted 'Good' with Outstanding features and maintain a strong focus on quality, outcomes, and continuous improvement.

We combine the pace and innovation of a growing provision with the strength and support of one of England's largest Multi-Academy Trusts.

What you will be doing

You will play a central role in driving employer engagement and supporting the growth of the apprenticeship provision. This will include:

• Building and developing strong relationships with schools and MAT leaders
• Taking a consultative approach to identify workforce needs and position apprenticeships as a strategic solution
• Developing partnership proposals aligned to funding and organisational priorities
• Supporting both internal Lift Schools and external partners to maximise apprenticeship opportunities
• Managing engagement pipelines, ensuring accurate data and reporting
• Providing insight on activity, trends, and projected learner starts to support strategic planning
• Representing Lift Schools at sector events, forums, and meetings

You will also contribute to the ongoing development of the provision, working closely with internal teams to ensure our offer remains aligned to sector needs and delivers high-quality outcomes.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a confident and proactive individual with experience in an employer-facing apprenticeship environment.

You will bring a strong understanding of apprenticeship funding and quality frameworks, alongside experience in business development, employer engagement, or relationship management. You will be able to communicate complex information clearly and build credibility with senior leaders across the education sector.

Experience working with schools or Multi-Academy Trusts would be advantageous, as would an existing network within the sector.

Who is Lift Schools?

We're a diverse and inclusive network of schools with one clear mission; to provide an excellent education to every child - in every classroom, every day. And we do this across each of our 58 schools. As with our students, we want our team to be empowered to do their best work, supported by the best leadership they've ever had.

We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of everyone here in making this an incredible organisation.

We offer you:

• Comprehensive training: Access a wide range of developmental training to boost your career.
• Generous benefits: From your pension plan to healthcare and financial support, we've got you covered.
• Lifestyle perks: Enjoy discounted gym memberships and travel deals.

Ready to apply? Get in touch today. We can't wait to hear from you.

Closing Date: 21st April 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.

Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.