Partnerships Executive (South) – T Level Ambassador Network

Location: Home-based, living in the South of England with good access and travel links across the South

Job type: Full-time, permanent (after probationary period of 6 months)

SDN Mesma Group (SMG) is a leader in improving technical education (providers) and workforce development (employers) in England. We support training providers, employers, and government bodies through national programmes, professional development, resources, consultancy and research. Our work spans some of the most significant education programmes in England – including T Levels, apprenticeships, and employability initiatives.

As Partnerships Executive (South), the main focus of your role will be on overseeing and coordinating the Department for Education's T Level Ambassador Network (TAN) across the South of England (South East, South West and London). Working as part of the TAN and wider programme team, you will help ensure ambassadors are effectively engaged, deployed and supported to champion T Levels and industry placements across the region.

You will work closely with the Regional Ambassador Chair to help deliver the south regional plan – including recruiting new ambassadors, hosting ambassador meetings, building relationships with regional/sector bodies and stakeholders, and creating opportunities for ambassadors to promote T Levels.

Initial main duties and responsibilities

1. Delivery of the south regional plan

• Support the review and maintenance of the South regional plan, ensuring regional priorities remain aligned to changing employer and skills needs.
• Assess ambassador coverage by sector, geography and organisation type and support recruitment activity to strengthen representation across the region.
• Work with the Regional Chair and national TAN team to support delivery of agreed regional and national priorities.

2. Day-to-day network coordination

• Act as a key point of contact for ambassadors and stakeholders across the South region.
• Coordinate ambassador deployment in response to stakeholder requests, ensuring ambassadors are appropriately briefed and supported.
• Support ambassador onboarding, engagement and retention activities in line with agreed processes.
• Encourage and support ambassadors to submit timely activity data and contribute to programme reporting requirements.

3. Partnership development

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with key regional stakeholders, including Combined Authorities, Employer Representative Bodies, careers organisations and business membership organisations.
• Build relationships with priority sector bodies and networks, present at member meetings and support them to promote T Levels and the support available through TAN and SMG’s wider T Level work.
• Support closer integration between TAN and SMG’s wider T Level activity, identifying opportunities to increase ambassador engagement and employer participation.

4. Ambassador engagement, events and communications

• Plan and support delivery of regional ambassador meetings and engagement activities.
• Work with SMG’s events and communications teams to support the design and facilitation of regional hub meetings.
• Contribute ideas, case studies, content and regional intelligence to support ambassador communications, newsletters and social media activity.

5. Intelligence and wider contribution

• Maintain accurate programme data and support effective use of CRM, reporting and insight systems.
• Identify and share intelligence on partnership, funding and business development opportunities relevant to SMG’s wider work.
• As required, provide advice and support with intermediary introductions for SMG bid/proposals and projects, where these cover the South region.

Wider contribution and ways of working

SDN Mesma Group is a virtual organisation with all staff and associates working from home. Our culture is based on trust and flexibility, with a strong and long-term commitment to employees’ and their family’s health and welfare. Staff have freedom to operate and innovate within our overall strategic framework and goals.

• Enterprise - Where possible, directly contribute to SMG’s customer-facing and fee-earning activities, and business development including new programme bidding, and proactively contribute to the growth and success of the business.
• Personal Development - Demonstrate commitment to your own continued professional learning and development.
• Culture - Work in a collegiate and supportive manner with the SMG team and associates.
• Innovation - Bring ideas into the team and welcome, encourage and explore the ideas of others.

Person specification

Essential

• In-depth knowledge of T Levels and/or technical education policy and practice
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly develop knowledge of, the South's education and employer landscape
• Strong experience in partnership-building with employers and business intermediaries
• Experience in programme / project delivery, meeting KPIs and deadlines
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Proficiency with office technology, in particular Microsoft Office and Teams and CRM systems
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment while contributing to a wider virtual team

Desirable

• Experience in ambassador, volunteer, or stakeholder network management
• Familiarity with DfE or similar funding environments
• Relevant apprenticeship, degree or professional qualification

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave, excluding bank holidays, plus an additional days leave on your birthday
• Flexible working arrangements where possible to support work-life balance
• 5% pension contribution in addition to salary

We encourage you to apply ASAP. Pre-interview calls and interviews will be scheduled as strong applications are received. Current dates on hold for interviews are Friday 20 November and Friday 27 November 2026.