Schools Liaison Officer

Job title**:Schools Liaison Officer (Marketing)**

Salary range**:£27,332 per annum**

**(Support Scale Fixed Point 20)**

Contract**:Permanent/Full Time**

Ref Number**:NG10933**

**Protection of Children and Young Persons**

**Background to the Post**

You will be responsible for developing and delivering our approach to schools and colleges with a view to recruiting students to our courses. This will involve working with schools to identify their needs; matching our facilities and expertise with their requirements; delivering the activities and information that schools need and which suit our recruitment aims; delivering events such as taster days, school visits, HE events and employer events to showcase our varied curriculum offer.

Reporting to the Deputy Marketing Manager, you will contribute to the student recruitment targets by establishing, maintaining and developing positive relationships with schools to showcase our colleges as a credible alternative to Sixth Form and as the right choice for certain types of practically orientated learners.

You will be responsible for designing and delivering a dynamic annual programme of opportunities and direct experiences of FE, HE and apprenticeships to schools which provide students, their parents, teachers, heads of department and other influencers with information about studying with WCG.

Wherever possible you will collect market intelligence on competitor activities by monitoring materials within schools. You will be responsible for managing a database of schools information to support the schools team.

You will be committed to the successful outcome and measurement of events; including initial data capture to track enquiries to conversion.

The post holder will be the key conduit in the college for all school event activity - such as taster events, Discovery Days, school-based events and parent talks, and will also contribute to the production of marketing information such as open event flyers, posters, taster day brochures and careers staff newsletters.

You will need to work closely and develop excellent relationships with curriculum heads, student services and support teams.

A current UK driving licence free of major endorsements is an essential requirement of the role, and you would ideally have access to your own car as the job will include regular visits to schools across Warwickshire and beyond. The post holder will be required to work evenings and weekends.

This role sits within the Marketing Department and is primarily focused on Warwickshire schools, plus schools close by in neighbouring counties where deemed appropriate.

**Technical competencies**
- To be able to identify and build productive and engaging relationships with key schools and offer a range of support activities to encourage progression to WCG.
- To be competent and confident in presenting to groups of students/parents.
- To be able to relate to and communicate effectively with a youth audience.
- To be able to organise, motivate and influence student ambassadors, academy staff and other college departments to support the programme.
- To be able to problem solve and find solutions to ensure events are successfully delivered.
- To be able to write engaging copy and contribute to the print and production of communications such as letters, newsletters, e-zines, flyers, posters, course guides, school support packs, etc.
- To be competent using CRM or similar software to capture, record and measure the activity and relationships with schools.
- To be able to manage the stock control of event and promotional materials to ensure all collateral is available, delivered and returned in a timely manner.
- To be able to research and gather market intelligence, developing and maintaining information on other providers to help identify opportunities and threats.
- To be able to recognise reputational risk factors, understanding when to escalate them appropriately.
- To be able to run focus groups and follow-up work with the schools to gain feedback and to better understand the needs of schools, pupils and parents.
- To have knowledge of the Further Education & Skills and Higher Education sectors - including latest developments, qualifications, pathways and policy.

**Core Competencies**

**Leadership - ability to**:

- Take ownership and provide leadership in schools liaison and marketing activity aimed at schools.
- Motivate and engage cross working of team members and other college departments in school activity and events.
- Recruit, train, manage and motivate a small team of students to become ambassadors, to attend events and act as mentors.
- Act as a role model for the collaborative team and cross college approach, demonstrating and reinforcing the benefits of this approach
- Serve as an ambassador for the college group, demonstrating a positive, accommodating, forward-thinking and professional image at all times.

**Focusing on targets and results - ability to**:

- Measure and e