Description

Join Colchester Institute – Where Your Career Makes a Difference

Colchester Institute is seeking an experienced and motivated Careers Leader / Senior Careers Advisor to lead, develop and deliver our College-wide Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) programme, ensuring it meets all statutory requirements including the Careers Strategy, Quality in Careers Standard, Matrix Accreditation and Ofsted expectations.

This is a pivotal role for someone passionate about supporting students to achieve positive destinations and driving excellence in careers education across all curriculum areas.

About the Role

As the College’s operational Careers Leader, you will:

• Lead and manage the Careers Team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, impactful Careers Programme aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks and the Education Inspection Framework (EIF).
• Provide expert information, advice and guidance (IAG) to current and prospective students, supporting them to make informed choices about their education, training and career pathways.
• Work collaboratively with curriculum and support teams to embed Careers Education into the student experience, ensuring all departments contribute to successful student outcomes.
• Build strong partnerships with external organisations including the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), National Careers Service (NCS), employers, and universities.
• Lead on the College’s Matrix reaccreditation and Quality in Careers Standard Award, maintaining excellence in careers provision.
• Use feedback, evaluation tools (including Compass), and data analysis to monitor performance, identify gaps, and drive continuous improvement.

About You

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and organised professional who:

• Holds relevant qualifications in Careers Guidance (e.g. Level 6 or above).
• Has strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and manage a small team.
• Possesses up-to-date knowledge of CEIAG frameworks, labour market information, and statutory guidance.
• Can build productive relationships with students, staff, employers, and partner organisations.
• Is passionate about helping young people realise their potential and progress into positive destinations.

Why Join Us?

At Colchester Institute, we’re committed to helping every student thrive and succeed. As part of our dedicated Learner Engagement and Progression team, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the College’s approach to careers education and make a lasting impact on the futures of thousands of learners.

Essential Qualifications:

• Education to level 3 or above and a Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance
• Minimum of Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics GCSE 4+ or C and above / CSE Level 1 / O-Level C or above / Level 2 Adult Numeracy or Literacy or equivalent

All applications will be assessed against the stated essential requirements, so please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates how you meet them.

We do not engage with recruitment or search agencies unless they have been officially contracted in line with our PSL.