Lead Mentor

Location: Dungannon, with travel across Northern Ireland

Contract: 12-month contract, full-time, 39 paid hours per week

Reporting to: Executive Director

Lead Mentor — MEGA

Location: Dungannon, with travel across Northern Ireland

Salary: £40,000 per annum plus travel expenses

Contract: 12-month contract, full-time, 39 paid hours per week

Reporting to: Executive Director

MEGA is an industry-led collaborative network that helps manufacturing and engineering employers attract, develop and retain people. Working with businesses and education partners, we promote careers, apprenticeships and skills development that create lasting opportunities for people and support industry growth.

We are seeking a Lead Mentor to lead and develop MEGA’s mentoring programme, helping apprentices progress, supporting employers and strengthening workplace mentoring across our network.

You will provide direct mentoring to apprentices from Level 2 to Level 7, develop company mentors and coordinate a consistent, effective support programme. Working closely with our Lean Coach, employers, education providers and wider MEGA team, you will ensure apprentices receive timely support throughout their learning and employment journey.

This role combines practical mentoring with programme coordination, employer engagement and continuous improvement. You will lead the mentoring programme without line management responsibility for the Lean Coach or company mentors.

Success means apprentices feel supported, employers have confident and capable workplace mentors, and concerns are identified and addressed early. You will establish clear support arrangements, maintain strong partner relationships and demonstrate the programme’s impact through reliable records, feedback and reporting.

• Lead the mentoring programme: Maintain MEGA’s Mentoring for Growth framework and annual delivery plan, with clear responsibilities, contact arrangements and escalation routes.
• Support apprentice progress: Provide structured mentoring and regular progress and wellbeing contact for Level 2–7 apprentices, working with employers and education providers.
• Coordinate early intervention: Develop support arrangements for apprentices at risk of disengagement or non-completion, helping the Lean Coach and company mentors apply these consistently.
• Develop workplace mentors: Coordinate the ILM Level 3 Award with South West College and regional further education colleges, including recruitment, administration and follow-up support. Deliver agreed training elements where appropriately qualified.
• Build the mentor network: Organise quarterly networking and continuing professional development activities, sharing effective mentoring practice across member companies.
• Engage employers: Conduct company assessments, workplace visits and employer reviews to identify strengths, support needs and improvement actions.
• Coordinate onboarding and induction: Maintain employer onboarding and apprentice records, and deliver MEGA’s Work Ready Apprenticeship Induction Programme and Information and Support Service alongside the Lean Coach.
• Strengthen apprentice participation: Facilitate Degree Apprentice learner forums, organise development events and support the Apprentice Steering Group.
• Develop ongoing engagement: Grow the Alumni Network and Mentor Now initiatives, working with the marketing team to share success stories with appropriate consent.
• Maintain safeguarding and confidentiality: Embed safeguarding awareness, record and elevate concerns through agreed procedures, and signpost specialist services when needed.
• Monitor and improve delivery: Maintain accurate programme records, gather feedback and produce quarterly reports for the…