Learner Engagement Manager

Location: Spath

Can you build referral networks, grow learner numbers and motivate a team to deliver?

Quack Recruitment & Training is looking for an experienced Learner Engagement Manager to lead our learner recruitment activity, strengthen referral partnerships and help our team consistently achieve agreed learner-start targets.

We deliver funded Skills Bootcamps, including construction, utilities and retrofit programmes, helping adults develop practical skills and progress towards employment or career advancement. Quack Recruitment & Training

We are looking for someone who already understands learner recruitment within funded training: someone who knows how to generate interest, build productive relationships, convert suitable enquiries into starts and keep a team focused and motivated.

You will bring relevant experience, established professional connections and practical ideas that you can turn into results.

The role

You will take ownership of learner engagement and recruitment across our delivery areas, working closely with senior management, delivery, quality and progressions colleagues.

This is a hands-on management position. Alongside planning recruitment activity and managing performance, you will meet referral partners, support recruitment campaigns, speak with prospective learners and help the team overcome challenges.

Your focus will be on ensuring that each planned cohort has a strong pipeline of eligible, suitable learners—and that the team has the direction, support and accountability needed to achieve its targets.

Success means achieving the numbers while maintaining high standards of learner suitability, support and enrolment quality.

What you will be responsible for

Growing learner recruitment and filling cohorts

Develop and deliver recruitment plans for each programme, location and cohort. Translate learner-start targets into clear weekly activity, ensuring the team understands how many enquiries, appointments, completed enrolments and confirmed starts are needed.

Monitor recruitment well ahead of course start dates, identify shortfalls early and put practical recovery plans in place rather than relying on last-minute recruitment.

Building productive referral partnerships

Develop and maintain relationships with Jobcentre Plus, employability providers, local authorities, housing associations, charities, community organisations and other relevant referral partners.

Use your existing professional network to open conversations, while building new relationships across our delivery areas. Arrange partner meetings, presentations, information sessions and recruitment events that generate suitable referrals and repeat opportunities.

Keep partners informed about upcoming courses, eligibility requirements, available places and the progress of their referrals, where appropriate.

Leading, motivating and developing the team

Provide clear day-to-day leadership to the learner engagement team. Set individual and team expectations, run focused performance meetings and use regular one-to-ones to coach staff, recognise success and address underperformance constructively.

Support colleagues to improve their telephone conversations, follow-up, partnership development and conversion rates. Lead by example and create a positive team culture where people take ownership, share ideas and understand how their work contributes to results.

Bringing fresh recruitment ideas

Identify and test new ways to reach prospective learners, including targeted outreach, social media campaigns, community partnerships, information events and learner recommendations.

Evaluate which approaches generate suitable learners who actually start—not just large volumes of enquiries. Build on successful activity and change approaches that are not…