EDT
Head of Careers, Employability & Progression

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Head of Careers, Employability & Progression
Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 per annum
Location: Our head office is in Reading however we are very keen to hear from candidates from the North East of England.
We support hybrid working.
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for careers, employability and skills? Do you have the vision to grow services, build strong client partnerships and lead high-performing teams that deliver real impact?
About the role
Education Development Trust is seeking an ambitious Head of Careers, Employability & Progression to lead and grow our UK portfolio of careers, employability and progression programmes.
Reporting to the Programmes Director, you will play a key role in shaping our future offer, driving growth opportunities and ensuring excellent delivery across a range of government-funded contracts.
You'll work with senior stakeholders, clients and partners to deliver high-quality services that help people develop skills, progress into employment and achieve their potential.
Who are we looking for
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- Leadership experience within careers, employability, skills, education or workforce development
- Experience managing large-scale government-funded contracts and programmes
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Commercial awareness and a strong track record in supporting business development activity
- A track record of delivering results through teams
- Strategic thinking combined with operational excellence
A full list of job objectives can be found in the job description.
What we can offer you
Salary range of £70,000 - £80,000 per annum based on working 35 hours per week.
Benefits include:
- 30 days holiday plus bank holidays
- 2 days of paid volunteering per year
- 6% Matched Pension Scheme
- Life Assurance
- Discounted gym memberships
- Health care cash plan
Recruitment Process
To be considered for this vacancy, applicants are required to complete and submit a fully completed application including CV through our website no later than Midnight, Sunday 25th October.


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Please note, we reserve the right to close our vacancies early if sufficient applications are received. The Interview process will take place throughout November.
No agencies.
EDT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults whom we work with and come into contact with around the world. All applicants are subject to thorough screening, and successful candidates are subject to the relevant level of criminal record checks with national police authorities or the UK’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This will be at minimum a basic DBS check.
EDT is a proud Disability Confident Leader. We take practical steps to ensure that disability inclusion is not only part of our values but part of our everyday actions. We are committed to creating a working environment where disabled employees are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in their role. If you are disabled or require specific adjustments during the application process, please do let us know how we can support you.
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