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Workforce Development Graduate
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West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA),
We’re looking for a motivated and organised Workforce Development Graduate to join our People & Culture Services team as part of the WMCA Graduate Development Programme.
Our Graduate Development Programme is a structured early careers pathway designed to develop the next generation of public sector professionals. Whatever your role or discipline, you’ll benefit from a structured development programme, mentoring, peer cohort activity and regular support to help you build your skills, experience and professional network.
This role sits within our Workforce Development & Professions team, supporting work that develops our apprenticeships, work experience, leadership capabilities and WMCA Academy.
Reporting to the Workforce Development Partner and working closely with the Academy Lead, you’ll help turn our emerging talent ambitions into practical delivery. You’ll gain experience across programme coordination, data and insight, communications, evaluation and stakeholder engagement, while contributing to work that supports the development of our people and future workforce.
This opportunity is being advertised as a two year FTC.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Support the planning, onboarding and monitoring of apprenticeship programmes, including liaison with external providers.
- Coordinate work experience opportunities, including the Young Leaders Programme and T Levels, ensuring learners and managers have a positive experience.
- Contribute to the development of WMCA Academy pathways for apprentices, graduates, interns and work experience participants.
- Collect and analyse emerging talent data, including completion, progression, diversity, regional representation and learner satisfaction.
- Develop case studies, communications and success stories that demonstrate the impact and social value of our programmes.
- Coordinate leadership development activity, including scheduling, provider liaison, cohort onboarding, events and programme tracking.
- Support monitoring and evaluation by maintaining baseline, in-programme and post-programme data.
- Work with colleagues across People & Culture, directorates and external partners to strengthen early careers pipelines.
- Support research, horizon scanning and the development of plans and strategic documents.
- Maintain accurate records, dashboards and documentation and use digital systems to manage projects and workflows.
- Support meetings, workshops and events and respond to enquiries from colleagues and stakeholders.
- Provide support to the Workforce Development Apprentice and Intern on shared workstreams.
- Support financial processes including purchase orders, invoices and expense tracking, ensuring value for money and appropriate governance.
- Complete the Graduate Development Programme modules and assessments within agreed timescales.
- Take part in mentoring, networking and development opportunities throughout the programme.
This is a varied role offering the opportunity to gain practical experience across workforce development, emerging talent, learning and development, programme coordination, data analysis and public sector People & Culture.
What’s Essential.
You don’t need previous experience in workforce development or HR. We’re looking for graduates who can demonstrate their potential, work collaboratively and are keen to learn.
You’ll need:
- Experience of working as part of a team, gained through university, volunteering, employment or other relevant experience.
- Experience of supporting projects, activities or events.
- Confidence using Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt your approach for different audiences.
- The ability to work effectively with people from different backgrounds, demonstrating emotional intelligence and awareness of diversity and political sensitivity.
- Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- The ability to use initiative, take responsibility and contribute to achieving results.
- Analytical and creative problem-solving skills, with an understanding of the importance of cost-effective solutions.
- A positive attitude towards learning, development, change and setbacks.
- An understanding of the role of a combined authority in shaping and delivering strategic services and supporting regional growth.
- The ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment, combining remote and office-based working.
- Willingness to complete the full Graduate Development Programme.
- A minimum 2:2 undergraduate degree, or equivalent Level 6 qualification, gained within the last five years.
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Location.
The location for this role is Summer Lane, Birmingham with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.
How to apply.
Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.
- Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
- Build your Profile. Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
- Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
- Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.
Please note, we reserve the right to close any vacancy from further submissions when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
Anonymised Applications.
Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.
Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.
Reasonable adjustments.
If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).
Salary And Benefits.
We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
- Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
- 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
- EV car benefit scheme
- Healthcare plans.
- Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
- An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
- 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
- Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
- Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.
- Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
- Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.
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For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.
Why join WMCA?
WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.
We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.
Our Values and Behaviours.
Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.
- Collaborative - We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.
- Driven - We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact.
- Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.
- Innovative - We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.
Creating an inclusive workplace.
WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.
We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.
We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "
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