The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Youth Engagement & Partnerships Schools Lead
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Champion vocational guidance and build lasting career pathways for young people in our borough.
We're all in to help young people achieve their full potential by designing vocational routes and partnerships that create real employment opportunities across Kensington and Chelsea.
Working Style:
You'll be based in the Borough for three days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you're working on the frontline or behind the scenes, you'll be part of a dedicated team making an impact on residents' lives.
What you’ll be doing
Your routine will combine partnership working, programme development, and strategic coordination across education and employment sectors. You will lead the design and delivery of high-quality vocational training and NEET prevention programmes, focusing on young people who face significant barriers or are at risk. This involves collaborating across Council directorates, particularly with Children’s Services, the Virtual School, and Early Help teams, to ensure vulnerable or care-experienced young people access tailored opportunities.
You will establish a Gatsby-aligned careers offer for local schools, work with businesses to secure work experience and apprenticeships, and build a coordinated approach to employer engagement. Additionally, you will oversee the employment and skills Customer Relationship Management system to track data and manage post-16 pathways alongside adult learning. Balancing high visibility and competing stakeholder priorities in a fast-paced environment is a core element, ensuring every initiative translates into tangible outcomes.
For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification [https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/pdf/jds/Youth%20Vocational%20Pathways%20%26%20Schools%20Engagement%20Lead_JD%20June%202026%20%282%29.pdf]
What you’ll bring
You bring significant relevant experience in employment and skills, education, youth services, or vocational pathway development, showing a clear focus on expanding life outcomes for young people.
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You have a proven track record of leading complex partnerships across schools, further education colleges, and varied business sectors.
You possess a strong understanding of technical education routes, careers guidance, and the specific barriers facing disadvantaged young people or those at risk of becoming NEET.
Your ability to translate national education reforms and local data into practical, measurable delivery models is essential.
You offer excellent communication, system management, and negotiation skills, allowing you to engage young people and influence external stakeholders confidently.
Most importantly, you demonstrate an absolute commitment to our values, acting with integrity, communicating with respect, and putting communities first in everything you do.
Why join us
At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.
You will join a highly collaborative, friendly, and supportive Economy and Learning service that prioritises continuous improvement and shared learning. This role sits at Grade G and offers deep exposure to cross-Council systems and high-profile workstreams. We support your professional growth by providing access to extensive continuous professional development, specialised insights, and networking opportunities through our corporate memberships with both the Institute of Economic Development and the Institute of Employability Professionals.
This is a unique environment where you can innovate, test new ideas, and play an instrumental role in shaping a newly restructured service to create a lasting positive impact for local families.
About us
Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.
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As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.
At RBKC, we’re all in—and your role will be too, demanding that exact mindset. You will need to get stuck in, whether you are collaborating with teachers in a local school, meeting employers in the field, or working with teams from home to design a new programme. Operating within a heavily scrutinised, political local government setting with real financial pressures means it is not always smooth sailing. However, when you commit fully to breaking down systemic barriers for our young people, navigating these complex challenges becomes an incredibly rewarding opportunity for personal growth and community transformation.
Interview Details & Role Requirements
Interviews will be held in person on week commencing 17th August 2026.
This role requires an Enhanced DBS with adults and childrens barred list.
Ready to join us?
We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.
We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
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