Employment Engagement & Partnerships Manager

Employment Engagement & Partnerships Manager

Contract: Part-time, fixed-term to 31 January 2028

Time commitment: 9–10 days per month (c. 2–2.5 days per week / 0.45 FTE) — 162 delivery days across the programme

Location: Virtual with some physical meetings in Birmingham

Start: September 2026

Reports to: Programme Director(Founder & CEO)

About Niyo Labs

Niyo Labs is the AI-powered EdTech and workforce development arm of Niyo Group — a multi-entity technology company on a mission to economically empower underrepresented talent through bold, tech-driven innovation. We don’t just train people; we build pipelines that move them into real, well‑paid work. You’ll be joining at the start of theShe Builds AI Accelerator — an 18‑month, Innovate UK/DSIT-funded programme (August 2026 – January 2028) reaching 500+ women and moving a selected cohort through advanced AI training (AI Governance, Cybersecurity & AI, ML and data fundamentals), live employer challenges, industry placements, an innovation hackathon, and into employment.

The Role

Employer engagement is the outcome engine of this programme. Training without job outcomes is theatre — and this role exists to make sure that on the other side of every module is an employer ready to set a live brief, host a placement, and make an offer. You will own the employer and partnerships side of the accelerator end‑to‑end: sourcing and contracting employer partners, designing partnership packages and pledges, co‑designing live challenge briefs, running placements and engagement events, and converting programme graduates into hires. Delivered in partnership with Huduma and working alongside the Programme Director, Programme Manager, and training team.

What You’ll Do — The Delivery Arc

Phase 1: Build the employer coalition (Sep – Dec 2026)

• Identify, approach, and confirm employer partners — securing signed agreements ahead of cohort launch
• Design a partnership pledge initiative and tiered partner packages, so employers commit at clearly defined levels — from challenge sponsor to placement host to hiring partner
• Co‑design live employer challenge briefs with Huduma so training is anchored in real business problems
• Support the recruitment campaign targeting 500+ women alongside the Programme Manager

Phase 2: Convert commitments into contracts (Dec 2026 – Feb 2027)

• Run a structured partnership engagement activity cycle — live demonstrations, learner and mentor case studies, branding opportunities, and economic‑value storytelling — to move prospects to signature
• Convert and contract employer partners in time for the accelerator launch in February 2027
• Finalise challenge briefs, placement commitments, and interview guarantees

Phase 3: Deliver briefs, placements & internships (Mar – Sep 2027)

• Run and assess live employer briefs with the cohort (Mar – May 2027)
• Coordinate placements, Career Days, and immersive employer internships (Mar – Sep 2027) — the most intensive stretch of the role
• Deliver ongoing partner stakeholder management — keeping employer sponsors engaged, visible, and getting value throughout delivery
• Recruit judges, mentors, and participants for the Niyo Hack AI innovation challenge
• Package hackathon sponsorship and branding opportunities for employer partners
• Evaluate hackathon outputs and fast‑track top teams into employment conversations

Phase 5: Employment conversion & renewals (Nov 2027 – Jan 2028)

• Drive placement support and employment conversion for graduates as the programme closes
• Lead post‑programme wrap‑up with partners: outcomes reporting, case studies, and partner renewals into future Niyo Labs programmes
• Contribute partnership value‑add and employer case studies to go‑to‑market planning for what comes next
• Throughout: maintain a disciplined, CRM‑driven employer pipeline and report outcomes against programme KPIs and Innovate UK/DSIT funder requirements.

Working pattern: the commitment is a steady 9–10 days a month for the full 17 active months — this is not a front‑loaded or seasonal role. Peak intensity is May 2027, when live employer briefs and placement coordination overlap. Days can be worked flexibly across the week by agreement, and the role suits someone combining it with consultancy, a portfolio career, or other part‑time work.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven track record in employer engagement, B2B partnerships, or business development — ideally in skills, recruitment, apprenticeships, or workforce development
• Confident relationship‑builder who can open doors at HR Director / Head of Talent level and close signed commitments to deadline
• Experience designing and selling tiered partnership, sponsorship, or membership packages
• Comfortable owning targets on a funded programme where evidence and reporting rigour are non‑negotiable
• Strong pipeline discipline: CRM hygiene, structured outreach, relentless follow‑up
• Genuine belief in economic empowerment for underrepresented women in tech
• Existing network across West Midlands and/or UK tech, AI, and cybersecurity employers
• Experience delivering against government‑funded programme KPIs (Innovate UK, DSIT, DfE, WMCA or similar)
• Experience running partner engagement events — live demonstrations, showcases, case‑study storytelling, hackathons

Why Join Us

• Direct, visible impact — every employer you sign changes a woman’s economic future
• A nationally funded, high‑profile programme with a defined 18‑month delivery arc and clear success measures
• Room to build: you’ll shape how employer engagement and partnerships work at Niyo Labs, not inherit a script
• 30 days annual leave (including bank holidays) + your birthday relative to your hours
• 30% off Niyo Products

Niyo Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve.

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