Employability Mentor (REF 132)

Employability Mentor (REF 132)

Help young people overcome barriers, build confidence and take meaningful steps into employment.

Sport 4 Life UK is looking for motivated and enthusiastic Employability Mentors to join our team and make a real difference to the lives of young people across Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and the Black Country.

In this role, you’ll provide practical, person-centred employment support, helping young people develop the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to secure and sustain employment.

You’ll manage your own caseload, build trusted relationships and deliver structured support tailored to each young person’s needs. From developing CVs and preparing for interviews to identifying suitable opportunities and supporting young people once they’ve started work, you’ll play an important role in helping them shape successful futures.

The role will involve working across our West Midlands delivery area, with travel to different locations as required. Specific geographical responsibilities will be agreed as part of our delivery arrangements.

What you’ll be doing:

• Providing tailored, employment-focused mentoring and practical support to young people.
• Managing an active caseload, including assessments, personalised action plans and regular progress reviews.
• Supporting young people with CVs, job applications, interview preparation and employment readiness.
• Working closely with colleagues and employers to help young people access suitable employment opportunities.
• Supporting young people to sustain employment and overcome challenges along the way.
• Maintaining accurate records and working towards agreed engagement, progression and employment outcome targets.

What we’re looking for:

We’re looking for someone who combines a genuine commitment to supporting young people with the organisation, resilience and determination needed to achieve positive outcomes.

You’ll have experience of mentoring, coaching, employment support or a similar person-centred role, alongside the ability to build strong relationships and support individuals facing barriers to progression.

You’ll also be comfortable managing competing priorities, maintaining accurate records and working in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.

You’ll need to be comfortable travelling to different locations within your agreed delivery area to meet young people, colleagues and partners.

Experience of employability programmes, welfare-to-work services or supporting young people who are not in education, employment or training would be an advantage.

Why join Sport 4 Life UK?

At Sport 4 Life UK, we’re committed to empowering young people to find work and shape successful futures.

You’ll join a supportive, ambitious team where your work has a direct impact on young people’s opportunities and where collaboration, quality and making a difference are central to what we do.

Interested?

If you’re passionate about supporting young people into employment and have the skills and determination to deliver meaningful outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.

Job summary

Salary

£26,228 – £29,000

Contract type

Full-time | Two-year fixed-term contract

Number of vacancies

1

Start date

Immediate

.

Application deadline

Thursday 5th November 2026 (midnight)

Interview date

Monday 16th November 2026

Location

Sport 4 Life office (Jewellery Quarter) & Travel in West Midlands

Job description

The Employability Mentor will provide intensive, person-centred employment support to young people, helping them overcome barriers, develop their employability skills and progress into sustainable employment. Working within a fast-paced, outcome-focused service, the postholder will manage an active caseload, respond promptly to referrals and deliver structured, purposeful support that helps young people move towards work. The role will involve close collaboration with employers, the Employer Partnerships Lead and delivery colleagues, alongside accurate case management, performance monitoring and appropriate in-work support to help young people sustain employment.

Accountability Areas:

1. Performance & Employment Outcomes
2. Caseload Management & Participant Support
3. Monitoring, Evaluation & Compliance
4. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

Person Specification

Essential

Experience

• Experience of supporting young people or individuals facing barriers to employment, education or personal development.
• Experience of delivering mentoring, coaching, employment support or other relevant person-centred services.
• Experience of managing individual workloads, maintaining records and working towards agreed targets or objectives.
• Experience of building positive professional relationships with individuals from a range of backgrounds.
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues, external partners or other support services.

Knowledge & Skills

• Good understanding of employability skills, recruitment processes and the barriers young people may face when accessing employment.
• Ability to assess individual needs, develop action plans and provide structured, practical support towards agreed goals.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, motivate and appropriately challenge young people.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage an active caseload and competing priorities.
• Ability to work proactively and maintain focus on achieving positive outcomes within a fast-paced delivery environment.
• Good IT skills, including the ability to maintain accurate records and use relevant case management systems.
• Awareness of safeguarding, confidentiality, equality and data protection requirements when working with young people.
• Valid fully enhanced DBS disclosure (to be carried out on conditional offer by Sport 4 Life UK)
• Clear evidence of commitment to Sport 4 Life UK’s vision

Desirable

• Experience of delivering employability programmes, employment advice or welfare-to-work services.
• Experience of managing a caseload within a target-driven or outcome-funded environment.
• Experience of supporting young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
• Experience of working with Jobcentre Plus, employers or other employment support partners.
• Experience of providing job search, interview preparation, job matching or in-work support.
• Relevant qualification in mentoring, coaching, careers guidance, youth work, employability or a related discipline.

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