Job Description

Early Careers and Workforce Planning Lead

Grade: 6
Service Area: Early Careers & Workforce Planning
Department: Resourcing
Reporting to: Head of Resourcing
Location: Birmingham
Eligibility: Internal BCC Officers Only

About the Opportunity

We are pleased to offer an internal acting‑up opportunity for the role of Early Careers and Workforce Planning Lead for a period of up to 12 months This is a fantastic development opportunity for officers wishing to gain leadership experience within Resourcing and to shape the Council’s future talent and workforce strategy.

This role will play a critical part in delivering Birmingham City Council’s ambitions for inclusive talent pipelines, robust workforce planning, and high‑quality early careers programmes.

About the Role

As the Early Careers and Workforce Planning Lead, you will:

• Lead the design and delivery of the Council’s Early Careers and Workforce Planning strategies.
• Oversee programmes including apprenticeships, graduate schemes, internships, and work experience.
• Lead a team of specialists, promoting high performance and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Heads of HR and senior stakeholders to develop tailored workforce plans.
• Provide high‑quality workforce data, insights, and dashboards to enable evidence‑based decision‑making.
• Ensure compliance with Apprenticeship Funding Rules, Ofsted requirements, and Council policies.
• Manage relationships with training providers, Trade Unions, and internal service areas.
• Support organisational transformation by aligning talent and workforce planning with strategic change.
• Utilise the Apprenticeship Levy effectively to support workforce growth and development.
• Deputise for the Head of Resourcing when required.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from officers who can demonstrate:

• Experience leading Early Careers, Apprenticeship, or Graduate schemes in a large organisation.
• Strong workforce planning expertise and the ability to develop strategic talent initiatives.
• Knowledge of employment law, apprenticeship funding rules, and Ofsted frameworks.
• Excellent analytical, diagnostic, and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong communication, influencing, and presentation abilities.
• Experience managing teams and external partnerships.
• Ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, HR partners, training providers, and Trade Unions.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and safe recruitment practices.

Education: Level 5 qualification or equivalent professional experience.

Special Conditions

• DBS Check: Enhanced Adults and Children
• This role carries management responsibilities for specialist posts within Early Careers and Workforce Planning.

and Person Specification

We are a disability confident employer and we encourage applicants with disabilities to apply. We also welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) may need to apply for a visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and may require a Certificate of Sponsorship from Birmingham City Council for a skilled worker visa (if the job is eligible).