Placement Coordinator

Thrive Approach; Bristol; On-site; GBP 25,000 - GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education and training provider in Bristol seeks a Placement Coordinator to enhance Initial Teacher Training. Responsibilities include fostering relationships with schools and candidates, organizing placements, and ensuring quality services. Candidates should hold a degree and possess strong customer service, organizational skills, and MS Office proficiency. The role requires a professional approach and a passion for education. The company offers flexible benefits and a generous holiday policy.

Benefits

28 days holiday (increasing with tenure)

Healthcare plan after probation

Life insurance from day 1

Pension contributions after 3 months

Discounts on online learning resources

Flexible benefits after probation

Qualifications

• Reliable, hardworking, and professional demeanor.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and deal with issues as they arise.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong, professional working relationships.
• Carry out engagement calls to both applicants and employers.
• Organize and arrange ITT placements and compliant paperwork.

Skills

Strong customer service skills

Organizational skills

Ability to prioritize tasks

Professional manner

Attention to detail

MS Office and Teams proficiency

Knowledge of Education & Skills sectors

Education

Degree or equivalent

Evidence of CPD

Job description

About us

We at Best Practice Network share the belief that every child, regardless of their background, should benefit from an excellent education. To achieve that, we support and train the educational professionals who work alongside them to be the best they can be, so in turn, they can transform the lives of children and young people.

We’re a friendly, DfE accredited, Ofsted outstanding training company providing apprenticeships, professional development and the DfE’s ‘Golden Thread’ (trainee teachers to school Executive Leaders). We are adaptable, collaborative, and genuinely value the work we do to support the education sector, as much as our trainees do.

Our people are at the heart of our business and our passion and commitment to education is what drives us. As a result, we have seen incredible growth over the last few years both nationally and internationally.

We aim to be an employer where everyone can be themselves, do their best in an inclusive working environment and where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives.

About the job

Reporting to the ITT Placement Lead, the Placement Coordinator is an integral part of Initial Teacher Training provision (apprenticeship and fee‑funded routes) and will be responsible for securing schools, employers and candidate matching service through:

• Efficient coordination of the learner journey
• Effective support and coordination services

Within the team you will be designated certain areas of responsibility that will change dependant on the needs of the team, the business and your own professional development.

Coordinators will work closely with their team, Candidate Support Managers, and the Sales, Marketing, Partnerships and Finance teams to ensure an outstanding end‑to‑end experience for participants. Cross‑team collaboration is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong, professional working relationships with customers, clients and other third parties
• Carry out engagement calls to both applicants and employers
• Follow up on completion, and carry out quality checks, of teacher trainee profiles and the trainee directory
• Proactive recruitment of schools and monitoring of job boards, follow up on all leads as directed by the Senior Placement Coordinator
• Organisation and arrangement of contrasting EYITT and ITT placements, compliant paperwork, contracting external examiners and liaising with schools to arrange ITT school visits
• Acting as point of contact for all trainees (Early Years and Primary) and school/delivery partner contacts to ensure a consistent and quality service is delivered.
• Monitoring, collating and analysis data in relation to school‑based training experience through surveys from both mentors and trainees
• Respond to enquiries through various platforms including Freshdesk, Zendesk, email and phone calls
• Ensure that enquiries are acknowledged and dealt with promptly, efficiently and courteously
• Work with colleagues to document and improve processes
• Take ownership of and provide visibility into the progress towards KPIs
• Role model values including working collaboratively, striving for excellence, working within integrity and undertaking continual learning
• Adhere to Best Practice Network and Supporting Education’s policies and standards
• Build and maintain great relationships with placement schools, ensuring repeat placements and a growing network of school partnerships
• Excellent written and spoken English, with strong attention to grammar and clarity are required for client‑facing interactions.
• Any other duties as may be required

About you

The success of Best Practice Network rests on a very strongly felt and shared set of values which determine its strategic direction. It is crucial that the successful candidate shares our values of student‑centredness, equality of opportunity and parity of esteem for staff and students.

At Best Practice Network we are:

• Passionate and excited about learning
• Inclusive and supportive
• Responsive to student, employer and community needs
• Always aspiring to the highest standards
• Professional and enterprising
• Innovative and creative
• Friendly and welcoming

The following criteria are used to shortlist applicants and assess candidates. Please show evidence of how you meet these criteria in your application.

Education and qualifications

• Degree or equivalent
• Evidence of CPD

Experience, skills and attributes

• Be reliable, hardworking and professional
• Have proven customer service‑related experience
• Possess an excellent customer service manner, both written and spoken
• Have the ability to organise, plan and prioritise time and tasks effectively
• Work well under pressure with the ability to deal with issues as they arise
• Be open to change, actively seeking ways to improve all aspects of the business
• Be highly competent using MS Office and Teams
• Demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail
• Driven to see things through to successful completion and results
• Highly numerate and literate
• Understanding of the wider education and schools’ landscape
• Knowledge of and affinity for the Education & Skills sectors
• Creative, innovative and able to solve problems

What we Offer

• 28 days holiday and get an extra day for each year you stay with us, up to max 33 days PLUS bank holidays.
• We pay for a Healthcare Plan once you’ve passed probation, which includes access to a private GP.
• From day 1, free life insurance covering up to x4 your salary.
• We’ll both add money into your pension pot after 3 months.
• Get 25% off online learning resources for year 1 to GCSE with EdPlace.
• Choose what flexible benefits you want after you’ve passed probation – this could be buying extra holiday, dental, topping up your healthcare plan, bikes, gym membership, electric cars and give as you earn.