Employability Manager (AW)

Job reference:

260085

Salary:

Band 7 (£52,845 - £61,466)

Job closing date:

29/09/2026

Job Type:

Administrative Services

Location:

NHS Borders Various Sites

Employment type:

Fixed-term or Secondment

Hours Per Week:

36

Job posted date:

22/09/2026

Employer (NHS Board):

NHS Borders

Department:

• HR & OD/Clinical & Professional Development
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OUR VALUES IN ACTION

•  • Care and Compassion • Quality and Teamwork • Dignity and Respect • Openness, honesty and responsibility
• Employability Manager
• Band 7
• 36 hours per week
• Secondment/Fixed Term until end March 27 (linked to External Funding)
• Location: Hybrid working – a mix of home and on-site working across NHS Borders locations

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to lead NHS Borders’ employability agenda, supporting our strategic workforce planning aims and Anchor Institution responsibilities. You will plan, promote and deliver employability initiatives that create meaningful pre-employment, work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for people across our local communities, with a particular focus on widening access for disadvantaged and diverse groups.

You will work closely with internal services, education partners, Project SEARCH, The King’s Trust, the Local Employability Partnership and other stakeholders to design inclusive pathways into NHS careers. You will also lead a small employability team, provide expert advice to managers, and ensure programmes are evaluated and continuously improved to meet workforce needs.

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to local workforce sustainability, inclusive employment and career development pathways that support the future health and care workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and development of employability, apprenticeship, work experience and school engagement programmes.
• Develop inclusive workforce pathways that reduce barriers and support fair access to employment opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams, education providers and external partners to design and improve programmes.
• Provide expert advice and support to managers on employability approaches and learning opportunities.
• Lead and manage the employability team, including supervision, appraisal and personal development planning.
• Use data, evaluation and feedback to monitor programme impact, inform improvement and support reporting requirements.
• Contribute to NHS Borders workforce planning, people strategy and wider organisational development priorities.

About You

• We are looking for someone who is passionate about widening access to employment, developing inclusive workforce pathways and helping people realise their potential within health and care.
• If you have experience in employability and are motivated to lead the development and delivery of employability, apprenticeship and work experience programmes across our organisation we’d love to hear from you.

Working Arrangements

This role offers a hybrid working model, combining home working with on-site attendance. Therefore, the ability to travel to NHS Borders sites is essential.

For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification. If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact either: claire.smith26@nhs.scot or michelle.oreilly@nhs.scot

**PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early***

Whether you’re early in your career or looking to take the next step into a more senior role, NHS Borders offers a supportive environment where you can grow, influence change, and make a real impact.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.

As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

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