Employer Engagement Officer (2 Posts)

Salary details: £ - £

Locations: Hybrid (working from home and out in the community)

One position will be working across North Derbyshire (Including Chesterfield up to High Peak) and one position will be working across South Derbyshire (including Amber Valley and Erewash).

Are you passionate about reducing health inequalities in our communities through employment? Do you have demonstrable experience of building effective relationships with a variety of partners from both the private and public sector?

Derbyshire County Council Public Health are committed to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities, long-term health conditions and other complex barriers to employment in Derbyshire.  We will be delivering the Connect to Work programme which is aimed at supporting people aged 18+ to achieve paid employment using the Supported Employment Quality Framework model.

This work sits within the Wider Determinants of Health team and supports the development and implementation of work linking to the Council’s Public Health strategy.

Reporting to the Team Manager, the Employer Engagement Officer will play a key role in creating and sustaining inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities, long‑term health conditions, and other disadvantages. The post holder will focus on engaging employers, influencing inclusive recruitment practices, and supporting sustainable job outcomes through strong partnerships with businesses, internal teams, and external stakeholders by:

• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with local and regional employers to promote inclusive recruitment practices and create sustainable paid employment opportunities.
• Leading employer engagement activity, including job analysis, workplace assessments, and advising on reasonable adjustments to support successful recruitment and retention.
• Working closely with Employment Specialists to support effective job matching, ensuring vocational profiles align with employer needs, job requirements, and workplace culture.
• Influencing employers to adopt best practice in equality, diversity, and disability inclusion, including participation in initiatives such as the Disability Confident Employer Scheme.
• Collaborating with health, wellbeing, training, and support services to remove barriers to employment and support long‑term job sustainability.
• Acting as an advocate for inclusive employment within recruitment and workplace settings, promoting supported employment principles and evidence‑based approaches (e.g. place‑then‑train).
• Providing ongoing support to employers and employees to address workplace challenges, embed reasonable adjustments, and support progression and retention.
• Maintaining accurate records of employer engagement, vacancies, and outcomes on service databases, in line with GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Contributing to service development, employer outreach activity, and continuous improvement through feedback, data, and partnership working.

The successful candidate will:

• Have demonstrable experience of engaging and working proactively with employers to create inclusive employment opportunities.
• Possess a strong understanding of the barriers faced by disabled people, those with long‑term health conditions and other complex barriers in recruitment, selection, and the workplace.
• Have a clear understanding of the values, principles, and evidence base underpinning supported employment frameworks, such as SEQF and place‑then‑train models.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of local and national labour market information, inclusive recruitment practices, and employer‑facing initiatives including the Disability Confident scheme.
• Be confident working autonomously, using professional judgement to manage employer relationships and contribute to service outcomes.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, influencing, and relationship‑building skills with employers, partners, and colleagues.
• Have a strong level of IT literacy, including proficient use of Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, and service databases to record and monitor activity.

We have two posts to cover the North and South of Derbyshire. The post holder’s base will be determined by the area that they will be covering.

The post holder will be expected to work from home and travel when needed to participant appointments, employer and other meetings and other events. Some travel across other areas of Derbyshire will also be required from time to time.

Employees have access to a range of support, benefits and discounts including: 

• Generous Annual Leave Scheme 25 days annual leave per year (rising to 30 days after 5 years continuous service) plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata). Grade dependant.
• Local Government Pension Scheme: Providing financial security
• Supportive management and team
• Training and Development: Opportunities for professional qualifications and ongoing training.
• Wellbeing Support Framework: Includes OH physician services, physiotherapy, CBT, and in-house counselling.
• Employee Wellbeing Support: Fast track physiotherapy, confidential psychological support services, Employee Assistance Programme, and “Wisdom” app.
• Paid travel expenses if required to travel to other sites (Terms and conditions apply)
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Promoting a healthy lifestyle.
• Our Derbyshire Rewards: a package of benefits, cashback and discounts.

More details on the benefits of working for the council can be found on our reward and recognition page

As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from disabled candidates.

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact Cat Buck, Connect to Work Team Manager by email cat.buck@derbyshire.gov.uk

Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

Important Fixed-term Contract Information:

These are fixed‑term posts funded specifically to deliver the Connect to Work programme. Appointments will be made on a fixed‑term basis for up to 4 years, aligned to the duration of the project and the availability of project funding. While postholders will commence employment at the same time, individual contracts may end at different points during the project lifecycle as funding reduces or delivery phases conclude.

The roles exist solely to deliver this defined project and are not part of the organisation’s ongoing, permanent staffing structure. Employment will therefore come to an end when the role’s project funding ceases or the project concludes.

Provisional Interview Date: Week Commencing 26/10/2026

Provision Start Date: 7^th January 2027

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.