Early Careers Business Lead

557548

Closing at: Feb 22 2026 - 23:55 GMT

Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Perth, and Reading, Oxford, Swindon, Melksham, Slough, Poole, New Forest, Basingstoke, Aldershot and Portsmouth

Salary: £42,600 - £64,000 + performance-related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The role

This role sits within the Early Careers team and leads on the delivery and continuous improvement of Early Careers programmes, partnering closely with managers to ensure high quality placements, robust learner support and strong progression outcomes. It combines programme management, stakeholder engagement, data‑driven improvement and safeguarding awareness to create an inclusive, well‑structured learner experience that builds a strong talent pipeline for the business.

You will

Build strong, collaborative relationships with managers, providing clear expectations and confident guidance so they can effectively support and develop early‑career talent.

Champion continuous improvement, using programme insights and learner feedback to refine processes, elevate the learner experience and drive high‑quality outcomes.

Coordinate purposeful placement journeys, ensuring each trainee has well‑defined objectives, supportive mentors, and structured check‑ins that foster growth and performance.

Create space for open, constructive dialogue, proactively identifying risks or support needs and partnering with HR and programme teams to take timely, people‑centred action.

Guide learners towards successful progression, working across Resourcing, technical teams and managers to track readiness, align opportunities and secure meaningful destination roles.

You have

Proven experience leading or shaping early‑career programmes, driving improvements in design, quality and learner outcomes across apprenticeships, graduate schemes or similar pathways.

Trusted advisor to senior leaders, influencing decisions, strengthening manager capability and ensuring high‑quality placements, support and development experiences.

Analytical and insight‑led, confident interpreting performance and progression data to identify trends, risks and opportunities, and translating complex standards into clear, actionable guidance.

Skilled facilitator with strong judgement, adept at leading review conversations, navigating sensitive messages, and supporting learners and managers through performance, welfare or safeguarding interventions.

Highly organised and strategically minded, experienced in coordinating programme operations, aligning with workforce planning, enhancing programme structures and championing safe, inclusive and supportive learner environments.

About SSE

SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030.

Over 14,500 brilliant people work together to power change at SSE. Our Human Resources (integrated Services) teams help make sure they're getting and giving their best. They design the people strategies that make SSE a great place to work. And they empower our teams to meet the demands of our business today, and tomorrow.

Flexible benefits to fit your life

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact francesca.palmer@sse.com / 01738 344763to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.

Ready to apply?

Start your online application using the Apply Now box on this page. We only accept applications made online. We'll be in touch after the closing date to let you know if we'll be taking your application further. If you're offered a role with SSE, you'll need to complete a criminality check and a credit check before you start work.