Employer Accounts Manager – Thanet, Dover & Folkestone/Hythe
Location: Thanet
Salary: From £32,500
Vacancy Type: Permanent
About The Role
Are you a solution-focused, business-to-business relationship builder with a passion for driving results?
The Forward Trust is looking for a full-time Employer Account Manager (35 hours/week) to grow our Employment Services division across Thanet, Dover, and Folkestone/Hythe. If you thrive on developing long-term employer partnerships, driving performance, and connecting local talent with meaningful opportunities, this role is for you.
Due to the nature of the role, all applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
What you’ll do:
* Secure new employer business and hit sales, service, and financial targets.
* Promote Forward Trust and Connect to Work programmes, work experience, trials, training, apprenticeships, to employers across your patch.
* Build and maintain trusted relationships with employers, commissioners, and partners (Jobcentre Plus and beyond).
* Match participants with the right opportunities, supporting career progression, upskilling, and workforce development.
* Represent the programme at job fairs, networking events, and employer forums to raise visibility.
* Stay ahead of local labour market trends, sector demands, and employer challenges.
* Ensure all placements are safe, compliant, and appropriate for participants.
What we’re looking for:
* Proven B2B experience in business development, sales, or employer engagement.
* Strong relationship management skills and the ability to influence and collaborate.
* Target-driven mindset with a focus on performance, quality, and outcomes.
* Knowledge of workforce development, employability programmes, or apprenticeship pathways is a plus.
* Commitment to safeguarding, compliance, and high-quality delivery.
Join a team that genuinely transforms lives and strengthens local communities. You’ll work in a collaborative, supportive environment where your performance directly impacts participant outcomes.
This is an opportunity to shape employer engagement strategy, grow your career, and make a lasting difference across Kent and Medway.
Ready to drive change and build meaningful employer relationships? Apply today!
About Us
We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits:
* Flexible working
* Training and development opportunities
* Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
* Season Ticket Loan Scheme
* Cycle to work scheme
* Crisis Loan Scheme
* Electric Car Scheme
* 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata'd for part time employees)
* Access to Blue Light Card
* 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
* Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
* Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
* Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)
Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Diversity at Forward Trust
The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness.
When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.
We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.
Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work
Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.
If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application