Placement Engagement Lead

Workforce Demand & Employer Engagement Consultant (Independent Contractor)

Purpose of the Consultancy

Life Choices Academy develops talented young people for employment in high-demand sectors. However, the organisation's current challenge is not the supply of skilled graduates; it is generating sufficient employer demand to absorb them into meaningful work opportunities.

Life Choices is therefore seeking an experienced consultant who will develop and manage employer relationships that generate sustainable internship and employment opportunities for Life Choices Academy graduates. The consultant will engage employers across relevant sectors including corporates, SMEs, recruitment agencies, industry associations, government entities and workforce development partners where these relationships contribute to graduate employment outcomes. The consultant will operate independently, and the engagement will be based on agreed deliverables and measurable outcomes rather than hours worked or activities completed.

Scope of Work

Function 1: Employer Development & Partnership Management

The consultant's first responsibility is to identify and develop relationships with employers who will hire Life Choices graduates.

That includes:

• Identifying prospective employers across relevant sectors.
• Building relationships with hiring decision-makers.
• Positioning Life Choices as a preferred talent partner.
• Developing and maintaining an employer pipeline.
• Creating repeat hiring relationships.
• Identifying new employment opportunities.
• Expanding employer demand across relevant sectors.

Function 2: Employer Placement & Advisory Services

This would include:

• Understanding employer workforce requirements.
• Matching employer needs with graduate capability.
• Coordinating placement opportunities with programme teams.
• Supporting employers through the placement process.
• Advising employers on internship and graduate employment models.
• Facilitating repeat recruitment.

Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver measurable business outcomes, including:

• Employer Demand Development
• Active employer pipeline development and measured engagement
• Placement opportunities secured
• Monthly reports linked to deliverables
• Internship and permanent employment opportunities secured.
• Monthly employer engagement and placement reports.
• Data-informed and research-based recommendations to strengthen employer engagement and placement effectiveness.

Performance Indicators

Performance will primarily be assessed against outcomes rather than activity.

Key indicators include:

• Number of active and positive employer relationships established.
• Number of new employers engaged.
• Number of actual internship opportunities secured.
• Number of permanent employment opportunities secured.
• Number of repeat hires by employer partners.
• Growth in active employer demand pipeline.

Consultant Profile

The ideal consultant will demonstrate experience in:

• Workforce development
• Business development
• Employer partnerships and relationship management
• Labour market intelligence
• Corporate partnerships
• Account management and stakeholder engagement expertise

Experience within youth employment and skills development will be advantageous.

Commercial Arrangement

The consultancy will comprise a fixed monthly retainer together with milestone-based success payments.

The consultant will be eligible for additional payments upon achieving agreed outcomes.

Success payments become payable only once the agreed milestone has been achieved and verified by Life Choices.

Reporting

The consultant will submit concise monthly and ad-hoc reports outlining, at minimum:

• employer pipeline status;
• opportunities secured;
• recommendations for improving placement outcomes.

Monthly review meetings will be held with Life Choices to assess progress against agreed deliverables.

Independence

The consultant will determine the manner, timing and methods used to achieve the agreed outcomes, provided that the agreed deliverables, reporting requirements and ethical standards of Life Choices are met.

The consultant may not be subject to the day-to-day supervision applicable to employees and will not be entitled to employee benefits.

Please note: there will be a basic salary plus commission.

Pay: R15 000,00 - R35 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person