Strategic Account Manager

Homebased with frequent travel across the UK and to Serco sites – Wales (Cardiff) / West Midlands (West Bromwich, Birmingham, Coventry)

£45,000 per annum, dependant on experience plus company car and benefits
Full-time, permanent
 

Ready to make an impact?

At Serco, our ambition is to create a better future by addressing the needs of governments, authorities, communities, businesses, and citizens. This vision has driven us to build a best-in-class employment, skills, and training business, aligned with growing government commitments to employment, adult learning, and apprenticeships.

Employer engagement, skills, and training are key priorities for Serco in the UK, as we strive not only to be a leading provider but also to deliver renowned services and solutions that support our partners and training providers in achieving their goals.

Serco Employment Skills and Training (EST) offers a comprehensive, place-based employability and skills service that can be tailored to government departments, local areas, employers, and citizens.

As Strategic Account Manager you’ll focus on the management and growth of national high-volume accounts while leading a team of Account Managers to ensure effective employer relationships and performance outputs.

You’ll be entrusted to:

• Lead and grow a portfolio of national, high-volume employer accounts in the skills and apprenticeships sector, acting as the senior point of contact for all strategic queries.
• Develop and implement sector-specific strategies to target key industries and employers for apprenticeship and skills recruitment, aligned with business growth objectives.
• Drive the achievement of learner start and revenue targets across all skills programmes, ensuring contract compliance and maximising funding opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with employers, sector bodies, funding agencies, and internal stakeholders to identify new business opportunities and secure repeat business.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of Account Managers to deliver high-quality employer engagement, learner recruitment, and onboarding.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) including learner starts, employer satisfaction, and revenue generation, using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Represent Serco at sector events, employer forums, and partnership meetings to raise the profile of our skills and apprenticeships offer.
• Champion best practice in employer engagement, inclusive recruitment, and learner experience across the team.

Does this sound like you?

You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:

• Proven experience in managing large employer accounts within the skills, apprenticeships, or training sector.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of delivering ambitious sales and learner recruitment targets.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• In-depth understanding of the UK skills and apprenticeships landscape, including funding, compliance, and sector trends.
• Data-driven approach to performance management and continuous improvement.
• Experience in developing and coaching Account Managers.
• Highly organised, with strong project management and time management skills.
• Qualified to NVQ Level 4 (or equivalent) preferred.

Discover all you need to keep growing

Here you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.
 

Because this is a place for you

Our people are integral to everything we do. That’s why our benefits are designed to put you first:

• Holidays: Up to 25 days plus bank holidays
• Training and development: A wide range of learning opportunities with over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships, mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression.
• Health and wellbeing: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, Simplyhealth cash plans to claim back money towards healthcare costs, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres.
• Discounts: Save across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel.
• Employee networks: Dedicated networks where colleagues can come together to find support, share challenges, discuss ideas, network and be part of a community.
• Charity: Support a charity or organisation with a paid volunteering day each year. You can also choose to donate to your favourite charity tax-free, through our Payroll Giving Scheme.

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services.  We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

Apply

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Serco is a Disability Confident Employer committed to employing and retaining people with disabilities. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.

We see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates. We’re a proud holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard and we actively encourage applications from females, those with disabilities or from an ethnic minority background.