Widening Access Co-ordinator

Job Type

Part Time Permanent

Salary

£30,487 – £37,099 per annum pro rata

Location

Waterside Campus,
Other

About the Job

Interview Date: 5 February 2024

We are seeking a professional, lively and committed individual to join our team as Widening Access Co-ordinator.

The successful candidate will act as a role model for our target cohorts and will work as part of the Schools Engagement Team to deliver our operations plan aimed at target schools within the county to widen access and participation in higher education. This delivery will be proactive, responsive and fulfil the needs of our priority groups which are white working-class males and BAME cohorts.

They will co-ordinate and develop bespoke innovative learning and motivational experiences for school students during outreach events and activities.

They will co-ordinate and liaise with teams of staff and student volunteers to effectively deliver inreach and outreach attainment raising and aspirational sessions based at the university, in schools and sometimes online; maximising the impact, quality assuring and contributing to improving target school and target cohort engagement across the county.

The post will also include liaison with external education stakeholders and employers on collaborative events, linking to schools careers curriculum, as well as meeting objectives of the university’s Access and Participation Plan.

The candidate will contribute to the Schools Engagement marketing and branding profile as well as make a positive contribution, through team meetings, to the decision-making process for schools engagement.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dedicated individual who has a passion for supporting young people to overcome barriers to education and has strong project management skills.

This is a part time (22 hours) permanent post, working on the University campuses, in schools and remotely from home.

For more information, please contact Tim Dobson (Head of Access and Participation, 07786627931)

This post is subject to a background disclosure check by the Disclosure and Barring Service before any appointment can be confirmed.

About You

Educated to level 6 or with relevant experience you will demonstrate the ability to work across a range of different work streams, prioritising and managing your time effectively. You will often be in contact with school children and young adults, teachers and undergraduate students and will therefore need to have a good knowledge of the issues surrounding progression to Higher Education, have excellent communication skills and be friendly, professional and customer focused.

Candidates will require an excellent use of IT as well as good knowledge of online platforms and their functionality for the delivery of online opportunities.

Qualifications

Essential:

• First degree or significant appropriate work experience in education or working with children
• Level 3 Qualification (A Level/BTEC Qualification)or equivalent

Department

You will be working within the Schools Engagement Team which sits within the Equality and Access Team reporting to the Vice Chancellor. The Access and Participation Plan is a means by which the Office for Students monitor and evaluate how universities are performing in relation to providing equity for all underrepresented cohorts accessing, progressing through and out of Higher education.

The Widening Access Team at UON works with schools to raise attainment, aspirations and interest in higher education, also offering careers information and guidance to school children and young adults. You will work closely with other members of the Schools Engagement Team, our professional services teams faculty colleagues across the university and external providers, to provide opportunities and engagements with children and young people from our targeted primary and secondary schools. 

About Us

Come to the University of Northampton and you will see that we do things a bit differently.

We are one of the youngest universities in the UK but we are already leading the way in adding value to society, which we call social impact. We have won multiple awards for our work in this area, among others, but what matters the most to us is ensuring that our students and graduates have the opportunity to make their mark on the world too. That’s why we were the first university in the UK to be named as a Changemaker Campus in 2012.

We want to break the mould of what Higher Education can be. This has led us to build a whole new University from the ground up that is designed to reflect the way that students actually learn rather than the way they are expected to learn. Waterside Campus opened in September 2018.

Our commitment to transforming lives and inspiring change is at the heart of all that we do.

Right to Work

All candidates will be asked to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK at interview

Equality

We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

The University of Northampton is committed to providing a vibrant, ethical and sustainable work, study and living environment that values equality, diversity and inclusion.

This commitment, along with our legal and moral obligations, provides an inclusive environment for staff, students and the public who may be affected by our activities.

Together @ UON confirms our commitment to equality and inclusion, underpinned by our belief in taking action. We are dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates equality and harnesses the power of diversity.

Together @ UON demonstrates our pledge to our staff, students and partners to nurture and develop an environment where equality and inclusion can thrive whilst we Transform Lives and Inspire Change.

To find out more, please visit: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/governance-and-management/management/equality-and-diversity/