• Job Description

  Req#: 5941

  Position Details

  External Relations

  Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

  Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,296 to £34,866 with potential progression once in post to £39,105

  Grade: 6

  Full Time, Permanent

  Closing date: 25th November 2024

  Planned interview date: 17th December 2024

  UK travel may be required for this role

  Our offer to you

  People are at the heart of what we are and do.

  The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

  We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.

  We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

  Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

  The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

  Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

  Background

  “External Relations delivers the University of Birmingham to the world. Whether it's outstanding awareness raising campaigns, recruiting and admitting students or developing strategic links with international partners, External Relations are at the heart of the activity.”

  Cathy Gilbert, Director of External Relations

  External Relations is comprised of nine teams which help drive delivery of the University’s strategic framework. External Relations communicates with Birmingham’s many different audiences in order to build purposeful relationships internally, locally, nationally, and globally. We enable those who wish to apply to study on undergraduate and postgraduate courses to make informed choices whilst ensuring our partnerships, profile and reputation reflects the success of the University and delivers impact. External Relations sits within the University’s Professional Services structure which provides outstanding support to our researchers, enables an exceptional educational experience for our students, and helps the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally.

  External Relations drives forward crucial strategic developments to maximise competitive advantage for the University and support flagship institutional projects.

  The Outreach team are responsible for supporting the entry to the University of students from underrepresented groups. We also work with the Student Recruitment and Admissions team to develop, promote and fulfil the University-wide recruitment and admissions policy and strategy for undergraduate and postgraduate students. This involves a wide range of activities including supporting University representation at higher education fairs throughout the country and in-particular in the West Midlands and other identified areas, co-ordinating visits to schools and colleges, receiving incoming visits from school pupils, teachers, careers officers and school leaders, and planning and delivering programmes for students in identified groups.

  Role Summary

  The purpose of this post within the wider team is to ensure the University commitment to widening participation is delivered. This means that currently under-represented groups are encouraged to apply to the University through a range of activities, partnership working and action-based research.

  This particular post is to support the development of activity linked to the University’s agreement with the Office for Students (OfS). It will have specific responsibility for supporting the project management of our Pathways to Birmingham programmes, other pre and post 16 Outreach programmes, and schedule of school visits onto campus and into our partner schools. Clear objectives and lines of responsibility will be determined as a part of the induction and annual personal development review process.

  This post will work alongside other Outreach Officers, Senior Outreach Officers and administrative members of the team, and all have varied roles that span the breadth of outreach activity at Birmingham. Each member of the team is given responsibility and ownership of particular projects and programmes, agreed in consultation with team members and post holders, and agreed as a part of our annual staff review and development scheme. All members of the outreach team receive training and support to help them in their development career pathway.

  Main Duties

  Main duties may include working on a range of programmes and activities from the comprehensive list below:

  Post-16 Pathways to Birmingham & Realising Opportunities programmes

  • To contribute to the organisation, monitoring, evaluation and development of a range of outreach programmes.
  • To support the delivery of our post-16 widening access programmes to support entry to students from under-represented groups to the University of Birmingham.
  • Contribute to the preparation and distribution of publicity materials to send to schools in the West Midlands to support recruitment to these programmes.
  • Contribute to and deliver a suite of communications (through social media, email, letter and telephone) to potential and actual applicants to encourage engagement with programmes.
  • To deliver targeted recruitment talks in schools and colleges to large groups of young people.
  • To support the application process, screening applications against WP criteria and providing feedback to unsuccessful candidates who do not meet the criteria.
  • To support other aspects of administration for programmes including tracking offers and applicant responses.
  • To support the development of events including finding speakers from academic staff, current students, University alumni and local organisations and businesses.
  • To organise catering and accommodation, ensuring all delegates are catered for – e.g. students with disabilities, special dietary requirements etc.
  • To ensure all aspects of data protection are adhered to on the storage and appropriate collection of participant data.
  • To support the development of student communities (using innovative communications and digital platforms) associated with each programme.
  • To support the monitoring and data recording of participants from one programme to another and their eventual transition to the University as undergraduates.
  • To contribute to the continued development of all programmes, inputting innovative ideas and solutions.

  Pre-16 Activity

  • To support the delivery of our Forward Thinking programme for year 8 to year 11 pupils including launch events, programme masterclasses and IAG events, contributing to the development of the activities and events we deliver.
  • To contribute to the day-to-day implementation of the masterclass programme, liaising with schools and colleges for the allocation of places using WP criteria.
  • To deliver campus visits for pre-16 groups and visit schools to deliver activities for students.
  • To support the development of events including finding speakers from academic staff, current students, University alumni and local organisations and businesses.
  • To organise catering and accommodation, ensuring all delegates are catered for – e.g. students with disabilities, special dietary requirements etc.
  • To ensure all aspects of data protection are adhered to on the storage and appropriate collection of participant data.

  Residential Activity

  • To contribute to the organisation of the residential summer school programmes for year 10 and year 12 pupils.
  • To organise a programme of academic workshops and lectures. This involves negotiating appropriate subject matter with academics to ensure it is an appropriate level for the audience.
  • To provide all necessary administrative support to ensure the smooth running of workshops on the day.
  • To organise a programme of social activities for summer schools.
  • To organise catering and accommodation, ensuring all delegates are catered for – e.g. students with disabilities, special dietary requirements etc.
  • To recruit, train and supervise a team of student ambassadors to support the event.
  • During summer school week to ensure the smooth running of the event, liaising with academic staff, student ambassadors and pupils, resolving problems as they arise and generally ‘being on duty’. This will include overnight cover during the actual residential.
  • Ensuring that all legal requirements are met (e.g. that DBS checks and risk assessments are carried out).
  • To anticipate and resolve problems that might occur during the residential.

  School Visits and Links with Schools

  • To initiate and organise visits for schools in the West Midlands and selected schools nationwide to the University campus, liaising with student ambassadors and leading some activities on these days.
  • To represent the University at information, advice and guidance events in schools and progression fairs through the delivery of presentations and individual advice to students and parents.
  • To visit targeted partner schools and colleges to deliver talks and presentations related to higher education and our programmes.

  Mock Interviews

  • To organise the delivery of our mock interview programme – promoting the programme to relevant students, recruiting academic staff and UG students to deliver the sessions and organising the events (both in-person and virtual).
  • Create online resources to support students learning more about the interview process and share these with students.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of the mock interview sessions in terms of how many students attended, how they found the sessions and the impact of attending the sessions in terms of success of students in getting an offer for interviewing programmes.

  Projects

  • To contribute to a range of ongoing projects that focus on specific groups such as the engagement of white working class males in outreach programmes, the progression of care experienced young people to higher education, the support of hard to reach groups in their transition to university.
  • To contribute to the digitisation of our outreach programmes particularly focusing on or applications processes, tracking and monitoring systems, our communications and our promotional work.

  Evaluation Activity

  • To support the evaluation of Outreach activity for the onward reporting to OfS. To work with the Aimhigher team where appropriate on collaborative evaluation. To ensure that data protection requirements are adhered to when collecting learner participant data.

  General

  • In addition, the post holder is expected to carry out any other duties that support the work of the Outreach Office as required, as well as supporting general Student Recruitment Activity where required such as Open Days and HE Fairs amongst other events. This will include occasional evening work and weekend work.
  • Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
  • Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
  • Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

  Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

  • Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus relevant practical experience - where no equivalent qualification is held significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required
  • Knowledge and understanding of the UK education system
  • Understanding of widening participation policy and partnership working
  • Some experience of working within the HE/education sector
  • Experience of project coordination
  • Experience of working with young people
  • Excellent interpersonal skills whether dealing with students, academic staff, external organisations or other members of the office team
  • Ability to build relationships at all levels
  • Ability to work as part of a team but also without direction
  • The ability to empathise with young people and prospective students
  • Confidence to interpret and present data in a wide range of formats
  • Advanced IT skills with a proven ability to use digital platforms for recruitment and communication purposes including the ability to use a variety of systems and processes to manage activities such as application portals, CRM systems, Access databases and Excel spreadsheets
  • High standard of communication with an ability to present with confidence
  • The ability to adapt to new or demanding situations, prioritising workloads and managing deadlines
  • Accuracy and attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure
  • Awareness of safeguarding
  • A proactive approach to problem solving and difficult situations
  • Flexibility, tact and diplomacy
  • Valid UK driving license
  • Willingness to work flexibly and on occasion at the weekends and evenings to deliver aspects of the role

  DBS required

  The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS clearance prior to appointment.

  Informal enquiries to Claire Churchill, Deputy Head of Outreach, email: c.s.churchill@bham.ac.uk or Elizabeth Chandler, Head of Outreach, email: e.chandler@bham.ac.uk

  View our staff values and behaviours here

  We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .

• About the company

  The University of Birmingham is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

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