Uni Connect HEP Outreach Officer LUM387/326

About the Role

This role will be based at University Centre Leeds (0.6FTE/3 days) within our WP & Outreach Team and will also involve travel to schools, colleges, other universities) and may include some working from home. For the rest of the time (0.4 FTE/2 days), you will be based at a target school in the Leeds, Wakefield or Bradford district (exact location and days TBC)

Do you want to play a key role in supporting the success of students, particularly those from underrepresented groups? Are you a well-organised and adaptable individual? Do you want to play a key role in exploring raising attainment initiatives?

The WP and Outreach Team work with young people and adults considering their education options and supporting individuals into higher education, and the post holder will address issues, including attainment raising, around progression to higher education for those from groups underrepresented in higher education.

University Centre Leeds provide students with the opportunity to study for a broad range of higher education qualifications from foundation degrees, BSc (Hons) / BA (Hons) top-up degree programmes, Higher National Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships.

What You Will Do

• Arrange, deliver, lead/project manage and evaluate outreach and attainment raising activities/projects for eligible learners on behalf of the target school and your institution
• Be the principal contact and champion for the project within University Centre Leeds and your target school including engaging relevant institution staff e.g. teachers and academics to ensure the success of the project.
• Communicate programme aims, and manage relationships effectively with learners, parents/carers, UC staff, institution staff, Senior Leadership Team, and delivery partners e.g. other universities, colleges.
• Carry out all the monitoring and reporting requirements for each institution including updating the Higher Education Access Tracker database (HEAT).
• Delivery against agreed targets including preparing progress reports and delivery plans as required.
• Attend and contribute to the regular UC meetings and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) sessions to share good practice and lessons learned.
• Ensure appropriate Health and Safety, risk assessment and safeguarding procedures are followed at all times and adhere to institutions’ policies/systems as appropriate
• Have ability and willingness to work on a flexible basis, including efficient travel to locations within West Yorkshire as well as occasional evening/weekend work as required.
• Maintain and update management information and data as required for University Centre Leeds for Go Higher West Yorkshire and Office for Students evaluation and review.
• Be accountable for and monitor project funding and other resources allocated to University Centre Leeds.
• Develop and maintain links in University Centre Leeds’ target communities, particularly with parents and carers of the Uni Connect cohort.

About You

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Ability to lead, develop, manage, monitor and evaluate events/activities and associated budgets successfully
• A good understanding of the educational aspirations and needs of a range of young people and be able to deliver presentations to this audience and relevant stakeholders e.g. parents/carers.
• Ability to collaborate and engage support for the GHWY Uni Connect programme with a range of key stakeholders including learners, parents/carers, school staff and external stakeholders e.g. employers, in order to achieve results
• Ability to organise own workload and be self-motivated, meet deadlines, work on own initiative with a pro-active attitude to the role.
• An ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail with a methodical approach.
• Empathy with and understanding of, the ethos and purpose of the Uni Connect project, with a good track record of successfully supporting pupils to aspire to and access HE.
• Evidence of success in project management and administration.
• Ability to problem solve and plan ahead.

Ability and willingness to work on a flexible basis, including efficient travel to locations

Benefits

There are plenty of benefits available to our staff members, here are just a few:

• Annual leave entitlement - If you work full time, you'll get at least 27 days holiday plus bank holidays and up to 5 discretionary closure days at Christmas (pro rata for part time staff).
  • Support Staff 27 days (increasing to 32 days after 5 years service)
  • Academic 37 days
  • Senior Management 37 days
• Generous Pension schemes
  • Teachers’ Pension Scheme 
  • Local Government Pension Scheme 
• Memberships and discounts - employees can sign up to various membership cards and discount schemes such as TOTUM card (formerly NUS card). 
• Travel and commuting - discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.
• Learning and development opportunities -  including staff development days
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities - this will vary depending on role requirements

About Us

At University Centre Leeds, we provide a supportive higher education environment designed to promote and enhance independent learning. We have access to industry standard equipment unique to many of our subject areas. These range from our makeup studios to practical science labs. 

We are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our staff. You’ll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow. Choosing to work for University Centre Leeds means that you will be part of an inclusive and progressive learning environment. We hope that we will be part of the next step in your career and look forward to welcoming you to University Centre Leeds. 

We are proud to be the highest rated for student satisfaction in Leeds for the third year running (National Student Survey 2022).

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow the Safer Recruitment requirements and best practice as set out within Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We recognise, value and champion diversity & Inclusion. As we engage with a diverse student population we want to ensure we reflect that in our staff population too. For us diversity is about building happy teams, full of people that want to learn and be inspired by each other, by our different experiences and backgrounds. It is important to us that both staff and students achieve their full potential.  Diversity is important to us, but inclusion is equally, if not more important. It’s not just about having the representation but also providing the people we recruit with opportunities and valuing everyone’s contributions and perspectives.

For further information about the role including job description and application form please visit the vacancies section of our website via the apply link.