Postgraduate Taught Careers Adviser - Academic Services

Position details

Academic Services
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally within the range of £30,395 to £39,609. With potential progression once in post to £42,036
Grade 7
Full Time
Closing date: 8th September 2019

Job Summary

This is an exciting new role that has been created to expand and enhance current careers and professional development support provided to Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students at the University of Birmingham. The post will work across two departments, working collaboratively within Careers Network and with University Graduate School colleagues. The successful candidate will make a key contribution to shaping and delivery of enhancements to careers and employability support to PGT students across the five Colleges of the University of Birmingham, including development of online provision. The role is strategically important, forming part of an enhanced offer to PGT students that seeks to provide tailored and targeted support. The successful candidate will be expected to work proactively with a range of key stakeholders, both internally (e.g. academic and professional services staff, the Guild of Students) and externally (e.g. recruiters) to the University.

Main Duties

Delivering careers support to postgraduate taught (PGT) students

• Plan and develop a detailed careers programme tailored to the diverse needs of PGT students.

• Support the delivery and development of central guidance provision which may include advice desk, individual or group appointments, workshops and e-guidance and Skype interviews.

• Create and maintain PGT careers information, guidance web pages and online courses, including the design and implementation of a new online careers module for the proposed PGT Development Award.

• Develop and deliver careers sessions and workshops in partnership with Schools and Colleges. Actively liaise with academic and administrative staff to disseminate good practice and provide a point of reference for information about PGT careers.

• Support PGTs up to 2 years after graduation.

Collaborative working

• Support the engagement of employers and alumni, including working in collaboration with the Careers Network PGT Employer Liaison and Development Officer to provide PGT students with opportunities to explore the job market and gain work related learning opportunities.

• Work closely with the PGR Careers Adviser and Postgraduate Careers Consultant to ensure effective and coordinated services are delivered that includes supporting PGT students to transition to postgraduate research.

• Contribute to promoting and informing on options related to Further Study and support students to prepare for the transition to postgraduate study.

• Work with colleagues to provide guidance support for University of Birmingham PGT students based at our campuses in Dubai and China.

• Represent and promote the careers provision for PGTs in university committees.

Analysis and reporting

• Collate, interpret and report on Graduate Outcomes, Career Registration and Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey and other sources of data for PGTs across the institution in collaboration with the University Graduate School Data Officer.

• Collect and evaluate service data, compiling impact assessment reports to inform the future direction of the service.

Other duties

• Contribute to national networks of careers professionals and professional associations for sharing and benchmarking good practice.

• Undertake projects determined by the University Graduate School and Careers Network to support the career development of students.

• Promote equality and diversity including: (a) actively acting as a role model in own behaviour and fostering a non-discriminatory culture; (b) actively applying internal processes in a fair and equal way.

• Other duties as may be required from time to time which are commensurate with the post held. Some weekend work may be necessary.

Person specification

• Educated to degree level or higher with a Postgraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance or a similar professional qualification.

• Significant experience of developing and delivering careers guidance services and career management programmes within Higher Education or within an equivalent organisation.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate information to students, staff, employers and recruiters.

• Highly developed spoken and written communication skills with experience of developing and delivering engaging and interactive workshops/training to students.

• Proven ability to work within a diverse team, and to work independently.

• Excellent IT skills with experience of developing e-learning resources.

• Experience of designing web content and online provision.

• Demonstrable understanding and experience of working with PGTs.

• Ability to maintain a positive focus when under pressure and work to deadlines, determining priorities and managing conflicting demands.

• Knowledge of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010 and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area of business that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

We value diversity at The University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community

Informal enquiries can be made to Jayne Sharples - J.S.Sharples@bham.ac.uk or Andrea Patel - A.C.Patel@bham.ac.uk