CAREERS SUCCESS ADVISER

at  Buckinghamshire New University

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Career Success Advisor
Faculty/Directorate: Directorate for Student Success
Grade: F
Location: High Wycombe (requirement to work across all campuses)
Hours: 37
Responsible to: Career Success Manager
Responsible for: Providing specialist employability and career success advice and support.
Job Purpose:
The Career Success Advisor will provide specialist employability and career success advice and support to all students, by acting as a professional specialist in student and graduate employability, personal development planning, theory and practice of career choice and career development, graduate occupations, graduate destinations, and relevant labour market trends. The post holder will work collaboratively to deliver a multidisciplinary, inclusive and responsive service, to ensure a positive student experience and outcomes, responding effectively to student diversity.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Up to date knowledge of careers, employability or placement learning support work in higher education
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Recent significant experience as a Careers Advisor or Careers Consultant or Employability / Enterprise Educator or similar in HE and providing specialist employability support to groups and on a one-to-one basis
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Knowledge and experience of graduate recruitment practices and best practice in relation to equality and diversity with respect to employability
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Experience of leading operational activities in an employability-related service area and acting as a point of escalation
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Experience of providing advice and guidance to academic colleagues and internal/external stakeholders to support decision-making, in a relevant area
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Experience of organising, supporting and delivering events/projects
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Experience of designing, writing and delivering programme in career management / employability with a working knowledge of the principles of inclusive curriculum development
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Experience of carrying out a range of complex administrative activities and data analysis and reporting
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SKILLS

Digital and IT Literacy: Proficient in the use of MS office applications, social media, virtual learning environments (VLE)
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Excellent verbal and written communication, including ability to write reports and write and deliver presentations to diverse audiences
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Excellent interpersonal skills particularly listening and questioning and the ability to develop rapport, persuade and negotiate
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Willingness to incorporate e-learning technologies into working practices (e.g. Teams, lecture capture technology, interactive voting technologies, webinars etc)
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Ability to work independently and as part of a team
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Flexible approach to work and commitment to providing a professional service
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Ability to plan, organise and prioritise own workload and resources, including managing projects, anticipating issues and planning workable solutions
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Ability to work effectively under pressure and to deadlines
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Ability to gather and analyse data, recognising and interpreting patterns and trends
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SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Willingness and ability to travel to off-site locations as required
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Some activities will require evening or weekend working e.g. open days, recruitment events etc)
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• To provide impartial, confidential advice and guidance to students and alumni on employment opportunities, career paths, further study and other employability matters and refer to other parts of the Directorate to support the complex needs of students.
• Develop and deliver a full range of fully inclusive employability and careers advice and support to students, apprentices, postgraduates and alumni including, but not limited to: employability training such as workshops, seminars and blended delivery on career management topics; innovative and client-centred coaching, advice and support (individually or in groups); writing guidance/learning materials to support the provision of a high quality career success service, in collaboration with curriculum leads, Student Union and academics as appropriate.
• Build close working relationship with allocated schools and act as an initial point of escalation and referral from academic staff on employability / student opportunities and careers issues to help students develop their employability.
• To work collaboratively across the university to better prepare students to take advantage of work experience, placement and graduate level opportunities in support of improved graduate outcomes and to increase student engagement with PlacementPlus and other services and resources.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of a retention-focused referral process by ensuring students considering withdrawal are offered appropriate impartial information, advice and guidance.
• To represent the Service and Directorate at open days, career fairs /events, external meetings and networking events as required.
• To ensure appropriate monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems are in place to support student progression and employability outcome and to monitor, evaluate and report on the outcomes of students from disadvantaged or low participation backgrounds.
• Ensure new learning technologies are embedded in the delivery of interventions and support where appropriate, facilitating effective and efficient working with students and academic colleagues.
• To assist with quality assurance processes, including the Matrix Standard, as required by the Head of Career Success, as well as analysing user feedback.
• Contribute to ongoing improvements to the service, based on evidence of impact, efficiency and sector best practice, leading improvement projects on behalf of the team as agreed with the Head.
• Project manage key university-wide employability initiatives e.g. Graduate Internships, Placement Plus requiring specialist knowledge.
• Develop and maintain a good working knowledge of graduate employment trends and opportunities, legislative requirements and keep abreast of the aims and objectives of national bodies concerned with careers work, such as the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) , undertaking continuous professional development, as agreed with the Head
• Comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR; Health and Safety; and Equality and Diversity requirements and legislation in all working practices.
• Such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required.