Aspire to HE Progression Officer

Uni Connect brings together 29 partnerships of universities, colleges, and other local partners to offer activities, advice and information on the benefits and realities of going to university or college.

It is aimed to support the government’s social mobility goals by rapidly increasing the number of young people from underrepresented groups who go into higher education.

Aspire to HE is the local Uni Connect partnership for The Black Country and Telford and Wrekin.

We aim to:

• Contribute to reducing the gap in higher education participation between the most and least represented groups.
• Equip young and adult learners from underrepresented groups to make an informed choice about their options in relation to the full range of routes into and through higher education and to minimise the barriers they may face when choosing the option that will unlock their potential.
• Support a strategic local infrastructure of universities, colleges and other partners that can cut through competitive barriers, offer an efficient and low-burden route for schools and colleges to engage, and address outreach ‘cold spots’ for underrepresented groups.
• Contribute to a stronger evidence base around ‘what works’ in higher education outreach and strengthen evaluation practice across the sector.

We are seeking to appoint a Progression Officer to join the enthusiastic Aspire to HE team. This post will play a crucial role in delivering the Aspire to HE core programme of activity to targeted Uni Connect students in Years 10 – Year 13. Students targeted through the Uni Connect programme may be resistant to Higher Education and you will need to be adaptable, enthusiastic, and passionate in presenting when delivering our programmes. Programmes of activity will include workshops, group work, campus tours and facilitation of activities taking place on campus, in-schools/colleges, and possible outside organisations.

The role is an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated and proactive individual who is passionate about supporting young people to achieve their goals and make informed, ambitious decisions about their futures. You have the potential to make an impact on the young people you work with. You will receive on the job training and support to help you develop and excel in the role.

Reportable to a Senior Programmes Officer in the Aspire to HE team, you will also receive support from delivery staff that make up the Aspire to HE Delivery Team. Due to the fast-paced nature of the Uni Connect Programme, you will need to be resilient, a proactive problem solver who is able to use your initiative on a daily basis.

We welcome applications from candidates with first-hand experience of Higher Education. As the post involves working extensively with young people, you will be required to undertake an enhance DBS check and follow safeguarding procedures at all times.

The Progression Officer post is funded up until the 31st July 2025 (subject to annual funding from the OfS).

Interviews will be held week commencing 8th January, 2024.

The University of Opportunity for Students and Staff

As part of our commitment to ensure the diversity of our staff body reflects those of the student and local communities we serve, we particularly welcome applications from candidates of Black, Asian, or Ethnic Minority heritage, and candidates who are Disabled (including people who may not define themselves as disabled, but nevertheless encounter challenges)

PLEASE NOTE: Applications are scored against the criteria set out in the job description and person specifications attached to this advert. Applications are not assessed against the job advert so please ensure your applications are crafted against the Job Description and Person Specification contained within it.