Pastoral Mentor

This above full – time posts (x6) and part-time (0.5FTE) post (x1) are available from 1 August 2024 on a permanent basis. Applications are welcome from both colleagues from academic and professional services backgrounds and secondment options would be considered. (Fractional positions may be considered) .

Summary of the role

The Role 

The role of Pastoral Mentor is to provide high-quality proactive support for students experiencing difficulties, which impact their ability to study and be successful on their programme of study.

This role is part of a pilot which we hope to roll out over the wider university in subsequent years and as such, appropriate training and guidance will be provided. An important part of the role will involve working with the project group to establish the most effective ways of recognizing students at who are struggling, identify and implement best practice in the provision of students support, and work with the digital team on the design and development of digital tools to enhance student support. The role has been developed through extensive consultation on sector-wide best practice for student support.

About you

We are looking for empathetic individuals able to provide the key link between the academic discipline and support services for students who are struggling and also work closely with colleagues in discipline to identify students in need of support or factors inhibiting student success. Experience of working with students in either an HE or FE setting is essential.

You will be the core point of contact for students experiencing issues impacting their ability to study and for colleagues in the department concerned about student engagement. The role requires that you also work with data to identify students in need of support.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

The University of Exeter   

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes. 

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).  

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City  

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment  

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces. 

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.   

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer. 

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.  

Benefits   

We offer some fantastic benefits including: 

• 41 days leave per year 
• options for flexible working  
• numerous discounts at leading retailers 
• onsite gyms on all of our campus’ and a cycle to work scheme 
• sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy 
• stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

For further information or to arrange an informal discussion about the role please contact the Student Academic Support Project Team on [email protected] .