Funding, Graduation & Awards Advisor - Academic Services - 48455 - Band 400

Position Details

Academic Services

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of £21,000 to £22,214 with potential progression once in post to £27,268 a year 

Band 400

Fixed term contract until 30th December 2022 

Closing date: 6th December 2021 

Job Summary

The post holder will undertake activities associated with the administration of student loans, bursaries, scholarships, prizes, hardship funds and Degree Congregations. They will act as an initial point of contact for the team, providing information, advice and guidance on the various government support schemes and other financial support available to students at both the UK and international campuses. The post holder will make a significant contribution to the development and maintenance of the Funding, Graduation & Awards (FGA) website, social media campaigns and associated communications. They will be responsible for maintaining FGA’s social media accounts and will have opportunities to contribute to a number of creative projects in support of the wider work of the team. 

Main Duties

To resolve general student funding and graduation enquiries from prospective and current students, parents, staff and external stakeholders in a professional and efficient manner. The post holder will be expected to communicate important advice and financial information to applicants and to be actively involved in promoting and disseminating the work of FGA. Activities will include offering face-to-face advice at on-campus and virtual events, answering enquiries via email and through online channels – resolving issues personally wherever appropriate and escalating more complex queries to other members of the team as required. Strong communication skills are essential. 

To develop and maintain FGA’s online presence, including Frequently Asked Questions, webpages, social media activities and direct emails – editing and contributing to content. The post holder will also be expected to undertake analytics and market research in order to assess the effectiveness and reach of this content, reporting on findings and making suggestions for improvements. They should be capable of applying relevant job knowledge, skills and expertise to identify issues and take action when necessary. 

To support the administrative and front-of-house work associated with Degree Congregations and graduation celebrations, to ensure the effective delivery of ceremonies. The post holder will also be expected to assist with high-profile events including, but not limited to, open days, welcome activities, student funding initiatives, donor days, scholarship receptions and registration.

To liaise with schools/colleges and other colleagues within Corporate Services, gaining the necessary cooperation, trust and respect to facilitate a coordinated approach to the administration of awards and prizes. The post holder will be responsible for maintaining a comprehensive contact list, keeping written procedures up to date, and the construction of communications to students and staff as needed.  

To assess students’ applications for funding against eligibility criteria for a wide range of financial support packages within a specified time span, as directed by the Funding and Awards Officer, dealing with all aspects of the application process and enquiries. This will involve keeping students accurately informed at each stage of the process by communicating the rules governing the various awards, requesting additional evidence as required for the application, and transmitting decisions clearly and respectfully, using effective language and an appropriate tone.
 
To process financial awards to students, maintaining all associated records and documentation to ensure a comprehensive audit trail. This will include accurately inputting data on the appropriate computerised systems and using this information to generate reports and provide trend analysis. 

To liaise with a range of external organisations (e.g. Student Loans Company) to ensure that students get the funding they are entitled to receive and that issues are resolved in a timely manner – changing style, language and terminology as appropriate.

To develop a working knowledge of the roles of other members of the FGA team to provide support during peak periods and cover for absences, thereby helping to ensure continuous service delivery. The post holder will need to be able to adjust their priorities and deal with conflicting demands in order to both meet the needs of the FGA team and to provide support to colleagues in other areas of the Division when appropriate, especially staff working in the Aston Webb Student Hub.

To undertake a range of general administrative duties, prioritising tasks and demonstrating good personal organisation and initiative to support the work of the team.

To attend training courses and development activities, using relevant learning opportunities to improve results.

To undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time by the Head of FGA or the Funding, Graduation and Awards Officer, demonstrating dependability and flexibility.

Person Specification

Essential

•    GCSE English and Mathematics to a minimum of grade C, or equivalent qualifications
•    Proven ability to work productively and effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines, balancing conflicting demands
•    Evidence of excellent attention to detail and ability to complete work to a high level of accuracy
•    Demonstration of good organisational skills, including the ability to appropriately prioritise one’s own work
•    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both verbal and written), enabling the post holder to deal effectively and appropriately with a range of audiences
•    Ability to use initiative and to work independently without direct supervision, whilst also working well as a member of a team
•    Excellent IT skills, including proven proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Access 
•    Proven ability to learn new processes and IT systems quickly and thoroughly 
•    Understanding of, and belief in, the principles of customer care
•    Awareness of the sensitive and confidential nature of the work of the office

Desirable

•    Experience in a busy office environment, preferably in Higher Education
•    Demonstrable experience of using web-editing software
•    Prior involvement in the delivery of marketing campaigns and/or writing content for student communications

Informal enquiries can be directed to Jessica Bates - [email protected]
 

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment 

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.