Graduate Intern (UK Student Recruitment)

13870BR

Communications & Marketing

Administrative Support

Advert

Graduate Intern (UK Student Recruitment)

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Communications and Marketing department for two Graduate Interns to support the work of the UK Student Recruitment Team.

You will provide a comprehensive, professional administrative and outreach support to the Student Recruitment Team, providing support and guidance to a range of stakeholders. More specifically, you will represent the university online and in person at  schools and colleges (requiring significant travel across the UK), providing information, advice and guidance to prospective applicants, their parents, teachers and careers officers. In addition, you will support a variety of undergraduate events such as open day, clearing and confirmation and other office-based projects.  

These posts are intended as a development opportunity for recent Cardiff University graduates which will provide you with training, skills and experience whilst also supporting the delivery of the University’s student recruitment objectives.

As part of your application, you are required to complete the following assignment:
'How can the work of the Student Recruitment Team contribute to both the objectives of the university and the work of external schools and colleges?'  NB.  Responses should not exceed 500 words.

The posts will require a flexible approach to working hours and will include out of hours working and occasional weekend working. 

These posts are full-time (35 hours per week), fixed-term until 31 August 2023.

Salary: £22,847 - £27,116 per annum (Grade 4)

Date advert posted: Monday, 28 March 2022

Closing date: Wednesday, 20 April 2022

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU READ THE TEXT RELATING TO THE COMPLETION OF A SUPPORTING STATEMENT DETAILED WITHIN THE PERSON SPECIFICATION SECTION

Key Duties

• Provide detailed information, advice and guidance on a range of student recruitment issues including: degree programmes, entry requirements, university application processes, fees and funding to a range of external stakeholders, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate
• Represent the university at in-person and online events at schools, colleges and HE exhibitions across the UK to prospective applicants who are considering their higher education  options.  This element of the work will involve extensive travel throughout the UK including overnight stays/out-of-hours working 
• Develop and deliver presentations/workshop materials for use in schools and colleges as well as University recruitment events such as open day
• Collaborate with others in order to make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures
• Establish working relationships with key contacts to help improve service levels, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required
• Undertake a variety of  administrative duties to support your own work and projects as well as the team and department more generally
• Instruct and guide casual staff, eg. student ambassadors working for the Student Recruitment Team
• Support and help to deliver a range of departmental projects including confirmation and clearing, open days, campus visits, and the preparation of online and off-line marketing material
• Contribute to market research/exercises with the target audience to inform future project development.

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Person Specification

Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable criteria.  As part of the application process are asked to provide this evidence via a Supporting Statement.

Please ensure when attaching it to your application profile that you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance, 13870BR.

Essential Criteria 

Qualifications and Education
1.    A recent Cardiff University degree

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2.   Proficient in using common office IT packages (e.g. MS office)
3.   A valid driving license
4.   Understanding of the current issues within the higher education sector
5.   Ability to set up standard office systems and procedures and make improvements as appropriate

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working
6.   Ability to communicate (both written & oral) specialist and complex information effectively and professionally to a range of customers with varying levels of understanding
7.   Ability to advise and influence key stakeholders
8.   Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving
9.   Evidence of ability to analyse processes and procedures and solve problems/advise on improvements using initiative and creativity; identify and propose practical solutions and to resolve problems where there are a range of potential options available
10.  Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work with high levels of attention to detail.

Desirable criteria

1.    Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
2.    Fluency in Welsh, written or oral.

Additional Information

The role will involve significant travel around the UK and occasional working across the University campus. When not out on visits representing the University at a range of events, the role requires a combination of both office working and working from home.

It will not normally be possible to take annual leave on days when undergraduate open days take place or during the confirmation and clearing period during mid-August. 

There will be some element of manual handling in terms of event set up/breakdown as well as the preparation and distribution of materials for events and mailings. 

A satisfactory Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check will be required on appointment.

About the Department
The Communications and Marketing Department is responsible for the University’s reputation and branding as well as UK/International student recruitment operations. It covers six areas: communications, marketing, student recruitment, digital communications, international and public affairs.

Communications plays an important part in building and maintaining the reputation of the University through effective communication to the public and to external and internal stakeholders. It communicates the achievements and aspirations of the University through a variety of media and includes a film unit. The team represents the University on a corporate level.
Digital Communications is responsible for the design, development and content of the external website and the intranet.

Marketing is responsible for developing a strong brand identity for the University at the corporate level, with an emphasis on better visual branding and market research.

Student recruitment plays an important role in attracting the University's undergraduate and postgraduate students from throughout the UK and Internationally, working in partnership with the University’s colleges and academic schools to recruit higher calibre students.  The team also manages the University’s widening participation programmes and the School’s Partnership Project.
The International Office drives the University’s international recruitment strategy and advises on all areas related to international recruitment and development. 

Public affairs leads on stakeholder relationships locally, nationally and internationally.

Job Category

Education, Marketing, Media and Public Relations