2 x Widening Access and Participation Assistants

About the University of Sunderland

The University of Sunderland offers life-changing opportunities for 27,500 students across its campuses in Sunderland, London, Hong Kong, and through global partnerships with learning institutions in 19 countries. We're proud to be a top 50 UK university (Guardian University Guide 2024), with top-quality facilities, inclusive culture, and our vibrant, ever-changing city.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity within our Home Student Recruitment service for 2 x Widening Access and Participation Assistants. Within this role you will support the planning and delivery of access to higher education activities and interventions to increase participation of a wide range of students and applicants from a broad range of diverse backgrounds. You will also support and deliver the University’s widening access and participation targets outlined in our Access and Participation Plan (APP).

You will play a key role in supporting the planning, delivery and evaluation of targeted outreach activities, both in person and online. You will work with a wide range of audiences including primary and secondary school pupils. You will provide support, advice and guidance to feeder schools, colleges and other partner organisations at a range of events. This includes delivery to pupils, teachers/advisers and parents/carers on a range of areas such as the benefits of higher education, progression routes, student finance and student life.

You will support the planning and delivery of bespoke programmes, funding and support for priority groups to ensure fair access and increase participation in higher education. This includes the planning, administration and promotion of bursaries and scholarships.

You will carry out administrative tasks such as maintaining and updating spreadsheets and databases, coordination of shared email inboxes, arranging and taking minutes of meetings and preparing reports and statistics.

What you can bring

We are looking for someone with strong administrative and organisational skills, excellent IT skills and experience of working in a student/customer focused environment. This role requires someone who is a strong team player, can work on their own initiative and is passionate about supporting young people to achieve their full potential. If you are educated to degree level or have significant relevant professional experience, this could be the ideal next step in your career.

What we can offer you

Our University is not just a place of academic excellence, but also a community that embraces inclusivity and support. We value our staff and offer a rewarding package that goes beyond just salary. At the University of Sunderland, we prioritise not only your professional growth but also your happiness and well-being.

• Enjoy a generous annual leave entitlement of 31 days, along with an additional 5 closure days over the Christmas break and 8 Bank Holidays.
• Enrolment into our generous pension scheme, ensuring your financial security for the future.
• Access to our “My Lifestyle Benefits Platform”, where you can enjoy online discounts at hundreds of retailers every day. Plus, take advantage of exclusive schemes that allow you to purchase a new car, bike, or technology at a discounted rate.
• Your health and well-being are important to us. That's why we provide access to discounted private medical insurance, health cash plans, and guidance on financial well-being.
• For those with young children, our on-site nursery offers exceptional care and education for children from birth to school age, operating throughout the year.
• Maintaining an active lifestyle is made easy with discounted membership for CitySpace Fitness, our state-of-the-art facility for sports and social activities.

Equality, diversity & inclusion

We strongly believe that an inclusive university, where a diverse range of individuals feel valued and have equal opportunity to get into work and reach their potential, is good for our staff, students, university, and society.

Our work on equality, diversity and inclusivity has never been more important. We believe inclusivity is an essential value at the heart of what we do, and we want all our staff to be part of that journey with us.

Our recent staff survey conducted in 2023 showed that 97% of our staff believed that we were committed to achieving an inclusive university.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 6^th October (23.59 GMT).

If you would like any further information relating to this role please contact Katharine Reed, Widening Access and Participation Officer, katharine.reed@sunderland.ac.uk.

Closing Date: 06 Oct 2024

Team: Support

Salary: £27,171 to £29,624