Colleges Engagement Assistant

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University is an innovative, impactful and inclusive University with an established track record of success in teaching and research, student satisfaction and graduate employability, set amidst one of the most prosperous and beautiful areas of the country.

A College Engagement Assistant is required to join the Widening Access Department to support the University in delivering its ambition and strategy of widening access to education. You will actively engage and deliver our college engagement activity across Scotland and will support the range of access and articulation suite of programmes.

You will join a small team and will work to support and deliver wider access programmes ensuring they run smoothly. The role will be particularly attractive to individuals who enjoy contributing to a variety of projects at any given time. You will be expected to liaise with academic staff to deliver transition programmes for students attending RGU from college. There will also be regular on campus work at partner colleges as part of the engagement activity as well as administrative duties such as keeping accurate records and updating web site pages as required as part of the role.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week and also benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits. 

We are committed to attracting and engaging a diverse range of staff and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome, comfortable to express their ideas, and can reach their full potential. For more information, please visit Our Diverse Workforce pages.

To apply please submit your CV along with a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role against the requirements set out in the person specification.

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Access & Articulation Officer

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No supervisory responsibility

PURPOSE OF POST: To assist in the co-ordination and delivery of wider access programmes and assist in the development of the University's links with local partners such as schools and colleges.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

• To assist with the co-ordination and delivery of wider access programmes, predominantly focused on college engagement and articulation programmes, but will be required to assist with schools’ programmes at various points throughout the academic year.
• Regular attendance at RGU’s partner colleges throughout Scotland, with a focus on our in-region college, to deliver workshops and presentations, meet with students and college staff, and attend large scale college events (e.g. Open Days, Higher Education Information Fairs).
• Develop and maintain internal and external stakeholder relationships, with good operational links to ensure the successful delivery of projects.
• Co-ordination of orientation and support activities to ensure these are delivered and evaluated successfully.
• Maintaining notes of meetings and project files, ensuring these remain up-to-date.
• Monitoring and tracking students to identify relevant issues and inform future work.
• Assist in the co-ordination and delivery of college outreach activities throughout the academic year
• Develop and deliver key resources for workshops and presentations in relation to the college engagement portfolio of events/workshops.
• Evaluating activities for wider access students, working with other members of the Wider Access Unit team to ensure these are delivered and evaluated successfully.
• Develop positive working relationships with college partners and students.
•  Ensuring college activities run smoothly, with all necessary logistical arrangements made in good time.
• Promotion of opportunities for study and engagement with the University, including via routes such as Degree Link and other Wider Access programmes and initiatives.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Degree in relevant subject area or relevant experience

Knowledge

An understanding of higher education

An awareness of the remit of the Wider Access Department

An awareness of college articulation pathways

An ability to use standard IT packages (e.g. Word, PowerPoint)

Commitment to the personal development of young people

Experience

Ability to create and build positive individual relationships

Experience of working as part of a team to deliver success

Daily management and co-ordination of projects and events

Setting up meetings and preparing formal notes

Creating and maintaining accurate records

Experience of working with young people

Travel

Travel will be required to discharge duties

Other

UK Driving Licence

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Membership of Scotland’s Community for Access and Participation Practitioners (SCAPP)

Knowledge

An understanding of college qualifications and pathways to university study.

Experience

Prior experience of working or studying in the college education sector.

 

Behaviour

Behaviour 1 - Service Delivery - Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customers’ expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards.

Behaviour 2 - Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey both straightforward information, and information requiring careful explanation, in a clear and accurate manner.

Behaviour 3 - Initiative and Problem Solving - Experience of using initiative and creativity to resolve problems, identifying practical and suitable solutions.

Behaviour 4 - Liaison and Networking – Experiences of disseminating information in an accurate and timely manner and working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships.

Behaviour 5 - Teamwork and Motivation – Experience of being supportive and encouraging to others, with a flexible approach to delivering team results. Actively contribute to team morale.

Behaviour 6 - Decision Making – Experiences of using own judgement to make decisions, making collaborative decisions with others to reach conclusions and providing advice or information that will influence the decisions of others.