Interim Head of Placements & Work-Based Learning Candidate Information Pack
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Welcome.
As the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Northampton, I am delighted to extend my warmest greetings to you. It is with great pleasure that I introduce the role of Interim Head of Placement and Work Based Learning. This position has become available as a result of the internal promotion of Julie Martin, the previous Head, to the position of Interim Academic Registrar. Placements and Work Based Learning are key to the opportunities we make available for students. We are proud of our offer in this area and want to expand it. We have recently undertaken a reorganisation which has enabled the formation of the new Directorate of Student Futures. The new Directorate will unite our Careers and Employability Service, our Changemaker team, Alumni and Supporter Relations, Placements and Work Based Learning, Employer Relations, and Unitemps, our student and graduate recruitment service. The interim Head of Placement and Work Based Learning is a key role in this transition to the new Directorate. The position will report initially to the Interim Academic Registrar, who reports to the Chief Operating Officer. However, once the new Director of Student Futures is in post, it is planned that the Placements and Work- Based Learning team will transfer into the new Directorate, and the Interim Head will have a vital role in supporting the team through the changes in staffing and structure, and preparing them to join the Directorate for Student Futures. Student Futures will report via its new Director to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, alongside the Directorate of Research and Knowledge Exchange, and the three academic Faculties: the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technologies, the Faculty of Business and Law, and the Faculty of Health, Education, and Society.
This new structure will bring Employability, Enterprise and the Faculties closer together, and emphasise the relationship and the importance of employability reaching all students and informing portfolio and curriculum design. We are looking forwards to exploring the potential for synergies, shared vision, and mutual support amongst the Directorates and Faculties, to create the best possible environment to support our graduates’ futures. If you value the benefits of placements and work- based learning for students and enjoy leading staff through times of change, we would love to hear from you. At the University of Northampton, we take immense pride in our commitment to providing exceptional education and a nurturing environment for our diverse community of students and staff, and transforming the lives of those who study with us. If you want to be part of our community, we’d love to hear from you. I encourage you to explore this candidate pack and envision yourself as a crucial component of the University of Northampton’s continued growth and success.
Executive summary About us Student Futures The role Working at the University of Northampton How to apply
Warm regards,
Professor Shân Wareing, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Northampton
“Only when you
experience a place do you learn how to make it your own.”
About us.
The University of Northampton is one of the youngest universities in the UK, gaining full university status and research degree awaring powers in 2005. Whilst we may be a ‘new’ University, we have made our impact in the Higher Education sector. We are committed to doing things differently; for example, we were the first University in the UK to be named as a Changemaker Campus in 2012 and are dedicated to creating social impact in all that we do. Our overt focus on positive change was spearheaded by our relocation to Northampton town centre with the opening of our Waterside Campus for the 2018/2019 academic year. The impetus of this bold move was to create a
learning experience based on how our students want to learn, rather than how it is expected, whilst also securing the sustainable future of our University. Since 2018, we have embraced our purpose- built state-of-the-art campus, being witness to many day-to-day interactions/experiences of our University community within our new physical estate. Listening and learning from those experiences, has allowed us to identify further opportunities to evolve. Against a backdrop of sustained growth in student numbers, with 2022 marking our current record year, this is an exciting era for the University of Northampton. Our recent achievements can be viewed at northampton.ac.uk/about-us/our-achievements/
Becky Bradshaw, Chief Operating Officer
The Student Futures Team
Chair of the Board
Vice Chancellor & CEO
Deputy Vice Chancellor
Dean of Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology
Dean of Faculty Health, Education & Society
Director of Library, Learning & Student Services
Director of Student Futures
Dean of Faculty of Business & Law
Deans of Research & Knowledge Exchange
Library & Learning Services
Alumni & Supporter Relations
Institutes
Student Services
Graduate School
Careers & Employability Team
Research Support Team
Placements & Work-based Learning
Research & Innovation Funding
Changemaker
Knowledge Exchange & Enterprise
Employer Relations
Uni Temps
Apprenticeships
The role.
• To provide high quality, specialist and strategic advice and support to academic staff wishing to develop in-course placements and work-based learning in order to facilitate the growth of this activity and its effective and consistent implementation across the institution. • To undertake policy and process mapping and, where necessary, policy and process redesign to ensure a clear and effective framework exists for the management and implementation of in-course placements and work-based learning and that these policies and processes align to support the student lifecycle and institutional policy and strategy. To work with colleagues across the institution to ensure their views are incorporated. • To be responsible for the quality and integrity of the data held on student placements and work-based learning, working with relevant stakeholders to ensure accurate data is provided for internal and external purposes. • To resolve complex student placement and work-based learning problems, identifying the best approach from a series of sometimes conflicting or diverse options and using own initiative to resolve difficult situations. • To develop greater synergies across the placement/work-based learning sub-teams to ensure that consistent processes are in place and that the delivery of student placements and work-based learning is efficient, smooth, streamlined and consistent. • To champion and manage the move to a more systematic and university-wide approach to the management of student placements and work-based learning • To provide specialist and accurate advice to professional colleagues on student placement and work-based learning matters, ensuring all staff understand and follow the required policies, practices and standards. • To analyse complex institutional and sub-institutional data associated with student placements and work-based learning, identifying trends, risks or areas requiring improvement and recommending developments where required
Generic Duties and Responsibilities • To work with colleagues within the team and across the University to deliver service improvement, explore innovative ideas and find solutions. • Working with internal and external colleagues, to drive forward the development of systems required to support student placements and work- based learning so that this function can be delivered in a streamlined and efficient way, including ensuring that the views of users are heard on a regular basis. • To act as the institutional lead on relevant external groups and to develop a strong external network in the area of student placements and work-based learning. • To develop productive, supportive and professional relationships with academic and professional colleagues, working with them to ensure the student placements and work-based learning function delivers what is required to meet the needs of the institution and its constituent parts. • To play a significant role in discussions on the strategic development of student placements and work-based learning in the changing HE environment. • To represent the student placements and work-based learning area at internal and external committees and meetings. • To maintain an up to date knowledge of student placement and work-based learning matters across the sector. • To be responsible for the training and development of student placement and work-based learning staff to ensure that individual contributions are maximised. • To develop and review relevant Service Statements and be responsible for ensuring their delivery. • To work with colleagues within and across departments to ensure the efficient and effective operation of cross institutional activities. • To lead projects to support the development of a quality student experience.
Job Title
Interim Head of Placements & Work-Based Learning
Principal duties & responsibilities • To manage the student placements and work-based learning function across the institution. • To ensure the student placements and work-based learning function aligns with the institutional vision and strategy and is structured to meet institutional and student needs. • To support the Interim Academic Registrar/ Director of Student Futures in managing the departmental budget, ensuring the department’s budget is balanced whilst ensuring resources are aligned to needs and plans. • To provide strategic leadership and vision for the student placements and work- based learning function and to manage change in those areas effectively and efficiently. • To oversee the management of all in- course placements and work-based learning, ensuring • Correct documentation • Compliance with statutory, regulatory or professional body requirements, including those of the UKVI, Ofsted, the NHS and the QAA • Accurate data capture and use • Accurate, timely and thorough reporting on placement and work- based learning activity for internal and external stakeholders • Identification and monitoring of effective student support and interactions • Correct treatment of students with additional needs • To enable the sharing of good practice across the area of in-course placements and work-based learning. • To liaise with the relevant senior managers to ensure opportunities for new placements/work-based learning ventures are incorporated into existing structures.
Responsible to
Interim Academic Registrar/Director of Student Futures
Overall purpose To enhance the student experience and support the student lifecycle through the provision of an expert, high quality in-course placements and work-based learning function. To manage the strategic and operational improvements to student placements and work-based learning in accordance with institutional strategy, including effective management of change. To ensure effective relationships between the Placement and Work-Based Learning and other related functions. To maintain operational consistency and team morale through a period of organisational transition, during a period when the Placements and Work-based Learning team relocates from Academic Registry to the Student Futures Directorate.
Core people management duties and responsibilities
• Manage performance and behaviour (including the PDR and the Probation period) of team on an ongoing basis.
• Monitor leave and absence of the team on an ongoing basis. Approve annual leave requests, manage poor attendance and support staff with ongoing ill health issues. • Monitor and approve development opportunities to meet changing needs of the University and personal development. • Communicate effectively at all levels, ensuring relevant information is cascaded to the team and allow for two-way communication including team meetings and 1-2-1’s.
• Foster wellbeing of team members ensuring maintenance of work life balance, adherence to Working Time Regulations and providing opportunities for staff to raise issues e.g. through regular 1-2-1 meetings. • Plan resources (human and capital) to ensure adequate coverage to meet the needs of the service whilst recognising employee wellbeing. • Undertake all aspects of recruitment in accordance with University policy and procedure, for both within the team and supporting other departments and faculties across the University. • Undertake investigations and undertake role of hearing manager in cases of disciplinary and grievance for employees across the University in line with University Policy and procedures.
Generic duties and responsibilities
• The post holder will be expected to undertake other responsibilities and tasks as reasonably requested by the Director of Student Futures. • The post holder may be required to participate in Open Days, Welcome Week- end and other key University events that may be outside the working week. • The post holder will be responsible and accountable for ensuring all employ- ment legislative requirements are adhered to including equality and diversity and health and safety issues. • The job description may be altered at any time in the future in line with the level of the post to meet changing institutional requirements, but only in full consultation with the post holder.
Person specification.
Qualifications Essential: • An honours degree or equivalent, or relevant work experience Desirable: • Professional qualification in relevant area or membership of pro-fessional body. Personal qualities Essential: • Self-motivation and the ability to motivate others • The ability to work to under pressure and to deadlines
Skills, knowledge and experience Essential: • Track record in building long standing partnerships and relationships with internal and external stakeholders and organisations • Experience of successfully interpreting strategic objectives into op-erational delivery • Detailed operational knowledge of the development and opera-tion of systems associated with the capture and management of student and/or customer relationship data • Experience of leading a team delivering services to customers, es-tablishing KPIs and supporting a team to achieve those objectives • A successful track record in delivering administration projects and services on time and to a high standard including the ability to scope out a project • Experience in managing multiple timescales and resources as ap-propriate • Experience of solving complex problems and of managing change • Proven track record in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion Desirable: • In depth, demonstrable and successful experience of working in the area of placements or work-based learning. • Ability to identify and undertake vital conversations appropriately • Ability to delegate appropriately
Community, bringing together teams from across the University to support, improve and promote the wellbeing and physical and mental health of those living, studying and working here. • We have trained over 130 Mental Health First Aiders to ensure we have a network of staff who have the knowledge and confidence to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues and can signpost you towards the right support • We have a number of staff networks to support you including New Parents, LGBT+, GEM (Global Ethnic Majority) and Women • Our Employee Assistance Programme which is provided by our Occupational Health partner includes advice and counselling services to offer support through times of difficulty. Work - life balance/smarter working We want you to be able to carry out your work in a way that best supports UON and our students, but also you as an individual. We understand what that looks like will vary between different areas of the University as well as from one person to another. With Smarter Working you can work with increased flexibility, if you would like to, to facilitate greater freedom, autonomy and to better support each of us as individuals. Should you have family/caring responsibilities, we also have a whole package of family-friendly policies that provide for flexible working, maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave, and leave for family emergencies. Environment We have reaffirmed our commitment to combating climate change and have pledged to become net zero carbon by 2030. We have also retained our green accreditation in Investors in the Environment.
Pension scheme The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is the main scheme for professional services staff and is worked out every scheme year and added to your pension account. The pension added to your account is equal to a 49th of your pay in that year. At the end of every scheme year the value of the pension in your account is adjusted to take into account the cost of living (as currently measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). After you retire your pension will also keep pace with cost of living increases. It also includes immediate life cover and a pension for your husband, wife, civil partner or nominated cohabiting partner and eligible children in the event of your death and, if you ever become seriously ill, and you've paid in for at least 2 years, you could receive immediate ill-health benefits. Health insurance Health insurance is provided for single, individual coverage. There is also the option to purchase cover for a partner and/ or family at your own cost. Career development Since education is part of our core business, we care deeply about career and personal development. You’ll benefit from: • a structured induction programme for new starters, to make you feel welcome and part of our team • an annual performance and development review, to help identify your career aspirations and structure your individual development plan • access to an extensive programme of courses, designed by our in-house Staff Development team, for all career stages • access to LinkedIn Learning – a library of high quality training videos that cover a wide range of subjects. Employee wellbeing At the University of Northampton, we believe in the importance of health and wellbeing and we aim to ensure it underpins the staff and student experience at all stages. With this in mind we have introduced the Waterside Wellbeing
Working at the University of Northampton. Our mission is to transform lives and inspire change. We aim to ensure you have a positive experience of working with us by providing a supportive and caring environment. We also have a unique commitment to social impact which means we support our staff and students to
Generous benefits package
Our job opportunities all include an excellent benefits package that includes many features that are hard to find in the private sector: • Generous annual leave allowance, including Christmas/New Year closure - 35 days plus bank holidays and University closed days • Pension scheme membership to provide benefits for you and your family • Generous sick pay • Employee Assistance Programme with advice line and counselling • Learning and development opportunities; • Cycle to Work Scheme • Long service awards • Staff discounts on a range of products and local services including the ability to purchase a TOTUM student discount card which gives you access to over 350 student discounts.
For a confidential discussion to learn more about the role and opportunity, please contact the University of Northampton’s appointed recruitment partners Sian Gardiner & Charlotte Turedi of MRG University People: sian.gardiner@universitypeople.co.uk charlotte.turedi@universitypeople.co.uk Applications should consist of a CV and covering letter and should be sent to northampton@universitypeople.co.uk Closing date for applications is Sunday 17th September 2023. Final Interviews will take place at our Waterside Campus w/c 18th September 2023. The University of Northampton is committed to providing a vibrant, ethical and sustainable work, study and living environment that values equality, diversity and inclusion. This commitment, along with our legal and moral obligations, provides an inclusive environment for staff, students and the public who may be affected by our activities. Together @ UON confirms our commitment to equality and inclusion, underpinned by our belief in taking action. We are dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates equality and harnesses the power of diversity. Together @ UON demonstrates our pledge to our staff, students and partners to nurture and develop an environment where equality and inclusion can thrive whilst we Transform Lives and Inspire Change How to apply.
northampton.ac.uk
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