Academic Progress & Success Mentor

Victoria College of Arts and Design; Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Virtual GP access

Life & Leadership coaching

Discounts and perks

Job summary

Victoria College of Arts and Design (VCAD) in Manchester seeks an Academic Progress & Success Mentor to support students in engaging with their studies, meeting outcomes, and progressing through programmes. The role focuses on targeted academic support for at-risk students and improving submission and progression metrics.

Working in the Academic Progress & Success Team, you will maintain cohort contact, offer guidance on assessments, and ensure students develop study skills, with

Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or student support.
• Ability to support and motivate students from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with virtual learning environments (e.g. Moodle).

Responsibilities

• Maintain regular contact with an allocated group of students to provide structured academic support.
• Engage at-risk students to prevent non-submission and support timely submission.
• Guide students on module outcomes, assessments, and submission expectations.
• Review draft work and provide formative feedback before submission.
• Track engagement and progress and follow up before deadlines.
• Deliver teaching sessions and cover teaching as needed.

Job description

Job Title: Academic Progress & Success Mentor

Location: On-Site, VCAD – Manchester

Salary Range: £42k - £48k per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm

Department: Academic Progress & Success Team

Reporting to: Academic Dean (AUP)

Job Purpose

The Academic Progress & Success Mentor will play a key role in supporting students to engage with their studies, meet module learning outcomes, and successfully progress through their programmes.

Working as part of the Academic Progress & Success Team, the postholder will provide targeted academic support to individual students who are at risk of non-submission, reassessment, or underperformance. This includes maintaining regular contact with an assigned cohort of students, offering practical guidance on assessments, and supporting students to reach a point where they are confident and prepared to submit their work.

The role is focused on improving submission rates, first-time pass rates, and overall student continuation, through timely and structured academic support.

Key Responsibilities

Student Engagement and Support

• Maintain regular contact with an allocated group of students, providing consistent and structured academic support
• Proactively engage students who are disengaged or at risk of non-submission
• Build supportive working relationships that encourage accountability and sustained engagement
• Support students in developing effective study habits and independent learning skills

Academic Guidance

• Support students in understanding module learning outcomes, assessment requirements, and submission expectations
• Provide clear guidance on how to approach assignments in line with academic standards
• Assist students in interpreting feedback and applying it to future work
• Support the development of academic writing, research, and assessment skills

Draft Review and Formative Feedback

• Review draft work, where appropriate, and provide constructive, formative feedback to support improvement prior to submission
• Offer feedback through appropriate channels (e.g. email, one-to-one sessions), focusing on clarity, structure, and alignment with learning outcomes
• Highlight areas for development while ensuring students retain responsibility for their own work
• Ensure all support remains within institutional academic integrity guidelines

Monitoring and Follow-up

• Track student engagement, progress, and readiness for submission
• Follow up with students in advance of key deadlines to support timely submission
• Identify early signs of academic risk and take appropriate action
• Maintain accurate records of student interactions and interventions

Targeted Interventions

• Provide additional support to students identified as at risk of non-submission, requiring reassessment, borderline in achieving module outcomes, work with students to break down assignments into manageable stages and support re-engagement following periods of absence or low participation.

Contribution to Outcomes

• Contribute to improvements in submission rates, first-time pass rates, student progression and continuation and work towards agreed targets for student engagement and success within the allocated cohort
• Work closely with Academic Deans, Programme Leaders, and Module Leaders to support student progress, liaise with Registry and other professional services where appropriate and contribute to team discussions and the ongoing development of the Academic Progress & Success Team.

Teaching Support and Cover Responsibilities

• Provide teaching cover as required to support continuity of academic delivery. This may include undertaking lecturing responsibilities during periods of staff absence, annual leave, or sickness, as well as providing support in emergency situations.
• The postholder will deliver scheduled teaching sessions where necessary, ensuring alignment with module learning outcomes, maintaining academic standards, and supporting a consistent student experience.
• This responsibility is intended to provide flexibility within the academic team and ensure minimal disruption to teaching provision.

Key Performance Indicators

• Student submission rates within assigned cohort
• Engagement levels of identified at-risk students
• Student feedback on support received

Person Specification

• Experience of working in a higher education or student support environment
• Understanding of assessment processes and academic requirements within HE
• Ability to support and motivate students from a range of academic backgrounds
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage a defined caseload
• Ability to monitor and respond to student data and engagement indicators
• Experience in academic advising, tutoring, or coaching
• Familiarity with virtual learning environments (e.g. Moodle)
• Understanding of academic integrity and good academic practice
• Experience supporting students at risk of non-progression

Key Attributes

• Approachable and supportive manner
• Clear and practical communication style
• Ability to build trust while maintaining professional boundaries
• Proactive and well organised
• Focused on student outcomes and continuous improvement
• Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
• Company Sick Pay.
• Statutory maternity and paternity pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme (HA Wisdom Wellbeing)
• Virtual GP access (Livi)
• 'Speak Up Service' - confidential support service to report any workplace concerns
• Specialist physical and mental wellbeing support services with 24/7 confidential counselling support (Wisdom)
• Financial, legal and medical advice services provided (Wisdom)
• Life & Leadership coaching (Wisdom)
• Financial coaching (MUNNY)
• Discounts and perks, offering savings on shopping, activities and more (Bright Exchange)
• Career development and training opportunities.
• Training and self-development opportunities.