Careers Advisor

Hopwood Hall College; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Greater Manchester is seeking a Level 6 Qualified Careers Advisor. You will offer impartial careers advice and guidance, planning and delivering various interventions to support student progression. Candidates should have substantial experience in a careers advisory capacity and a deep understanding of the UCAS process. This role is essential in promoting effective career choices, empowering students in their educational and career paths, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in working with young people in a careers advisory capacity.
• Experience of delivering impartial CEIAG in a school or college environment.
• Outstanding teamwork and collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

• Champion careers service to staff and students.
• Plan and deliver careers interventions throughout the learner journey.
• Provide high-quality career advice and guidance that raises awareness of progression routes.

Skills

Outstanding time management

Outstanding customer service skills

Collaboration and teamwork

Communication skills

Knowledge of UCAS application process

Education

Level 6 in careers Guidance

Level 2 Maths

Level 2 English

Level 3 in Education and Training / PTLLS

Tools

Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel)

ProMonitor

CRM databases

Job description

Are you passionate about supporting individuals to achieve their career goals? Hopwood Hall College is seeking a Level 6 Qualified Careers Advisor to join our team and provide high-quality, impartial careers advice and guidance.

Purpose

To work flexibly across the college and with internal and external stakeholders to provide a comprehensive, impartial careers education, information, advice, and guidance function for the College. Must be willing to work in a collaborative, partnership focused manner to ensure a student‑centred approach to always delivering a range of CEIAG interventions including 1 : 1s, workshops, activities and events. Ensuring CEIAG sessions are aspirational, empowering and enable students to progress and achieve their goals.

Key Responsibilities

Duties

• Champion and promote the college’s careers service to staff, students and external agencies
• Plan and deliver a range of careers interventions throughout the learner journey from enrolment through to supporting progression, including 1 : 1 personal guidance, group work, workshops, and events
• Maintain accurate records of all careers interventions and ensure that aspirational, SMART action plans are developed in collaboration with individual learners
• Record all careers related activity using the appropriate systems including ProMonitor
• Ensure that all learners have ongoing access to their own careers action plans for self‑directed career management purposes using the appropriate college systems
• Empower, support and enable students to make effective, well informed decisions regarding course options, progression pathways and career goals
• To maintain an effective link with curriculum, the wider student experience team, external agencies and other support services (internal and external) to ensure that the college careers provision is inclusive for all learners
• To provide high quality careers information, advice and guidance that raises learner awareness of progression routes into employment, training and HE
• To lead on delivering the college’s two‑year UCAS programme and work with all staff involved to ensure the UCAS application process runs smoothly
• To ensure that College standards are worked to and maintained (e.g. OFSTED, Matrix, Quality in Careers, implementation and achievement of the Gatsby Benchmarks)
• To evaluate feedback for our careers provision and create reports for SLT
• Maintain relevant ongoing continuous professional development including knowledge and application of LMI
• Ensure all communication with learners and other stakeholders is followed up in a timely fashion and recorded according to college guidelines including the promotion of Careers through social media channels
• Attend relevant meetings and staff development activities, and contribute to staff training activities where required and contribute to the development of best practice networks
• To work within the scope of the college’s careers strategy to support and ensure that the Gatsby Benchmarks are embedded into the college’s CEIAG provision including being part of the Careers Coalition

Any other duties of a similar level of responsibility may be required.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• Qualified to Level 6 in careers Guidance
• Level 2 Maths
• Level 2 English

Desirable Criteria

• Level 3 in Education and Training / PTLLS

Experience

Essential Criteria

• Substantial experience in working with young people in a careers advisory capacity
• Experience of delivering impartial CEIAG in a school / college environment
• Experience of writing SMART careers action plans collaboratively with learners / young people
• Experience of empowering and enabling young people to explore their career goals through a variety of formats including 1 : 1, group work and events
• Supporting young people to make careers related decisions that are informed, realistic and aspirational and lead to positive progression outcomes
• Developing and working within professional networks
• Experience of working with stakeholders including parents
• Experience of working in a changing business environment requiring a flexible and responsive approach
• Experience of supporting young people through the application process for HE, FE, apprenticeships and work
• Experienced in implementing and administrating systems

Desirable Criteria

• Providing careers support to SEND learners

Specialist Knowledge

Essential Criteria

• Outstanding time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise conflicting deadlines appropriately
• Knowledgeable of key transitional points for learners in an FE environment and the importance of delivering effective careers interventions
• Good working knowledge of the UCAS application process and how to support learners with making effective applications
• Outstanding teamwork and collaborative skills
• Outstanding customer service skills, the ability to engage with people at varying levels of responsibility and adopt appropriate communication strategies
• Excellent English writing skills with a close eye for detail and accuracy of spelling, grammar and able to adapt communication style to suit the audience
• Ability to work as a reflective practitioner to continuously develop skills, ability and knowledge in relation to the job role
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office packages, in particular Word, Excel and CRM databases
• Good understanding of the Labour Market, how to maintain this knowledge, and how to incorporate it into careers sessions with young people

Desirable Criteria

• Proficient in the use of FE Software, e.g. Promonitor
• Understanding of the importance of digital skills within CEIAG and how to support learners to develop their professional networking skills

IT Skills

Essential Criteria

• An understanding of Safeguarding of Children & Vulnerable Adults within the workplace
• Have a valid full driving licence and vehicle with business insurance
• Willingness to undertake travel in line with the needs of the role

Full commitment to Equal Opportunities and anti‑discriminatory working practices.

Safeguarding Statement

Hopwood Hall College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.