Careers & Employment Adviser

University of Derby; Buxton; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Cycle to Work scheme

Staff discounts

Onsite gym

Flexible working

Professional development

Job summary

The University of Derby, Buxton campus, is seeking a part-time Careers & Employment Adviser to deliver high-quality careers education and guidance to students. You will run one-to-one sessions, group workshops and build employer partnerships to support progression into employment and further study.

You will hold a Level 6 CEIAG qualification and contribute to embedding employability across curricula while working 18.5 hours per week at the Buxton site.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering careers education, employability support or guidance to learners 16+.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students, colleagues and partners.
• Strong understanding of employability skills, recruitment processes and labour market trends.
• Willingness to work outside core hours during events.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality careers and employability support, including one-to-one guidance and group sessions.
• Maintain up-to-date records of student interactions and progression.
• Develop employer partnerships to enhance student opportunities.
• Embed employability within the student experience and collaborate with curriculum teams.
• Prepare and deliver advice sessions at inductions, Open Day and admissions events.

Skills

Employability skills

Recruitment processes

Labour market

Interpersonal skills

Organisation

Education

Level 6 CEIAG qualification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

£32,942 to £36,977 per annum pro rata (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £42,523.55 per annum, pro rata)

Onsite

This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Registry support all aspects of the student journey, right from initial enquiry and application, all the way through to final award and student completion. We strive to provide an outstanding service to all our users and to be thought leaders in our fields of expertise, developing research informed practise. Registry teams work collaboratively with stakeholders to deliver a high-performance culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all, supporting excellent student experience.

About Student Services

Student Services at the University of Derby is committed to providing the best possible support services to our students, to enhance the student experience, to help students achieve their full potential and to meet the strategic aims of the University. These services are central to the student experience they are visible, seamless, effective and tailored to the needs of our student community. As part of this commitment, a transformational programme of work is underway in Student Services to ensure that the support we deliver meets the needs of our students. We are excited for this next chapter in our service and welcome applicants with vision, drive and a passion for supporting student success.

We are seeking a Careers & Employment Adviser to support the delivery of high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance for students at our Buxton campus. You will provide one-to-one guidance and deliver group sessions to support students to make informed decisions about their next steps, including further study, apprenticeships, and employment. The role will focus on increasing access to personal guidance and supporting students to develop the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to progress successfully. You will work closely with curriculum teams and colleagues across Student Services to embed employability within the student experience and contribute to improving progression outcomes. This is a key role in strengthening our careers provision and ensuring students receive timely, high-quality support.

This role is part time 18.5 hours per week.

You will have experience delivering careers education, employability support or guidance to learners aged 16 and over, including working with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and with differing needs. You will be confident delivering both one-to-one guidance and group sessions, and able to build positive relationships with students, colleagues and partners.

You will have a strong understanding of employability skills, recruitment processes and the labour market, and be committed to delivering a high-quality, student-centred service. You should also hold a Level 6 Careers Education, Information and Guidance (CEIAG) qualification. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities are essential. You will have a good understanding of safeguarding and experience of working appropriately with under 18s and vulnerable adults.

• Deliver a high-quality, accessible programme of careers and employability support, including one-to-one guidance, workshops, group sessions, and targeted interventions.
• Maintain a strong and current understanding of labour market trends, outcomes data, and the skills and attributes required for employment, further study, and enterprise, applying this knowledge to inform practice and provide expert advice.
• Develop and sustain employer partnerships to enhance student opportunities, raise awareness of student talent, and support progression into employment within the region and beyond.
• Work collaboratively with academic colleagues and students to develop, deliver, and evaluate employability initiatives, contributing to continuous improvement in practice.
• Engage proactively with targeted student groups to promote opportunities, support applications, and improve progression outcomes.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of student interactions and progression, contributing to student tracking processes and the effective monitoring of career development.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with academic departments, Professional Services, and the Careers and Employment Service to embed employability within the student experience.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities, including progress against targets, outcomes data, labour market insight, and examples of effective practice, to inform service development and performance improvement.
• Use the CRM system to maintain comprehensive and accurate case records, supporting data-driven practice and contributing to the analysis and reporting of service activity and outcomes.
• Support the embedding of data and monitoring and evaluation strategies to ensure a cycle of continuous improvement to ensure effective and improved service delivery.
• Contribute to raising awareness of Student Services within the student population through collaboration with colleagues within the Student Services, professional services and the Colleges. Prepare and deliver a range of advice and guidance sessions at various inductions, Open Day and admissions events throughout the year.
• Level 6 Careers Education, Information and Guidance Qualification

Experience

• Experience in careers education & guidance work, or career preparation work with 16+ learners
• Experience of delivering to a wide diversity of students/clients assessing needs and developing interventions
• Experience of working to achieve targets and measureimpact
• Experience of delivering advice in a one-to-one and group setting, including workshop and/or trainingdelivery
• Experience and confidence with a range of IT applications including MS Office and a willingness to develop expertise in the use of technology and social media.
• Experience of prioritising and operating to tight deadlines whilst under pressure.
• Experience of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults within an educational setting, including recognising and responding appropriately to concerns

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Strong understanding of employability attributes and skills, personal development and recruitment processes and the labourmarket
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to high-quality, student-centred service delivery, using insight and feedback to evaluate effectiveness and drive continuous improvement
• Deliver consistently high standards of service, embedding a culture of continuous quality improvement and responsiveness to user needs
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to deal sensitively with enquires from a diverse range of individuals and deescalate and manage potentially difficult or conflict situations calmly and with confidence
• Demonstrable evidence of a proactive and positive, student-centred approach and with an understanding of and commitment to the values, aims and objectives of the University
• Strong organisational skills, able to handle competing demands and priorities and remain focused, working autonomously whilst also working successfully in collaboration with colleagues
• The ability to work collegially to engage with a wide range of colleagues/teams at all levels, building relationships and influencing to effectively carry out the role/deliver the services
• Good understanding of issues affecting students and potential barriers to accessing and succeeding in further education

Business requirements

• Ability to work outside of normal working hours (including some evenings and weekends), to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Sarah Thompson, Careers and Engagement Manager via [e-mail]

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.