Graduate Outreach Assistant

Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the UK is seeking a motivated Graduate Outreach Assistant to support initiatives aimed at widening access to higher education. You will coordinate events and deliver outreach sessions to learners while promoting inclusivity. The ideal candidate is a recent graduate with strong communication skills and a commitment to diversity.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Ability to engage, inspire, and motivate young people.
• Experience in higher education or youth engagement.
• Understanding of equality and widening participation.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate on-campus visits.
• Create impactful industry-focused events.
• Deliver engaging outreach sessions to learners.

Skills

Strong communication and presentation skills

Excellent organisational ability

Proficient in Excel and data handling

Commitment to equality and diversity

Education

Recent graduate

Tools

Excel

Job description

We're looking for a skilled and motivated Graduate Outreach Assistant to join the Greater Manchester Higher team at Manchester Metropolitan University. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to our mission of widening access to higher education across the region.

In this role, you will:

• Support the planning and coordination of on-campus visits, ensuring activities run smoothly and inclusively.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and employers to create impactful industry-focused events.
• Support the delivery of engaging outreach sessions to groups of learners in schools and colleges.
• Support monitoring and administrative functions, including the handling and processing of large sets of data, and responding to email enquiries.

We are seeking someone who can bring:

• Strong communication and presentation skills – able to engage, inspire, and motivate young people, and build positive relationships with schools, employers, and colleagues.
• Excellent organisational ability – able to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly to changing needs.
• Proficient in undertaking routine administrative tasks, with confidence in handling and processing data using Excel and other tools.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with the ability to create a supportive and welcoming environment for all learners.

This role is particularly suited to a recent graduate with experience in higher education or youth engagement, who is keen to develop their career in Widening Participation and educational outreach.

To apply: Please attach your CV and covering letter to the online portal.

In your covering letter, please indicate how you meet the following sections of the selection criteria. We encourage you to use the SMART method to demonstrate your experience:

• Special requirements:
  • Provide a short outline of your understanding of, and commitment to, equality of opportunity and widening participation.
• Skills and abilities:
  • Organisational and administrative skills (for example managing workloads, meeting deadlines, dealing with enquiries)
  • Communication skills (oral and written)
  • Interpersonal skills and team working

• Relevant experience:
  • Experience of working in recruitment or widening participation in a Higher Education context
  • Experience of working with and giving presentations to groups of school pupils.
  • Experience of handling and processing data.

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.

This vacancy is expected to attract a high volume of applications. Therefore, under the Disability Confident Scheme, only disabled people who apply under the scheme and best meet the essential criteria will be offered an interview.