Pastoral Mentor

Exeter; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pastoral Mentor role at the University of Exeter is a full-time permanent post available from November 2026, based at Streatham Campus and supporting the Finance and Accounting department. It focuses on timely identification and triage of student difficulties to promote inclusive academic community.

The role also involves developing material for student support and advising colleagues across departments.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with students in either an HE or FE setting is essential.
• Empathetic individuals who can bridge academic disciplines and student support services.
• Role requires DBS check and safeguarding commitments.

Responsibilities

• Identify and triage students experiencing difficulties affecting study and degree progress.
• Support design, development and production of student support materials for the Business School.
• Collaborate with Directors of Education and Senior Tutor to deliver proactive pastoral support.

Job description

About The Role

Pastoral Mentor

This full-time post is available from November 2026 on a permanent basis.

The starting salary will be from £33,951 on Grade E, depending on qualifications and experience.

The role

The role of the Pastoral Mentor is to ensure timely identification and triaging for students experiencing difficulties that impact on their ability to study and be successful on their degree programme. You will promote and maintain an inclusive, supportive and accessible academic community, primarily for students in the Finance and Accounting department, but also working collaboratively with Pastoral Mentors for other Business School departments (Management and Economics) on shared tasks. You will have responsibility for supporting the design, development and production of material relating to delivering student support within the Business School. You will work in partnership with the Directors of Education and Student Experience and Senior Tutor for the department to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of proactive pastoral support both within and beyond the curriculum and in accordance with the Faculty’s education strategy. You will act as an advisor to colleagues in the Economics department on pastoral support related matters and projects to promote a positive student experience.

This post is available at our Streatham Campus supporting the Finance and Accounting department. Applications are welcome from individuals from both academic and professional services backgrounds, and secondment and/or fractional options would be considered.

Please note that this role is subject to a DBS check. At the University of Exeter, we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff to share this commitment.

About you

We are looking for empathetic individuals who are able to provide the key link between the academic discipline(s) and support services for students who are struggling, and also work closely with colleagues in discipline(s) to identify students in need of support or factors inhibiting student success. Experience of working with students in either an HE or FE setting is essential (and if FE, you should be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of the HE context).

You will be the core point of contact for students experiencing issues impacting their ability to study, and for colleagues in the department concerned about student engagement. The role requires that you also work with data to identify students in need of support.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City.

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

Interviews are expected to take place in-person on our Streatham campus in Exeter in October 2026.

For further information or to arrange an informal discussion about the role please contact Professor Alison Truelove at [e-mail].

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russel Group university (QS & THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.

We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 140 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

What we can offer you:

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
• Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supports high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy;
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon/Cornwall.

How we can help

If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at [e-mail]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.