The role provides an exciting opportunity to work within a vibrant team in the Widening Participation Unit at Queen’s University. Reporting to the Widening Participation Manager, you will be responsible for the development and delivery of Queen’s widening participation activities with specific responsibility for Queen’s Academy Programmes, in particular the Pathway Opportunity Programme.
You will coordinate Widening Participation initiatives (including the Pathway Opportunity Programme) aimed at engaging with/recruiting those from groups currently underrepresented in Higher Education. You will manage and develop relationships with key stakeholders including academic colleagues, professional services, schools and colleges and other partner organisations to deliver programme aims and objectives against agreed targets and timelines. You must demonstrate strong organisational and management skills as you will be required to organise large scale events including an annual programme of events, residentials and programme graduations. Tracking, evaluating and monitoring project impact will be a key part of the role ensuring successful outcomes for programme participants.
About the person
In line with the Strategy 2030 and Queen’s Widening Access and Participation Plan (WAPP), you will be responsible for coordinating and developing a Queen’s Academy Programme (the Pathway Opportunity Programme) aimed at engaging with young people from Widening Participation target groups. To be successful, you must have a minimum of three years experience in developing and delivering programmes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to encourage participation in education and/or raising attainment.
You will require excellent communication skills demonstrating the ability to engage with a wide range of audiences. Teamworking is a central requirement of the role as you will be required to engage with outreach colleagues, University Schools and Support Services and external programme stakeholders including schools, parents and programme participants. Strong management and organisation skills will be required as the role requires the management and supervision of staff, management of budgets including financial forecasting and reporting and programme management skills to deliver impactful outreach.
If you are interested in this opportunity and possess what we need, please apply.
To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.
What we offer
Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at Pay, Reward and Benefits | People and Culture | Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.
For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit Diversity and Inclusion | People and Culture | Queen's University Belfast
Candidate Information
Further information for international applicants