Widening Access Officer

Post Title: Widening Access Officer (Maternity Cover) 

SBU/Department: Office of the Vice-Chancellor – Learning and Teaching Innovation Centre/Widening Access and Student Success

 FTE: 1.0

Duration of Contract: Fixed-term, 1 year Maternity Cover Post 

Salary: UH6 £30,619 to £33,348 with potential to progress to £36,333 by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience.  

Annual Leave: 25 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location: Bishops Square Campus, Hatfield

Main duties and responsibilities

The University recognises that students from widening participation groups often require additional support to ensure they make informed choices about their future. The Widening Access Officer will assist in the planning and delivery of the Widening Access programme ensuring that young people from under-represented groups are equipped with the key skills and information needed to create equality of opportunity.

As the successful candidate, you will work primarily with staff and students from Hertfordshire primary and secondary schools with low rates of progression to higher education and will also work with colleagues across the university. You will lead on our primary school offer working with 6 primary schools from across Hertfordshire as well as organising large scale outreach events for primary aged children. Your role will also involve teaching in Hertfordshire secondary schools and managing relationships with key contacts.

Skills and experience required

You must have proven experience of supporting young people in education or other environments as well as a strong track record of developing, planning and delivering projects and events. The ability to engage both primary and secondary aged students is essential and you must demonstrate strong communication and presentation skills. You must be confident in delivering to large audiences both in-person and online and have strong IT skills relating to creating innovative and creative presentations. An understanding of the UK Higher Education application system and student finances system is desirable and experience of supporting students with this process is also desirable. The successful applicant will require access to a vehicle, as the role requires travel to different sites at short notice or where the sites may not be easily accessible via public transport.

Qualifications required

A minimum of a relevant undergraduate qualification or equivalent work experience is essential.

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria.Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Laide Bissessar, Head of Widening Access and Student Success, l.bissessar@herts.ac.uk, 01707 28654 

Closing Date: 06 July 2023

Interview Date: TBC

Reference Number: 051595

Date advert placed: 22 June 2023

Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics and recognise there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts

Additional information:

This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974   

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)  

The University requires that the successful applicant who is offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. An Enhanced Disclosure will be required, and this will include details of cautions, reprimands, or final warnings, as well as convictions. The University of Hertfordshire complies with the ‘Code of Practice for Registered Persons and other recipients of Disclosure Information’. DBS Checks may be renewed in line with policy.  

Overseas applicants and UK applicants who have lived abroad  

Successful applicants who have lived outside the UK, for 12 months continuously, totally or more in the last 10 years will be required to produce a ‘Certificate of Good Character/Conduct’ for each of those countries.