Do you have a genuine interest in improving access to, and promoting the value of, higher education for local people? Do you have experience of working with schools and young people, especially those from under-represented groups and of developing curriculum to support and enhance their learning? Do you have significant experience of managing and developing teams in a busy and often unpredictable environment?

In this rewarding role, you will lead the team that delivers the University’s school outreach and progression curriculum across Kent and Medway and will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the University’s partnerships with over 50 secondary schools across Kent and Medway. You will also be involved in the development and ongoing evaluation of the outreach curriculum to ensure that it is effective and meet the aims of the University’s Access and Participation Plan.

This role involves working extensively with students and staff in partner schools and our student ambassadors, as well as with university colleagues, particularly those delivering outreach activities. You will be an experienced presenter with a good knowledge of the education sector, some training or teaching experience and, preferably, a science or technology background. This is a busy role with many competing demands and you will need to be adept at balancing the staff management elements of the post with its requirements in relation to curriculum development and partnership working.

As Partner Schools Manager (Progression Events) you will:

Develop and manage the partner schools’ outreach and progression curriculum in order to meet the objectives set out in the University’s Widening Participation Strategy
Review, develop and maintain formal relationships with partner schools to ensure that close partnership working is possible to achieve the best outcomes for outreach participants.
Lead the development and delivery of the University’s residential summer schools for partner secondary schools in order to ensure these are an effective element of the outreach programme
Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of all schools outreach activity at University and national level, to ensure that the outreach provision for target students is of consistently high quality and to contribute to the University’s national profile in this area.

To be successful in this role you will have:

A first degree or equivalent
Teaching or training qualifications (including Assessor awards) or equivalent experience
Knowledge and empathy with the issues surrounding widening participation and inclusiveness in Higher Education
Experience of working with schools and with young people, especially those from underrepresented groups
Experience of managing staff in autonomous settings
Flexibility to work outside of normal business hours, and to cover extensive regional travel

Please see the links below to view the full job description and also to apply for this post. If you require further information regarding the application process please contact The Resourcing Team on jobs@kent.ac.uk quoting ref number: CSF-023-19