Job Description

Educational Adviser

Advert Reference Number:

720

Job Location:

Belfast

Department:

Student Recruitment and Support

Salary:

38,249 to 45,413

Closing Date:

07 May 2025, 12 noon

Weekly Working Hours:

37

Contract Type:

Permanent

Fixed Term Contract: End Date:

Welsh Language:

Not Applicable

:

About the Role

The role holder will apply exceptional information, advice, and guidance (IAG) skills within Student Recruitment and Support Ireland (SRSI) to support students and prospective students. They provide guidance on a range of queries, helping individuals make informed study choices promoting successful progression, qualification completion, and student satisfaction.


Key Duties


1. Provide educational support/guidance on complex issues to current & potential students, on a range of queries to maximise student success.


2. Proactively answering queries and requests for guidance and complex educational support.


3. Offer key aspects of educational support and/or refer to specialist staff, as part of the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) model.


4. Offer IAG skills and knowledge leadership, training and development to SRSI staff focusing on student success and satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

1. Deliver guidance and complex educational support to students and potential students through both reactive and proactive contact via a variety of channels including inbound and outbound phone calls, emails, letters, online webchat, online forums and social media. Accurately record and maintain relevant detail on university systems and databases.




2. Provide leadership of areas of special responsibility, acting as a local knowledge expert and relationship contact point for appropriate specialist/centralised areas e.g. disability support, students in secure environments, young students, qualification planning in relation to specific areas of the curriculum (the list is not exhaustive), acting as a local knowledge expert.




3. Contribute to the development of the University's Student Recruitment and Support Service with a focus on IAG to promote student success and satisfaction through responsibilities including, management of projects, representation on university groups and the design and delivery of staff development and training in relation to IAG skills and support for students.




4. Continually develop skills and knowledge to maintain and improve personal performance, good internal and inter team working and service provision in the spirit of continuous improvement.




5. Guidance provision will include, but not be limited to, disability support including complex disability profiling, reviewing needs, and making supplementary requests for support in line with established procedures e.g., Disabled Students' Allowances and internal support schemes.




6. The successful candidate will be expected to provide support or cover for colleagues' duties including that of the Educational Adviser (Disability) during peak times, periods of colleague annual leave or unforeseen circumstances, ensuring the smooth operation of the team.

Skills and Experience

1. A degree and/or relevant professional qualification (minimum Level 3) and/or evidence of training and continuing professional development in Guidance is desirable (e.g., NVQ in Guidance Practice or equivalent). *If the successful candidate does not have a relevant professional guidance qualification upon appointment, then substantial progress towards achieving one will be required before the probationary period will be deemed completed.





2. Experience of providing IAG to a diverse range of customers, preferably students in adult Higher Education (HE).





3. An awareness of the HE environment and government policies as they might impact on the University and support for students.





4. Knowledge of and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.





5. Experience of working to personal targets and collaboratively to meet team/organisational targets.





6. Advice and guidance skills that can support students' autonomy and decision making, using techniques in negotiating, enabling, advocating and challenging.





7. Excellent planning/organisational skills including working autonomously, manage fluctuating volumes of work and develop processes, roles and responsibilities to improve services and change.





8. Experience of contributing to the identification & delivery of staff training/coaching.





9. Experience of dealing with challenging situations in a professional setting, following risk management and safeguarding procedures.





10. Confident computer skills sufficient to use IT systems effectively.

How to Apply

To apply for this role please submit the following documents:

CV Supporting statement, up to 1,000 words, setting out why you're interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the Skills and Experience section.

Additional Information

The role holder will be required to work to an agreed pattern, between the hours of 8.30am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday, as directed by business demands. A flexible approach to work is required with willingness to occasionally work outside of office hours including eventing and weekends.

Please note that at certain times of the year leave booking will be restricted according to operational need.

The role holder may occasionally be required to attend meetings/ events at other Open University locations for business, training, and evaluation purposes.




Interview Date: W/C 19th May 2025

Work Location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate will work from home and the office as required. However, the role is contractually aligned to the Belfast office, and attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. Both the cost and travel time to attend the Belfast office is the responsibility of the employee and will not be compensated by the University.

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.