Graduate Ambassador (NCOP)

Job Purpose

These new posts will form part of the team responsible for delivering the University’s activity for the HEFCE National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP), delivered through our Aimhigher Partnership. The purpose of the NCOP is to deliver a range of activities and interventions in order to double the proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds entering higher education by 2020. The post holders will spend some time in two different local schools (at some key times this may be 2 days a week in each school, and one day in the Outreach Office)

A Graduate Ambassador will combine their knowledge and enthusiasm for higher education, and insight into the student experience, to work directly with selected, disadvantaged students from Year 9-13 across a range of activities, with the aim of positively influencing their future plans regarding higher education. This post will require working proactively in their schools to ensure that a programme of activities is delivered; this will require both considerable skill in developing rapport and building trust with young people who have traditionally resisted engagement with such activities, and effective negotiation with busy school staff, requiring tenacity, tact and sensitivity to the demanding environments in which they will be working.

Person Specification

• Educated to degree level and about to graduate, or graduated within the last year from UoB
• An understanding of the issues associated with widening participation to Higher Education, giving rise to the NCOP programme
• A strong commitment to, and proven ability to work with, young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Excellent interpersonal skills, to build a rapport with ‘hard-to-reach’ students, and to work informally with students while maintaining a professional demeanour
• Ability to present information in an informative and engaging manner, and to work interactively with groups of students effectively
• Ability to develop effective interviewing, advice and guidance skills, and listening skills
• Ability to build effective working relationships and to negotiate with with pressurised school staff, external organisations, and members of the office team
• Excellent problem solving skills and a willingness to seek solutions to apparently intractable problems, coupled with an understanding of when to refer problems to line management
• Ability to organise activities
• Proficient in use of Microsoft packages
• Ability to work proactively, to think creatively and to innovate
• Ability to work as part of a team as part of a team
• Ability to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
• Flexibility, tact and diplomacy
• Ability to problem solve and to work independently and proactively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Prepared to work evening and occasional weekends when required
• The postholder will be required to undertake a DBS check and will be required to follow safeguarding procedures at all times