Job Purpose
The Career Advisor and Graduate Outcomes Officer plays a key role in supporting Scholars School System's commitment to student success, employability, graduate progression, and positive graduate outcomes.
The postholder will provide high-quality careers information, advice and guidance to students and graduates, develop and maintain employer partnerships, support employability initiatives across all campuses, and lead the collection and analysis of graduate outcomes data.
Working collaboratively with academic and professional services teams, the postholder will embed employability throughout the student lifecycle, contribute to improved progression outcomes, and support institutional performance against Office for Students (OfS) B3 Conditions relating to continuation, completion and progression.
The role will also support the development of a thriving alumni community and ensure that students and graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to achieve their career aspirations.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Careers Information, Advice and Guidance
- Deliver professional careers information, advice and guidance to current students and graduates.
- Conduct one-to-one careers coaching and action planning sessions.
- Support students with career exploration, job search strategies and career decision-making.
- Assist students in preparing professional CVs, cover letters, personal statements and LinkedIn profiles.
- Deliver workshops on employability, interview preparation, networking and professional development.
- Support students with graduate applications, assessment centres and recruitment processes.
Employability and Student Success
- Work collaboratively with academic teams to embed employability and career development learning within programmes from Level 4 onwards.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of employability initiatives and events.
- Support students in identifying and achieving career goals throughout their studies.
- Promote graduate attributes and career readiness across all programmes.
- Contribute to activities that enhance student progression and graduate success.
Graduate Outcomes and Alumni Engagement
- Lead the collection, monitoring and reporting of graduate destination and graduate outcomes data.
- Maintain accurate records relating to graduate employment, further study and professional progression.
- Conduct graduate outcome surveys and follow-up activities.
- Develop and maintain positive relationships with alumni.
- Support the development of alumni networks and engagement activities.
- Coordinate alumni communications, newsletters and events.
- Promote alumni success stories and graduate achievements.
Employer Engagement and Partnerships
- Develop and maintain relationships with employers, professional bodies and industry partners.
- Identify graduate employment, internship, placement and volunteering opportunities.
- Organise employer engagement activities including careers fairs, networking events and guest speaker sessions.
- Promote employer involvement within academic programmes.
- Support the development of strategic partnerships that enhance graduate employment opportunities.
Data Management and Reporting
- Maintain accurate and compliant graduate outcome records and databases.
- Produce regular reports on employability, graduate outcomes and employer engagement activities.
- Analyse data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
- Support institutional reporting requirements relating to graduate outcomes and progression.
- Ensure compliance with GDPR and institutional data protection requirements.
- Utilise Microsoft Excel, CRM systems and reporting tools to support analysis and reporting.
Collaboration and Professional Conduct
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across all campuses and departments.
- Attend graduation ceremonies, student award events, employability activities and external networking events.
- Represent Scholars School System professionally at internal and external meetings.
- Participate in continuous professional development activities.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the role.
Person Specification
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification.
- Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development or equivalent recognised qualification.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
- Level 7 Qualification in Career Guidance and Development.
- Membership of the Career Development Institute (CDI) or equivalent professional body.
- Minimum two years' experience within Higher Education, Further Education, careers guidance or employability services.
- Experience providing careers advice and guidance to students or graduates.
- Experience organising careers, employability or employer engagement activities.
- Experience managing and analysing data.
- Experience working with multiple stakeholders and external partners.
- Understanding of the UK Higher Education sector.
- Understanding of graduate employability and career development practices.
- Knowledge of labour market information and graduate recruitment trends.
- Understanding of Office for Students (OfS) requirements and graduate outcomes measures.
- Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion principles.
What We Offer
- 27,000 - £35,000 per year depending on experience
- Up to £5,000 annual incentives (on top of salary) given quarterly on meeting KPIs upon successful probation period
- 5% annual increase per year on completion from your start date of service and on meeting KPIs
- Holiday entitlement is 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Staff award and recognition programme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Complementary lunch as part of company benefit
Pay: £27,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
