Programme Officer: Higher Education Access

Reports to: Head of Destinations

Location: West London – currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Mon and Weds) in the office

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 10/05/2024 at 10am

Interviews: w/c 13/05/2024

Salary: £33,000 to £41,000 (depending on experience)

About the role:

Join our team as a Programme Officer: Higher Education Access and play a pivotal role in driving our post-18 destination goals to new heights! At Ark, we're proud of our track record of outperforming other providers in sending students to top-tier universities. However, we're not just satisfied with good; we're committed to ensuring each student finds their perfect fit at the best universities and pathways for their success. Building strong relationships with top-tier and highly selective institutions is at the core of our mission. We're dedicated to partnering with universities where our students will thrive, ensuring not only admission but also completion of degrees and future career success.

As the Programme Officer, you'll spearhead initiatives to cultivate deep connections with these esteemed institutions, offering tailored engagement opportunities for both staff and students across all Key Stages. By enhancing the quality and consistency of our provision while simultaneously reducing costs, you'll play a vital role in shaping the future trajectory of our students' educational journeys. Join us in empowering students to reach their full potential and redefine success in higher education!

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop network approaches to supporting students in KS5 with HE IAG (Higher Education Information Advice and Guidance) and applications that ensure the achievement of our network goal of 70%+ progression to Ark Top Third universities (or equivalent apprenticeships)
• Develop relationships with other strategic partners to support IAG for university (and professional careers) and assist Ark students to progress to ‘best fit’ universities
• Build on the strongest practice in our schools and leverage HE partnerships to shape additional opportunities for students to develop the skills, character and academic confidence that will support their transition to HE and contribute to high levels of persistence
• Develop and build deep relationships with Ark Top Third and Russell Group universities, including Oxbridge and other highly selective institutions/pathways
• Work with partner universities to build an extensive programme of bespoke outreach and engagement activities for Ark students and staff that add demonstrable value to school provision in terms of capacity, cost and quality
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Sixth Form and Destinations team to support progression to top apprenticeships and other work-based routes into professional careers
• Contribute proactively to the wider development of Sixth Form and Destinations team strategy
• Contribute to network meetings (central team and schools) when required

Key Requirements:

• Knowledge and experience of the post 18 destinations landscape
• Experience of contributing to the development of strategy
• Experience of working with and influencing a range of stakeholders, sometimes with conflicting priorities and viewpoints
• Knowledge and experience of Unifrog and Compass+
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to the mission of improving educational opportunities for underprivileged children
• Highly organised, detail oriented and systematic in delivering against ambitious objectives
• Flexible in approach and able to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities
• Confident, proactive and hard-working team player - happy to go above and beyond for their colleagues

View the full job description and person specification here

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Friday 10^th May 2024 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.